Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-07-18
LOCAL LAND BOARD ATTACKED
Former Governor Wells Makes a
Ringing Disclaimer Against
Charges as Published.
Pleads Not Guilty and Says If Proven
Otherwise lie VIII Change IL
To One of Insanity"

iStrauOn OF GOV. Melis, IN WnOlesale
coal land frauds Gov Wells wrote for
the News the following statement
this afternoon:
II have read the Herald article aud
noted the ale cations and insinuat!Ons
against the former state land board
of which | was chairman. How much
" the matter Il politics worked IN by
the fine Italian hand Of the Demo-
cratic organ and how much H. really
charged BY the government experts
Who have been conducting an inVcsti-
gallon (as alcgcd) | am unable 10
say but 20 all charges Of whatever
character 10 the effect that the busl-
Hcss Of the beard was conducted other
Than In accordance with the law aud
In the interests of the state, for my
sclf and all my associates plead not
guilty and await u bill Ut particulars.
II ] am proven guilty of COLLISION
with citizens 10 dciraud the govern
ment ] may change my plea To 'in-
sanity
IN the struggle for renewing the spirit
Of honesty and square dealing In Amer
lean commercial life. the hard HIT trusts
which carelessly oyerreached In grasp
ing for power, and had their fingers
trimmed by Uncle Sam, have up to now
been far removed from Utah.
The unwinding process Of government
prosecution Is now about due. however,
to center in the federal courts Of the
Utah district and the Pleasant VALLEY
Coal company. with It's allied relative,
the Utah Fuel company, win bear the
brunt Of the federal attack. Incident
ally about a hundred good Utah citizens
who signed their names TO oaths that
they were filing on grazing land, when
IN reality they were acting as agents
for an agen, Of the coal company, which
acquired through them title to many
valuable tracts OF coal land, will find
themselves IN something OF a corner.
THE STATE LAND BOARD.
The state land board. as It existed
in the first and second terms Of Former
Governor Heber NJ. Wells, will also be
involved, as It handled the transactions
through which the land was passed as
grazing land and received the perjured
oaths Of applying citizens.
The suits IN these cases have sew
cral nrecedents In other states and
they will be prosecuted by the gov
eminent IN the same manner The
head Of the government legal system
will handle them himself independent
81 the district attorney IN this state.
and VIII work through agents, as has
been the case In oregon and other
states. The fact that United staten
Dist Atty. H. f.. Booth will not be
called upon 10 push the prosecution,
has no possible local significance. &C
cording 10 the statements Of well IN
formed people who are familiar with
government methods In cases OF this
kind.
SECRET SERVICE MEN.
Secret service men. sent out under
instructions from Atty Gen. W. H.
Moody have prepared the cases. and
they are now reported TO be ready for
flllng. Judge Marshall Of the Federal
court, who ordinarily would try the
cases, Is now absent IN Europe. and his
court Is not scheduled for sessions un-
an September 4 grand jury would
regularly be convened In November
and unless the government decides TO
transfer q circuit Judge to this district.
20 try this case, and TO assemble a
special grand jury. the case will go
over until the fail.
The fact that there was material
available on which TO base charges Of
obtaining valuable mineral lands
through grabbing acreage by means Of
Take entries has long been known To-
cally. and IL was thoroughly exposed IN
the News year or more ago. Since
that time the government has been az
work collecting. the evidence which
forms the basis Of the present suits.
MUCK RAKE WORK.
Theodore Roosevelt has come in re-
cent months to stand as the type OF the
American citizen aggressiyely fighting
10 get back rights and privileges which
have been grabbed by trusts. and as
the trusts have become more careless
and aggressive. and have more and
more struck" the public with
prices, for instauce, based on what
they could get rather than on what
they could afford 10 sell for figuring In
he cost Of production and a fair pro-
m, the Roosevelt type of citizen has
been getting his back w for a strug-
Gle, aud recently the fight has been
declared open. Roosevelt. however. has
marked vety distinctly It's boundaries.
when he attacked yellow journals for
'assailinR improper conditions with I'M
ruth" and went after very heavily the
much nkers." who threw mud on the
fair names Of honest public servants.
Who happened 20 be IN a position
where lies about them would look
Plausible lust such q yellow oppor-
iDnity exists IN the present situation.
end a newspaper can easily be untrue
10 It's proper calling. by utilizing the
opportunity for political - other adj
Vantage. That such chance Is being
improved 10 is fullest limit Is the Ina
preston created IN many minds by the
yelled insinuations made very proml-
lent this morning IN an announcement
n the prospective Ming Of govern
ment suits the local source Of informa-
uon being protected"
UP TO THE OATH TAKERS.
When the coal lands were filed on IN
he ggise Of grazing lands, the state
protected itself by means of an oath.
which Il required applicants TO make.
Every applicant signed this. and Il
was the way the legislature provided