The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-12


colleagues | think should say that
they have been in favor of Captain
Hobbs all along And ! might add,
with the possible exception OF a few
of MIR. Thompson's close and init
mate ends, politically, all who are
in favor Of square deal were in
favor Of the retention Of Captain
Hobbs. 1t has been suggested, and,
in fact, is believed by men of high
standing in the community, that
Captain Hobbs was 20 be deposed in
the interest of the Utah Fuel COM
pany Sc that II might obtain coal
lands at about the minimum price
for which public domain is disposed
ct by the government.
1.-THE fact that you are known to
be the general attorney for the fuel
company, and, as such, have repre-
sented it before the United States
land office in proceedings brought to
acquire title to coal lands in which
contests have been filed, no doubt
gave rise to these ugly rumors. Now,
senator, ! do not wish to be under
stood as intimating that your reIa-
lions with the company has anything
whatever to do with your attitude
toward Captain Hobbs, but there are
some who refuse TO take the SANE
charitable view Of your conduct in
this matter that have, and attribute
1T to an error OF Judgment only. Your
defense that 'MF. Thompson has rem
dered most effective service to his
party is regarded as a subterfuge
and will not be accepted because, as
| have observed, whenever his party
really needed his services he was
either in the camp of the opposition
giving aid or comfort, 'suIking in his
tent or in intrigue with those VITO
were determined to disrupt the Re-
publican party altogether In this
state.
Nor do 7 wish to be understood that
/ believe for one moment. or have the
Tem0test suspicion. that Mr.. Thompson is
in collision with the corporation referred
to- or that he. under any circumstances,
would. or could be induced TO do anything
either as a public officer or private
citizen, which he does not believe to be
honorable; and, in justice to him. will
say that have not heard anything de-
rogatory to his character.
The situation appeared to be this: The
Utah Fuel company desired Captain
Hobbs sidetracked, and you. it's attorney,
wanted Mr.. Thompson appointed to the
office. Mr.. Thompson being in no way
q party to the scheme except as a re-
ceptive candidate for the position. The
friends Of Captain Hobbs, some of whom
are directly responsible for your election
to the United States senate have been
placed in the humiliating and notifying
position Of having to appeal TO other de
partments Of the government, and to rep
resentative men from other states to in
tercede, TO prevent the president from
being imposed upon and misled, either by
direct Misrepresentation OF by the keep
ing from him important information to
which he was entitled, into removing an
efficient and trustworthy public officer
from an important and responsible posi-
ton solely in the interest, so il is be-
lieved by many of the leading and sub
stantiaf citizens of this state who are &C
quainted with the situation, of a grasp
ing and FapaciOus corporation and there
by putting him, the president. in the light
of Tepudiating, I'm a measure, the policy
which he, as chief executive, has always
pursued in his treatment of the old sol
diers' and his oft-repeated declaration of
his appreciation of the patriotic services
rendered by them.
Sutherland Followed Kearns.
'rYour apparent contempt for and in
dignation toward the Salt Lake Tribune
might have some weight and would be in
much better taste were it not for the fact
that in 1895 Mr.. Thompson and his pFin-
cfpal supporter. who, as I have hereto
fore observed, is the general attorney for
the Utah Fuel company, Under the lead
ership of the present owner OF that pa
per and his chief editor, bOlted the Re
publican party and worked early and late
through the entire campaign for the cleo
ton of Mr.. Bryan. Now, If we are to
determine the fate of the two gentlemen
in charge of the Tribune (kearns and
CannOng by the treatment Mr.. Thompson
has received at the hands of some of
those in control of the machinery of the
Republican party of this state. all it
would be necessary for the two ex-sena-
tors to do in order to stand in the front
ranks of the preferred Republicans for
federal patronage would be for them To
themselves from the American
party and formally announce their al
egiance to the local Republican organi-
cation with possible prOvisO that Meth
Pr of them should ever become a candi-
date against at least one of those who
now have at their disposal the federal
of the state.
while there are some matters referred
TO here in way that might suggest 9TH
arwise. yet this letter is not written with
any feeling of resentment. My reasons
for reminding you of some matters and
Incidents and inviting your attention 10
others herein referred to- is for the puT-
pose of showing that, according to the
strict rule of party politics, Captain
Hobbs aside from his claims as a sol
der, which appear to have been rather
against him than otherwise until his case
reached the secretary of the interior and
the president, was entitled TO reappoint-
ment and his claims to party recognition
are by far more meritorious than some
other Republicans who have been and
are being favored with the highest public
Dositions within the gift of the state, and
hat. while the captains friends, by de-
handing his retention in office, may have
been disappointing TO YOU. they were
not unfair On the other hand they
would have been derelict In their duties
as citizens and recreant in their friend
ship for the captain had they. without
Hopfinued On Pane q