The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-15
GOVERNOR REPLIES
To THE MINISTERS
Says He Believes Pulpiteers
Have Failed to Accept AS
surances in Good Faith.
GUARANTEES COURTESY
Asserts That City and County
Officials Have Not Been
Properly Approached.

Governor William Spry replied yes
terday to the latest letter from the
ministerial association in relation tc
cafe entertainments. telling the officer:
of the association that from the tone OF
their letter he believes they have nc
desire to accept in good faith his prevl'
Gus assurance that he was willing to
co-opcrate in any movement for moral
improvement.
The governor said in his letter that
he had found that the ministers had
not even applied to the proper city and
county authorities for action along the
lines indicated. He declares that he
has interviewed these officials and has
found that they are ready to hear what
ever complaints the association may
make in good faith, The governor also
declares he will force prosecuting OH
vidual will lay before him evidence
that such official has refused to prose
cute for violation of the law on any
but reasonable grounds. Following is
the governor S letter, directed to ID. F.
Carter, president of the ministerial as
soclatlop:
Your communication of February
ga continuation OF correspondence
which has passed between us regard
ing alleged violations OF the statute
prohibiting the employment OF females
TO dance. etc. In public places-was
found upon my return from the east
early this month.
From your previous communications
7 lad assumed that the officials or
Salt Lake City and county were un-
willing to accord you an interview or
hearing regarding such alleged viola
tions. On that assumption l Inter-
viewed both city and county officials
and was told that no request for
hearing on the matter in question had
been made by your association; that
IF such request were made an inter
view would be granted. | advised
you OF this and assured YOU of my
belief that you would be given hear
Ing and treated with courtesy.
The tone OF your recent letter, how
ever, rs such as TO lead me to believe
that YOU have no desire 10 accept IN
good faith my previous assurance that
| would personally and officially CO.
operate with you in improving the
moral standard of this community
have no desire to enter into d public
controversy over the ma tier, as such
controversy can do nothing toward the
accomplishment Of the end which L
have every reason TO believe You are
earnestly seeking. Your letter has been
read carefully. the legal argument and
opinion and brief as to my official
duties. together with the citations OF
law. as well as references TO prece-
dents and magazine articles and edi-
torials have all been given careful
consideration. | see no reason. how
ever under the representations thus
far made, for changing nay attitude as
outlined in my letter to you under
date OF February 4. That letter was
not an attempt to evade any of the
responsibilities of my Office. 1 recog-
nize the supervisory powers Of the
governor over executive and minis
terial officers, and my oath OF office
should be sufficient guarantee to you
that will apply the remedy provided
by law when such executive or minis
terial officers fall to perform their
duties.
II the Ministerial association. or any
other association or individual. Is in
possession OF evidence of Viola tIons OF
the statute, and presents that epi-
dence to proper prosecuting officials
and such prosecuting officials, on any
thing but reasonable grounds, refuse
TO prosecute, and such facts OF neg
lect OF duty are laid before me, shall
proceed promptly to exercise the pow
er vested In me and TO apply such
remedy as the law provides.