Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-05-25
THE "NEws" WAS RIGHT.

The Tribune had another paroxysm
last Friday. when trying to deny its
OPPOSITION to the last bond issue. Rut
the denial, although as emphathic as
billings gate can made it,does not affect
the truth In the matter.
on Nov. 20. 1904, the paper. in an
editorial Of which the following is a
part, tried to make the entire PROPOSE
ton look suspicious.
What has become of the ParIev,s
Park reservoir proposition. for which
the City made such considerable pre-
parations last year, in order to make
sure an ample water supply for the
city, Surveys were made, the site for
the reservoir was selected, trenches
were dug. estimates of cost were care
fully worked out. and there was a
fierce struggle TO let part of the con-
tracts, whether the city had the money
to pay for 1t or not
But now, though the water pro-
position IL brought prominently 10 the
front again, no one says anything about
the Parley's canyon reservoir, though
at the time when the preparations to
put it in We're being made. there SEEM
ed to be a universal concession that
poses of the city for a number of years.
Now. however, all that goes for
nothing, and we are treated To new
propositions entirely. two of them. the
advocates of each of which respective
ly answering the public that the other
scheme IL objectionable. uncertain, and
little likely to solve the water prob
lem"
That is specimen of the support the
proposed Improvement at that time had
in the Tribune columns. On Nov. 81.
when action was expected In the Coun-
Gil. the paper questioned the measure
as follows:
1T is true that after months OF
labor. and an infinltude OF detail, the
majority of the committee claims that
the plan is sufficient. and is all right
But II said so before the defects were
discovered later. May there not be
more defects? And. anyway, can the
people be asked to endorse by their
vote for the Issue of a million dollars
in bonds. unless there is presented to
them IA we'll matured scheme, free from
doubt as to the title or to delivery of
water, and one that is thoroughly COM
prehensive to the public?"
The Tribune actually suggested an
impossible condition. No scheme could
be presented in which that paper
could not find pretex for doubt.
While endeavoring, in this way to
prejudice the public against the bond
issue. the paper, however. for some
reason or other, on Nov. 22. shrewdly
explained:
What we have said In regard to
the proposition Is not to be construed
as opposing it. but only as enjoining
a proper caution and prudence"
The paper at this time was consci-
Gus Of its opposition that 10 the bond
issue but from now on there is a change
in the editorial tone, because it was
evident that the citizens generally fav-
ored the plan but under the hestat-
ing endorsement. the hatefull oppost-
ton 1t still plainly visible On Nov. 20,
the paper said;
I'VE have endeavored to present
fairly and canddly TSicll the points
involved We see the merits Of tho
proposition, perhaps not In so rosy n
light as the special friends and champ
ions OF 1t might wish, but certainly
we do not see IL in such extremely dark
colors as its enemies see It,"
Even then the Tribune did not class
itself among it's special friends and
champions" as It does now.
on December 2, the paper hoped that
the proposition would be taken out OF
politics" and the next day It suggested
that the plan be wrested from the
Council and entrusted 70 q special "com-
mission of leading citizens" THAT
would be one way Of securing delay.
perhaps defeat. on the l2th OF Dec
ember it expressed the hope that the
opponents OF the plan would present
all their objections, because, forsoth,
the public wants all the Information
on this matter It can possibly obtain"
But, Notwithstanding all this distress
on the part Of the Tribune. the BOND is
sue was authorized by the vote OF the
people, and the paper OF course, pre-
tended that It had been in favor of II
All the time.
But that does not end the story. The
next scheme OF the Tribune was 10
prevent, IL possible the disposal OF the
bonds owing 10 the articles that ap-
peared In that paper, questioning tho
legality Of the bond issue, the deal very
nearly fell through. Special represen-
tatVes OF the City were sent east and
they succeeded In proving the falsity
OF the position Of the Tribune, ana ita
aids, But their efforts to twart the will
Of the people, caused a delay Of several
months in the completion OF the trans
action by which the city was TO obtain