Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-23
IN A TERRIBLE HURRY!

Advices from Washington Indicate a
great hurry on the part OF the Chair
man OF the Senate committee on priv
ileges and elections, now that the testi-
mony for the professionals Is all in.
mass OF documentary evidence has been
submitted involving question that,
like others, has two sides 20 Il, and
as It Is partly composed OF long lists
OF names compiled for a purpose and
containing numerous falsehoods, il be-
comes necessary for the defense to pro-
duce evidence In rebuttal This VIII
take time that must be granted Ia COM
mon fairness, and that should be taken
anyhow. Statements have been made
by witnesses for the protest which are
positively untrue. and the proofs OF
their falsty win have 10 be obtained
and presented before the committee. 1t
does not matter whether this suits tho
hurry-up parties or not
Senator Smoot Is just as anxious as
anybody else can possibly be to finish
up the evidence and bring the case to a
final issue. He has been kept on a
constant strain for 40 long a time that
In the very nature Of things he must
long for a speedy settlement. And
he has bent his energies all along to
that effect. Such delays as have oc-
CURED have been the result Of the in
PRODUCTION OF repetltions In testimony
of irrelevant and needless matter; Of
re-openIng OF tho investigation TO no
beneficial purpose; and of Withholding
tho names OF witnesses and the pur.
pose of their appearing, 80 that the
defense could not possibly be prepared
TO meet their testimony with necessa-
ry counter-evidence.
The Senator has the undoubted right
TO obtain such witnesses as are re-
quIred to refute the errors and false
hoods newly introduced, and notwith-
standing his eagerness to have the case
decided, he should, In common justice
TO himself and to tho real objects OF
attack, take the requisite time to gath
er the evidence made essential by this
new encounter. He would be liable
to the censure of his counsel and the
public II he failed IN this particular
1t VIII be remembered that the same
impatience In regard to the time neces-
sary for the production of evidence
by the defense, was exhibited by the
chairman at previous sessions Of the
committee. Witnesses for the protest.
ants were encouraged 10 take all tho
time they wanted IN giving testimony
aud hurry-up spirit was strongly
manifested when the defense was In
progress, We could demonstrate this
from the record, Il necessary, but do
not care to devote space to It now.
Suffice II TO say that, as zone story
is good till another is told,' the press
and the public as well as the gentle-
men who are judges In this protractod
cause, should possess their souls in
patience" until the other side" has
fun opportunity to be heard. II not
why not?
We notice that some papers, as well
as individuals, take the statements OF
witnesses for tho attack as gospel
truth" although they do not agree
on vital points. and are In hurry TO
close up the case without hearing
word In explanation or refutation. Is
that right? Why such extreme haste
just now? We join with others who
want the matter decided without need
less delay, but we protest against
feyerish desire to reopen the investi~
CATION TO admit what was expected to
be full supply OF evidence that was
lacking, and the engerness now to shut
up the inquiry before the fallacy and
weakness OF the most recent effort are
exposed. "gestlna lentc" Is a good mot
TO for present rs wen as general OBJ
servanee, But do not let the time run
70 waste!"