New-York tribune., 1901-10-27
THE HORIZONS PRESIDENT
POLICY AND POWERS OF JOSEPH F.
SMITH, WHO SUCCEEDS LO-
RENO SNOW.

salt Lake City, Utah. Oct 26 (SpeciaD.-Now that
Joseph f. Smith has succeeded to the presidency Of
the mormon Church in all the world, through the
death Of President Lorenzo Snow, much speculation
is oeing INDUCED in as to his policy This specu-
laton is as much shown among Gentiles as within
the ranks of the church. for the reason that the
pohcy OF the new president will affect all classes
CPoh assuming the reins OF government President
Smith announced that his policy would be largely
alOhs the lines pursued by his predecessors. but
this might mean much or nothing President
snitn is nephew Of Joseph Smith, the Mormon
prophet. and has always been jealous church.
man. In fact. he has frequently been called a
fanactic. owing TO his radical views upon all af-
fairs Of church discipline.
AS president OF the church and trustee-in- trust
ior All OF It's property. President Smith has almost
unlimited power Strictly speaking he is the
church itself He has supervision in a way over
every officer OF the church. and almost every men,
Der is officer Of some kind. While il is gem
orally understood that the president of the church
never takes any action that is not sanctioned by
his two counselors. it must be remembered that
the president appoints his own counsellors and
should he at any time find their views dstasteful.
he could easily rid himself OF them and choose
others. This. however. has never been done and
probably never will be, unless thing extraordi
nary should arise wherein the church would be
divided The president has a number Of minor
places which he I'LL by direction but the
great majority agreed upon by the various
quorums which subject the president.
Should a quorum decide upon an official who is
dstasteful TO the president. the official would be
promptly turned down and another substituted. In
short. the president OF the Mormon church has the
same power over the people of the church that the
President OF the United States over the people
Of the country. the various quorums of church.
or TO be more explicit, the quorums OF the twelve
apostles, bearing the relation to the presi-
dent OF the church that Congress does TO the Pres
dent of the United States The only difference is
that the president of the Mormon church has by
far the greater power, comparatively, there is
not one instance in thousand where any action
taken by him is approved.
In things relating 10 the finances OF the church.
the president has the same general power. in
spiritual affairs. The late President Snow issued
store the credit of the church. the only security
given being the promise OF President Snow, as
trustee-in-trust OF the church property, that the
bonds would be paid upon maturity. The bonds
were all taken within a short time. and as they
bear per cent interest the investment is consd-
cred good President Smith now steps into
the shoes OF President Snow and will hereafter
in all financial affairs of the church.
II has already been announced that President
Smith Will enforce many rules of the church.
laid down by the doctrines and covenants which
have heretofore not been enforced : rigdly as he
has desired. one OF these is the joining of secret
societies by members of the church. He could not
prevent man from joining of these societies.
OF course, but ne could refuse TO recommend any
man for promotion in the church who belonged 10 a
secret society. and this would quickly put an
CHectudI stop 10 the thing.