Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-01-09
THE SMOKE, NOT THE SHELTERS

10 create the Impression that the
Church is the enemy Of an important
industry. To gain this end with peo-
PIE who are not Informed on the condi-
lions existing here--upon others its ma
Iicious fabrications have no effect-it
has been quoting Gas certain potentate
is said to quote holy writ> isolated sem
fences from an editorial that appeared
in the Deseret News over two years
ago. Now, we submit that tearing sem
fences out Of their connection and CIV
ing them q different meaning to that
intended by the author, is trick that
not oven a respectable sophist would
resort to. But that is of daily occur
renee in anti-"Mormon" publications
we copy on another page of this inn
print of the News" the article re-
ferrcd to, In toto, in order that those
Interested may be in a position to judge
for themselves If they will read the
article, they will find that II is not
the smolters that are attached, as al
legged, but the fumes that were con-
sidered a menace to vegetation and
the health Of the inhabitants of the val
Icy. This smelter smoke will have to
60" This fair county must not be
devastated That is the burden of the
entire article. We believe every sane
person here will agree TO those PROPOSE
lions
For a proper understanding of the
vigorous protest against the smoke
nuisance, 1t must be remembered that
the article was written at time when
almost everybody believed that there
was some practical way Of renledying
the evil complained of Even one OF
the prominent ministers of this city,
In a Sunday sermon, called attention
to the smoke nuisance and expressed
the view that as smoke consumers ex-
listed they should be installed wherever
needed. II was very generally believed
that the policy of delay in finding a
remedy was not justified. Hence the
protest against ''the shilly- shally of the
past"
That no attack was intended upon the
smelling industry IL clear beyond dis
pute from this paragraph, which gives
the essence OF the whole article;
"rhe Deseret News has counseled
peace, consideration for the smelter
people In the difficulties that they have
10 meet, favors towards valuable IN
dusfIy that should be encouraged on
proper lines. and. arbitration instead of
litigation. But II really seems now as
though an aggressive policy will have to
be pursued. or ruin will come to the
agricultural pursuits of Salt Lake coun-
~ eIt
the i'avages of the smelter iiend. IL
the companies that control those works
WILL NOT, or CANNOT, dispose of
the poisonous metallic fumes that pour
out of their smokestacks, the fires will
have to be banked and the nuisance
suppressed. WE DO NOT BELIEVE
THE LATTER is THE NECESSARY
AFFIRMATIVE. WE ARE OF THE
OPINION THAT THE EVIL CAN BE
DISPOSED OF and we are sure that
efforts ought to be made TO effect 1t
without delay"
The entire article Is a strong plea
for the preservation OF the agricultural
interests Of the valley, by the adoption
of some effective oontrlvance for the
consumption OF the smoke and poison
GUS fumes. and this nearly everybody
at that time considered practicable.
Only malice can construe It to be an
attack upon the shelters, The attitude
of thi5paper was stated on the 9th of
November last, as follows:
"rhe interests represented by the
smelters are OF immense value 10 this
region so rich in mineral resources, but
the farming interests are no less i'm
portaut. II would indeed be a calam-
ity If the farmers should be driven
away and the land become desolate.
There should be some way of harmon
i1ng the two interests, which are mu-
tually dependent upon each other"
Why not quote that paragraph, az
two years ago?
We have proved from existing docu-
monts that the Saints, from the be-
ginning of their settlement here, did
all In their power to encourage immi-
grafton into Utah; that they extended
10 all the freedom they had been denied
by fanatic bgots. and apostates; we
have. proved that they pettioned Con-
gress for a railroad line that would
make Utah a pleasant resting place on
the way; that they called the attention
OF settlers and capitalists TO the wealth
OF the mountains, as well as the possi-
biitlos OF the valleys; and that every
year Mormon" men and women ~ the
mission field and in schools and insti-
tutes OF learning in this country and
abroad, are endeavoring to counterart
by truth the influences OF Infamous
falsehoods that the detractors Of the
state have sent abroad by the car load.
Had II not been for the self-saerinclng
labors OF the "Mormons," the progress
OF the state would have been slow In
deed And yet In spite OF all the facts
tho Saints are accused Of harborlng
feelings OF anlmoslty toward so-ealled
outsiders.
We hope to make II clear to all fair
minded persons that tho tales OF Nor
mon" antagonism to material progress,
home Industry. or TO any class of re-
spectacle citizens. are an fiction COM
posed for purposes OF deception. Even
the distinction OF Mormon" ana Gen
tile" would by this time have been elm
mated from common parance, but for
The resurrection Of It by the tiends that
say an opportunity OF prohting by
kindling the fires OF hatred where mu-
lual respect and good feeling should
nyevaij. The "Mormons' do not con-