Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-24
f,efends Himself and Betterment
Committee from lntermourl-
tain Rpublican Attacks.
WON'T BE DRAWN IN POLITICS
chairman Tells OF the True inward
ness OF tho Fight Wagcd Against
Attorney Job Lyon.

Y rAn which among OUneTsInlnRS calls him
I professional peddler of hot air, and
fundamental four usher,'' apparently
has stirred up his many friends
throughout the state generally.
Mr.. Grant stated this morning that
he did not think that the public was
greatly Interested in what he thought
OF the Inter-Monntaln Republican, and
II am sure the public Is not Interested
II, what the Republican thinlss Of me, :"
he said II respect the Republican Just
as much as I respect any public news
paper that Is working in the interest
of good morals
Now" continued the chairman of thu
central betterment committee, warm
e Ing up that paper accuses r1eyof cul-
tivatiug a hot enmity entirely without
warrant or reason Possibly the fac
that the Republican fought tooth and
toe-nail the wishes of $4,000 people OF
this state who desired prohibition may
be said to be without warrant or refl =
non.
SIN the next sentence tfe editor Of
the Republican shows his ignorance
when ne alludesi to the association OF
honest men and women who desire the
closing Of the stockade. II may be
news to the Republican to know that
s there are no women connected with
tho central betterment committee. But
we will let It go at that.
& UNWARRANTED CHARGE.
THE paper then goes on to assert
that have done lS everything which
tends to prevent the committee accom-
pllshing the work desired by my as
sociates. AS to this unwarranted
charge can only say that / have never
made a move without the sanction and
knowledge of the Central Betternent
& committee. was chosen by the men-
bers as chairman. and every step that
has been and Is being taken Is only
done after due consultation.
Regarding the charge made by the
paper under discussion that am strong
In my endorsement OF Sam Barlow as
chief of police, I will say that will
endorse the acts Of an official Just as
long as he does his duty. T went to
Chief Barlow and asked him to remove
the slot machines in the saloons and
cigar stores, machines which absorbed
the nlckles Of the boys and bred III
them the desire to gamble. The chief OF
police took prompt action after listen
ing to my story and closed up the slot
machines. Certainly T endorsed him..
don't have to inquire as to a mans
political allegiance when he is doing
x lle TlSl sL'llIlS
For the same reason + compiinented
the city council when 1T passed and
put into force the new liquor ordinance.
The law Is not a dead letter apparent-,
ly, judging from the number of Sunday;
arrests that are being made. The pos
lice force, IL It is an American police
force, Is entitled to compliments when
it is doing Its duty. This new liquor
law Is a step In the right direction;
10 10 faY 10 he 90 o,,-
tered into close compact with the Trib-
nne. Well. all Il can say is that I
have never asked for an interview in
the Tribune / have never given the
Tribune an Interview or communication
and have never asked that anything
be printed in its columns. All that
the Tribune has done has been to copy
interviews and communications which
have been printed in the Deseret News
and the Salt Lake Herald.
CERTAINLY HAS ITS GALL
'.The Republican claims credit for
being the only paper which has fought
the establishment and maintenance of
the stockade. So far as the Inter
Mountain Republican is concerned 1t
is not backward in claiming everything
in sight. 1t certainly has it's gall after
the stand the Deseret News has taken
AS to the editorial mistatenents re-
garding my attitude towards Job Lyon.
the county attorney: From the first
have been misouoted Il, the Republican,
as I have previously stated. AS far
as am concerned do not intend to be
drawn into the fight on the county at
torney, who apparently has incurred
the anin1osity of the Republican be-
cause he had the temerity to enter
suit against the county commissioners
Z to recover In the interests OF the people
several thousand dollars which are all
legged to have found their way into the
business office of the Republican for
printing the annual delinquent tax no
tlces at very high and fancy figure
without first going through the formali-
ty of even entering a bid on the propo-
sition That Is rather n long sentence,
but 1t tells the story.
Il never said the things the Republi-
can accuses me of. / called on Mr..
Lyon In connection with the stockade
case and asked him regarding his re-
ported attitude on the matter He as
sured me that he would dohis duty and
take up the cases. He also welcomed
the suggestion that two other attorneys
assist him In the prosecutions. l will
continue to believe, despite the Repub-
lican, that Mr.. Lyon is a man of his
word. i will continue to believe this
until the county attorney fails to de-
liver the goods. ~
The Republican says that I do not
want the stockade closed. 1 think that
my record as chairman of the Central
Betterment committee answers that
e Question:
The Central Betterment committee
knows no sect or political party and
declines to be hauled into politics to
please the Inter Mountain Republican
or any other paper. 1t Welcomes the
AID Of all loyal citizens. 1t will con-
tinue to praise and commend public
officials of all parties for the faithful.
performance of their duty. And 1t will
expose and condemn officers of any po-
iitical party who are backward In the
performance of their sworn duty. We
have assisted and desire to assist the
good work of the juvenile court and
al other Institutions whose object and
ship.
y could say more, hut the Republi-s
cans attitude smells to high heaven of
pniltics, and. as stated times without
number the Central Betteruent COM
.nlttee firmly and respectfully declines
y be made "a party to any political
move Of any nature whatever.
TO BUY DETENTION HOME.
NNyN,.x. IL