The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-19
'DEFIES PROOF OF
SMOOI CRITICISMS.
SALT LAKE CITY MAN CHAL-
LENaEs SENATOR'S AcuusERs.
v. S. Peet Offers Rewards A~ggregating
$4,000 for Proof Of Statements
Which He Brands False-says Utah
Business Interests Are Innocent suf-
ferers and Defends the State.

To correct impressions Of Utah, ere.
ated by the attempts to unseat Senator
Reed Smoot and stimulate the business
Of the state, which they believe has
been, injured by the campaign, promi-
nent Salt Lake City business men have
sent V. s. Peet on a publicity mission.
MI. Peet reached Minneapolis today and
Immediately offered rewards aggrega-
ting $4,000 if certain statements, he
declares are slanderous, can be proved
true. This money he will donate to
churches and charity, if evidence sub.
Stimulating the charges is presented.
Mr.. Peet, a non-Mormon, say the
men who back him are also non-Mormon.
Their sole purpose is the protection Of
the commercial interests Of the state
that have been the innocent sufferers
thru the Smoot disturbance. Laying
the merits Of that case and religion
aside, MIR. Peet declares the state to.
day is one Of the most progressive in
the United States and possesses wonder.
full opportunities for investors and set
tiers. The impressions that have gone
abroad as a result Of the campaign
waged against Smoot have been de-
cidedly harmful to the business inter
ests and they have foundNit imperative
to send out an agent to set the state
right.
O. E. Loose as Guarantor. +.
G. E. Loose, state senator and republi-
can national committeeman Of Utah,
! appears as guarantor Of the rewards Of
fered by Mr.. Peet for proof that the
rewards are offered as follows:
Proof that circular issued by Salt
Lake City Ministerial association does
not contain Hdiabolical falsehoods,' y
will. get a $1,000 donation to the asso'
citation.
Proof from Miss Maria Weed or the
Rev. Duncan J.. Mcmillan that Senator
Smoot ever had a plural wife will Obtain
$1,000 for the national W.. Q. 7. y. ano
missions. en- .,
Proof Of truth Of alleged statements
Of Rev. s. E.. Wishard that he had cat
alleged names Of thirty Mormons WIN
had taken plural wives since 1890; tina
Reed Smoot belonged to a society tina
murdered apostates to save their souls
and that all Mormon women were sub
jugated and made to accept polygamy
vii y IL be rewarded BY a donation o
For proof that Rev. George Bailey
alleged to have said Senator Smoot ha'
sworn to overthrow the government an
was guilty Of treason or worse, did no
state untruth, ST, 0 will be donated t
any charity designated.
Defends Joseph Smith.
Proof that DR.. T.. G. lifts allege
statement that "polygamy is practice
to a greater extent since Utah became
state,' is not a falsehood, will gal
: $1,000. for any charity designated.
Proof that gDr. William M. Paden di
not make slanderous utterances in cel
| tain alleged interviews, will receive
donation Of $4,000 to First Presbyteria
! church Of Salt Lake City.
! Reasonable proof that any plural ma;
riage has been performed or sanctione
by the Mormon church since Sept. 81
: 1890, will receive q reward Of $1,000.
$ IF it can be shown that Joseph ]
Smith, since he became president Of til
/ Mormon church, has dominated or inte
! fered with in any way the political a.
tions of any individual or party, ]. wi
give $1,000,' is the concluding cha
lenge Of Mr.. Peet. = Il
Tho the Manufacturers and Me
chants. association is not the hacker {
the movement Mr.. Peet represents,
says his campaign has the moral SUI
port of that association and others I
i it's character. =