Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-12-06
THE sMOor CONTROVERSY,

The Worcester Gazette, In the follow
ing editorial, discusses the question OF
the eligibility of Hon. Reed smoot to
election as United States Senator from
Utah. 1t is rather lengthy, but very
interesting:
For downright bigotry and mar
row minded intolerance, the protest Of
the Ministerial alliance Of Salt Lake
City against the election OF Apostle
Smoot Of the Mormon Church TO the
United States Senate Is about on lew
81 with the attitude Of the most Jealous
fanatics whose deeds have blackened
the pages of history from the earliest
times down to the ignorant stand made
by the Boxers against what appeared to
them an attack on their native religion
and customs. The Protestant church
boasts OF Its liberality toward other re-
liglons. The Pilgrim Fathers, we say,
sought IN the new world the freedom 10
worship God as they wished, and yet
body OF ministers who claim 10 have
derived much OF their inspiration from
the noble example Of the Prritans come
out with a set of resolutions denounc-
Ing the Mormons. q copy OF which they
propose 10 send TO every ministerial al
lance OF prominence In the country, to
the President. congressman and sena-
tors. Happily for the cause OF justice
10 the Mormons, the Senate Is pretty
sure to seat Apostle smoot, provided he
can show that he has been duly elected
by the Utah Legislature. The case
against Smoot Is not on the same plane
with that against Brigham H. Roberts
whom the House declined to seat. Fur
thermore, II Is understood In Washing
ton that q majority OF the senators do
not favor any judicial investigation into
Shoots private life or his religious
views.
The substance of the Salt Lake City
protest against the election OF Smoot
is that II Is an endeavor to force upon
the citizens Of Utah a union OF the
church and state. Smoot holds the
highest Office, with one exception, In
the Mormon Church and his election, II
Is declared, would be q menace to our
civilization and religious beliefs. "No
other church has dared to attempt such
an ecclesiastic invasion of Congress"
the ministers declare.
charge that the election Of Smoot Will
actually be the election OF the will OF
the Mormon First Presidency aud
Twelve Apostles to that body, and as a
consistent member OF the Mormon
apostolate he cannot make move
without getting permission 10 take
counsel OF the quorum Of Mormon high
priests 10 which he belongs. The minis
tiers say further that the majority OF
the Mormon apostolate, to which smoot
belongs, are living In polygamous rela-
lions and that Smoot does not dare to
oppose such polygamous conditions but
they do not go so far as TO even hint
that Smoot himself IL q polygamis,
THE document strikes us as beIny
very weak, its most vulnerable point
being its foundation on false and up-
American principles. II the Mormon
Church has a controlling power In the
Utah Legislature, which is 70 elect
smoot II he Is elected at all that Is
ntbody's business outside Of Utah. n
certainly doesn't concern the United
States Senate. II isn't charged that The
members OF the Utah Legislature are
elected by methods that are unoonstl-
tutional. II the people OF Utah don't
Ike the Utah Legislature let them elect
new body. II, on the other hand, the
Mormons' are In the majority in that
State, they should be allowed 10 ex.
crcise the same rights that the ma
jority exercise In the other states OF
the Union. II Is possible TO conceive
Of real, II not outwardly expressed un-
ion OF the Church and state that aid
not violate the constitution. II the
Mormon Church eutertains an ambition
10 have one Of its Apostles In Congress
this ambition Is Just as laudable and
honorable as that entertained by many
e. our denominations. Smoot will not
be a Mormon Apostle In the Senate but
Just q plain American citizen on. the
same level with Methodists. Congrega-
tionallst and Catholics. The Senate has
No right to inquire who influences his
action on public questions. II doesn't
ask Senator Quay or Senator Platt with
whom they have been In conference on