| Show UTAH PRESS ASSOCIATION Sugar City Idaho encouraging farmers to raise beets to supply factories under construction Of his key role in the start of Utah Press Association he commented but briefly The enthusiasm of both Walter and his father about Lehisugar-producing factory was at its height when the 1893 organizational meeting took place Three hundred tons of sugar were being produced each working day by the 135 people employed in the two-year old plant Consequently the Tribunereference to the December 17th delegates payingvisit to the Utah sugar factory During his many years involvement with sugar Webb did use his journalistic skills to properly label the industry Not unlike people of other states where the manufacture of sugar from the huge white beets was undertaken Utahns were prone to refer to the sugar beet factory Language purists were quick to correct the phrase to beet sugar factory arguing that sugar not beets was being manufactured In some areas those preferring the sugar beet factory approach resented being corrected by nit-pickers and responded to the beet sugar reference by injecting humor into the controversy They likened the situation tojoke which related that an individual approaching the Pearly Gates was asked by St Peter Whothere The visitor replied It is To which St Peter purportedly responded Go to Hell we ve got enough English teachers up here The improper description persisted nonetheless for as long as beet sugar managed to counter the competition of the cane variety before disappearing from much though not all of the Utah scene In 1927 Webb attended the winter convention of UPA and in 1966 at the age of 97 he again made an appearance The long arm of coincidence playedpart in his final visit At that time Utah State Press Associationmanager was Mr Webbgrandson Gordon Owen Jr Opposite page AN AMBITIOUS UNDERTAKING of the Association in the 7979-1920 era was the Chicken Feed which brought over 200 legislators state officers and civic officials together in the Commercial Club ballroom 18 Digital image 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah Al rights reserved |
