Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-01-27
UTAH IS SUFFERING
Business Men of State Refute
Statements of Anti Nor
mon Agitators.
HIT COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE
Rewards Ageregating $4,000 Offered
for Proof of Assertions by
Critics.


Smoot have resulted in representations
being made which the business inter
est of Utah consider are detrimental
and false, and the business men of
Salt Lake City have sent V. S. Peet out
on publicity mission.
| Mr.. Peet was in Rock Island today,
and he offered rewards aggregating
| $4,000 if certain statements which he
says have been slanderously made. can
be proved true. The money offered
will be devoted TO charity, if the allega-
| tions objected to can be verified.
Mr.. Peet. who is not a Mormon
says the interests he is representing
are also non-Mormon, and that the
| business interests of the state have
been made innocent sufferers through
the anti-Smoot campaign impress
sions that are harmful and untrue
have been created, he says.
The state is one of the most pro-
gressive in the union. he maintains,
and the opportunities for investors are
uneXcelled in the United States.
Offers Are Guaranteed.
c. Z. Loose, state senator and repub-
appears as guarantor of the rewards of
fered by Mr.. Peet for proof that the
slanderous statements are true. The
rewards are offered as follows:
Proof that circular issued by Salt
Lake City Ministerial association does
NOT contain ''diabdlical falsehoods,"
will get a $1,000 donation 10 the asso-
citation.
Proof from Miss Maria Weed or the
Rev. Duncan J. Mcmillan that Senator
Smoot ever had plural wife will OBJ
tain 81 900 for the national W. c. T. L.
and 81 900 for the Presbyterian board
of missions.
Proof of truth of alleged statements
of Rev S. e Wishard that he had cat
alleged names of 80 Mormons who had
taken plural wives since 1890; that
Reed Smoot belonged to a society that
murdered apostates TO save their souls,
and that all Mormon women were sub
jugated and made to accept polygamy,
will be rewarded by a donation of
$1,000 to any charity designated
For proof that Rev. George Bailey
alleged to have said Senator Smoot
had sworn to overthrow the govern
ment and was guilty of treason or
worse, did not state untruth. $1,000
will be donated TO any charity desig-
mated.
Proof that DR.. T c. lifts alleged
statement that "polygamy is practiced
TO a greater extent since Utah became
a state" is not falsehood, will gain
$1,000 for any charity designated.
Proof that DR.. William NJ Paden
did not make slanderous utterances in
certain alleged interviews. will receive
Il donation of $4,000 to First Presbyte
rian church of Salt Lake City.
Poiygamy Dying Ont.
Reasonable proof that any plural
marriage has been performed OF sane
toned by the Mormon church since
Sept. 30. 1890 will receive reward of
81 900.
'If it can be shown that Joseph F
Smith, since he became president of
the Mormon church, has dominated or
interfered in any way with the politi-
cal actions of any individual or party,
| will give $1,000" is the concluding
challenge of Mr.. Peet.
Though the Manufacturers and Mer
of the movement Mr. Peet represents,
he says his campaign has the moral
support of that association and others |
of it's character.
Scores IIif.
Mr.. Peet was interested in the fact |
that DR.. c. 7. Tiff. an anti-Mormon |
lecturer. had recently been heard in |
this city And in this connection he |
said: Il suggest that the next time |
DR.. Tiff comes here those who go to |
hear him advise him to go after that |
reward of $4,000 that offer if he will |
verify his statements
Mr.. Peet declared he had no idea |
what was done with the S250.000 that |
he said was collected by various per
sons to conduct in the fight to get |
Smoot out of the senate The govern |
ment, he asserted, has paid all expens- |
es of the hearing so far held.