Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-29

It remained for Mrs. Dubois TO tell pub
licly cruel. merciless lie about the
innocent children! And that In a
building ostensibly dedicated to Him
who was the friend Of childrenl
The effusion OF the lecturer has not
had the effect she intended, OF poison-
Ing the public mind against the Nor
mon" population Of Utah and idaho,
Too big dose OF poison acts as an
emetic, Il Is said and that Is, we be-
lieyc, figuratively speaking. the effect
Of the lady's slanderous address. 1t
has called forth a gallant defense OF
the Mormons," by men qualified to
speak OF them and their children.
Among these is Mr. George w. Gibbs
OF Chicago. He Is not Mormon"
but he has lived IN Utah and had ex-
ceptional opportunities Of becoming
acquainted with the people here. In
contribution to the Chicago Daily
News OF Dec. "a, he says:
Il note In the Daily News of Dec.
Is an article purporting to be extracts
from an address delivered by Mrs.
Fred 7. Dubois at the Waugh Meth
odist Episcopal church Of Washington.
II. c., the subject OF which was The
Eject OF Normonlsin on Education.
Before commenting on the article let
me say that | am not Mormon, but
during thirteen years residence In salt
Lake city was classed as a gentle.
Having served as a deputy sheriff ami
held other political offices In Utah un-
der the reign OF the old Liberal party.
am under no obligations to the Nor
mons for what I shall say.
"In 1898, when volunteers were called
upon for the war with Spain, rendered
my services and was commissioned
first lieutenant OF Utah volunteers by
Gov. Heber NJ. Wells. | was assigned
as recruiting officer In Salt Lake city
and passed on to the officers at Fort
Douglass 800 Mormon boys. FTom
among these boys the Utah batteries
We're selected and history shows that
they followed the flag With honor and
the zeal of true patriots.
In my position OF an officer / was
able to see and hear the acts and COM
ments OF this Mormon battalion, fight
Ing for the governments flag IN
scores of engagements with the enemy.
Never sid note any but the most val
orous and hearty support OF all orders
emanating from the authority over us
and a jealous endeavor to carry out
the wishes OF the government.
"'The Mormon children of Utah spit
on the flag? Never They would be
the first to resent such an insult to the
oolors! Did the estlmable lady ever
zee the ceremony that attends the rails
ing and lowering Of Old Glory on the
opening and closing OF the daily school
cessions OF the public schools OF Utah?
Did she ever listen to the glorious
voices OF the children Of Utah when
they sound forth The Star Spangled
Banner at that ceremony II she had
she would never accuse them OF such
an act as insulting the flag. / want to
say that In all my contact with the
Mormon people | never saw or heard
of one who has not since 1891 respected
the flag both In times of peace and
war.
III the estlmable lady was as well
informed as Theodore Roosevelt. presi-
dent OF these United states, who has
visited Utah and knows whereof he
speaks, she would understand that her
criticism OF him was unjust. Ths
same thing pertains to all the criti-
cism OF Senator Smoot. A more con-
sclentious. Just and able man never
was selected by any people to repre-
sent them In Congress.
THE people OF Utah are so far above
these petty criticisms that they do not
even refute them.
GEORGE w. GIBBS"
Chicago"
We may add that the good opinion
here expressed by Mr., Gibbs about the
''Mormons" among whom he lived for
a number Of years, prevails very large
~ among former residents OF Utah,
wherever they are found. They have
OF kindness for the people here,
and never tire Of telling OF their pleas
ant recollecu9ns. They are never IN
fuenced by the felsehoods spread by a
ibellous press Fnd a contemplate |
clique OF preachers Of the doctrine of
hatred. These have influence only over
hose who love falsehood more than
truth and therefore prefer II: or who |
through ignorance are deceived for
zhort time