The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-14
BULLD0ZING LEGISLATORS;
HOW FAR DOES 1T GO?

Editor The Tribune--when a news
paper finds IL necessary TO threaten OF
personally attack men In order 70 ad
vance some cause, it is a reflection upon
| that cause and raises an inquiry as TO
| the honesty and independence of 9TH
ers who do It's bidding and support its
been threatened and forced into the at
| titudes they occupy.
Take the case OF Representative Woot-
ton. Tie was elected from Senator
Shoots county and represents one OF the
largest constituencies In the state, He
is Republican and stands on the Re
his knowledge and belief. In the Provo
opera house he heard Senator Smoot eN-
plain, the liquor plank OF that platform
and heard the senior senator admit that
its language was Ambiguous"
Representative Wootton came TO the
state capital. took the oath of office and
constituents in the enactment OF laws
and the fulhllmcnt Of the pledges OF his
party. He was not the representative
OF a political clique but Of one OF the
largest counties OF the state. He came
direct from the people, Is one of them:
man OF Influence and standing In his
community, and In touch with the rank
and file OF his party.
If he was puzzled over the meaning
OF his party pledge on the liquor ques-
tion he was not the only one. That II
had double meaning and was susceptl-
BILE TO two constructions was not his
fault That he groped his way eau
| tlously through the ambiguity OF that
he. did so his party organ called him an
''obstructionist" Mr. Wootton natural
ly resented this and took the only meth
od at his disposal TO show his resent =
mcnt He denounced the rag" on the
floor OF the house for IT'S unfarness and
for Its insolence to the legislature.
Any newspaper. or party organ inter-
es,ed In the welfare OF the party would
have closed the incident with some ref
erence to Mr.. Wootton's acceptance Of
This was all the matter demanded and
as much as a high regard for party
harmony. would have permitted
bTt very WHs Istu has ntn the ag been dong?
preston TO his resentmnet. the Smoot or
gan has been assailng him. II is urg
ing the defeat of measures he favors. A
bill providing for an extension of time
on lands purchased from the state has
been denounced a selfish proposition
of Mr.. Wootton's to favor some company
in which he is stockholder.
Does any one believe that paper is ac-
tuated by honest praisewortIy motives
In condemning this bill? II Mr.. Woot-
does any one believe it would have found
fault with his land bil2 We are told
that Mr., Wootton Is not an honest legIs-
lator. Did his assallant just discover
this, or was II conCealing IL until Mr..
Wootton did something 10 anger the
bunch behind it? Is il ready TO assail
any other member OF the Legislature who
crosses ito Has II something concealed
from the public on each OF these men
which 1t will only reveal under similar
circumstances Is ii making an exam
pie of Mr. Wootton for the intimidation
OF others? How many men in the pres
ent legislature support the policies Of
the party organ because they are dis
honest and don't want IT told2
surely, the methods Of the blackmailer
reflect no credit upon the cause in which
they are employed. and cast doubt
upon all who support and stand by II
while such means are employed to gain
a questionable end
]. j Johnson.