The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-30
CHURCH ORGAN
TRAINS GUNS ON
THE ORGANETTE
Publishes BIiStering Letter on
Inter Mountain Republicans
Prohibition Attitude.
COUPLES CHANGE OF TONE
WITH PURCHASE OF PRESS
ACCUSES FEDERAL OFFICIALS OF
BEING IN ON DEAL WITH
BREWERS.

The Deseret Evening News, organ Of
the Mormon church. last evening print
ed a sensational open letter referring TO
the Inter Mountain Republican, styling
Itself the official organ Of the Republi-
can party in Utah. The letter, written
by 3. F. Grant, was given unusual
prominence on the first page o. the
News, being displayed in heavy black
type set in three-column measure. The
text Of the communication is given be-
low;
Editor the News;-A certain so-cailed
newspaper in this city which claims 10
print All the news ali the time" not
only fails to live Up to its motto, but
actually refuses To do its duty to the
public in this respect.
As a citizen and taxpayer OF this
community, as q father and friend TO
the young, as member Of the church
which pledged its membership at the
last general conference to work for pro-
hibitioh, as a Republican who has Civ
en- his time early and late. and contrib
uted of his means for the success Of the
party in power, as a subscriber to the
Inter Mountain Republican since its
beginning. I want to make few state
ments and ask few questions.
As / have reason to believe that let
ter sent to the Inter Mountain Repub-
liean would never see the light of day,
! shall address this letter to the News,
which has shown a disposition to be
fair and to really print the news on
both sides Of public questions.
In the first place, ! will call attention
10 the flies OF the Republican which be-
gan a systematic agitation Of the liquor
question last fall before the opening Of
the campaign.
Neat boxes in conspicuous places
were filed daily with excellent articles
favoring suppression OF the liquor bust
nesSin Utah. To be sure,s these articles
were printed on an Old-fsshioned and
inadequate press, but they had about
them ring Of sincerity that did my
heart good and made me proud TO be
numbered among the earliest friends
AND staunchest supporters Of such a
paper.
The indications were that a Repub-
lean victory in Utah was assured and
that, in view of the sentiments ex-
pressed by leaders Of that party and
by its official organ. prohibition legis-
latlbl NdS IhEM t~E assured TtJOiCe0
accordingly. as did federal officials who
were prominent in fighting the saloons.
The brewers and salOOnmen grew
alarmed at the outlook. They held q
meeting and raised a purse Of $4,000. It
( is said. with which to oppose prOhibi-
ton. AS to what disposition they made
of this fund I have only rUmor to indi-
cate. and I will not repeat here what
rumor says. 1 want to cOnfine myself
to facts:
Fact !. The Inter- Mountain Repub-
lican made a feature of box articles
favOring prohibition.
Fact ,. The paper needed a new press
and the party orgs nization needed
/ funds.
Fact 3. The brewers wished to de-
/ feat prohibition and raised q fund for
that purpose.
Fact Z. The Republican installed 2
new press at an expense Of seversI
thousands Of dollars
Fact ). The Republican discontinued
its ano-saioon articles with the install
lstion Of the new press.
Fact s. The federal officials are out
fighting prohibition now as earnestly as
they once favored f.
Fact Z. Their organ gives space 10
articles against prohibition, but fails
or refuses to print articles favoring
such a law.
Now I want 10 ask why the Repub-
[ lican discontinued its work for prohi-
bition when it bought its new press2
Why does it refuse TO publish all the
news all the time on both sides of this
controversy?
Why are the federal officials circulate
ing the report that any prohibition law
will be declared unconstitutional?
Why are they trying to prove by fig
ures from the internal revenue coilec-
tors Office that prohibition doesn't pro-
hibit?
Why are members Of that aggregs-
ton telling around that any bin for
prohibition passed by the present legis-
lature will be vetoed by the governor2
What authority have they 10 say how
( the courts viii constTue the law, or how
the governor will treat the bill?
Until a few Of these questions are an
swered sa satisfactorily and the signif-
canoe Of some Of these facts explained
away I shall feel that my party feaIty
has been abused and our political her
itage sold for a mess OF pOttage.
B. Z. GRANT.
Salt Lake. Jan. 29.