The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-12
COMES TO RESCUE
OF APOSTLE {MO0T
Treasurer of Provo Wooden
Mills Begs the Question in
a Communication.
WOULD MISLEAD PEOPLE AS
TO CHARGES OF KNIGHT
Attempts to Hold Tribune Re-
spOnsible for What Provo
Capitalist Charges.

The Tribune is in receipt of com
munication from W. K. Bassett, who
is secretary and treasurer Of the Provo
Woolen Mills company. III this COM
munication he makes the statement
that The Tribune printed in it's issues
of November 3, 4 and 9, articles
which are grave insinuations against
tho character of Senator Reed Smoot
as general manager of the Provo
Wooden Mills company,
Now. the facts are that on Novem'
Der 3 The Tribune printed In Its news
columns n special dispatch from Provo,
containing extracts from n speech mado
by Jesse Knight of Provo III that city
on November ., in which the we'll
known Utah financier iiayed the apos-
Ex-senator. In the editorial columns
Of The Tribune of November 1 and
the speech of Mr.. Knight 1t is be
and not The Tribune sthat has made
these grave insinuations against Scna-
tor Smoot, and these accusations have
not been denied.
The object of Mr., Bassett's COM
munication is TO mislead the people; !;
to mystify them regarding the accusa-
tions of Mr.. Knight against the apos-
Ex-senator, and attempt to make them
believe that it was The Tribune that
made the charge. But the attempt is
puerile one. Jesse Knight accused
his townsman, III IL public Speech, of
matters which the apostle has not de-
MED, The charges are his and Mr..
Bassett begs the question IN his COM
munication, which The Tribune prints
herewith. 1t follows, and it will be
noticed that there is. in fact, no de-
NAL of the charges that Jesse Knight
going TO the point that others than
Smoot were engaged in the fleec-
ing of operatives, as described by Mr.,
knight.
Mr.. Bassett's Communication.
Tribune has published in It's columns No
vember O. and several articles
which are grave insinuauons against
Senator Reed Smoot, during the time he
occupied the position of general manager
of the Provo Woolen Mills company, and
In Justice TO him as well as all other
stockholders of the Provo Woolen Mills
company l feel that II is my duty as its
secretary and treasurer, which office ]
have held since October, 1891. and have
had full charge OF all its accounts up TO
the present time, TO make the following
statement and also that the general pub
lie may understand the facts. for l here
by testify that during my said term of
office with this company they arc true
TO the best Of my knowledge.
To keep the Provo wooden mills run
ming at any time during THIS period Il
has always been a hard struggle, bur the
board OF directors. fully realizing the
benefits TO the people in this section OF
country by keeping the mills going. have
made supreme effort from time TO tim
TO overcome generally unfavorabie condi-
tlons
The disadvantages as compared with
eastern woolen mills are numerous. For
Instance. they can readily secure the
most efficient and skilled help In every
department; they are comparatively In
very close touch with large consumers OF
WOODEN goods; they can secure readily at
current market price any grade OF wools
which they may require for a certain or
der or orders for wooden goods, and In
such quantities as Will meet all demands
while at the Provo wooden mills Il is an
absolute necessity that sufficient
amount OF wool be purchased In the
sprlnS Tor the seasons run, otherwise the
WOOL Is all shipped away, thus requiring
at the start large outlay o! capital. and
The interest on same must be comput ed
IN the cost OF all goods manufactured
When goods arc sold TO the trade they
are not paid for as general rule until
four 70 six months after date OF Invoice
During this time general eNpenses are
gong on, wages have 10 be paid. and In
contending with these conditions and try-
ing To keep the mills running the com
pany have sustained heavy losses Thus
the stockholders who have invested tbeIr
money In this Institution have only re-
ceiVed but few small dividends. pay
,nent Of which has generally been made
In woolen goods.
1t was these conditions that actuated
Manager Reed Smoot TO make arrange
ments with the merchants at Provo for
the Provo Woolen Mills company 10 issue
orders on said merchants, payable 10
SInefot s,,ins merchandise In favor OF WOODEN
Said orders us part payment due them
tcr wages; and when said orders were
returned 10 tho woolen mills Office by tho
merchants for payment the total nmoun,
81 same was eet,led for In cash, less ) to
a per cent discount. according 10 agree
fnent, and all OF such discounts were
uuiy credited 10 Provo Woolcu Mills
company. w r RASSI-TT
Secretary and Treasurer Provo Wooden
Mills Company.