Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-13
UTAH POLITICS.


The Portland Oregonlan Of the 9Th
inst, contained the following interview
with Hon Mosiah Eyens of Lehi on
Utah politics and the election to the
United States senate OF Hon Reed
smoot. While It contains a few mis-
statements, the interview will be read
with interest by the public generally
The paper says:
Mosiah Evans, Of Lehi, Utah, presi-
dent OF the Utah Sugar company, and
one OF the men who contributed to the
sending of Reed Sm0ot to the United
States senate, came TO Portland yester-
day and secured rooms at the Portland
hotel.
Mr. Evans is more prominent in bust
ness than in politics in his native state,
but Is influential in both. Just now,
having helped to elect Mr.. Smoot
United States senator, he Is anxious 10
have Mr.. Smoot seated. lie Is himself
a member OF the Mormon Church,
and appreciates fully the present deli
cate position Of that body in political
affairs.
1t may seem strange to people on the
outside" said Mr.. Evans last night
but we folks In Utah don't understand
why mans religion should disquallfy
him politically. We think that Nor
mon" is just as useful politically as a
Methodist or an EEtscopalan and IN
Reed Smoot we believe We have elected
the best man available for United
States senator He has won success In
his own business ventures, and has
shown qualities in private life that have
won the respect OF his fellow citizens.
HE is not a polygamist. He has onl1
one wife, but he is none the less faith
ful believer In the Mormon Church.
lie is one OF the Twelve Apostles OF
the Church, and ranks third TO the head
OF the organization as present. | have
known him from boyhood and haven't
the slightest hesitancy in expressing
my perfect confidence In him / believe
he will make one Of the best represent
atives that Utah ever sent to the ma
tonal legislature
Il do not believe that Mr., Smoot VIII
be rejected, as Brigham H. Roberts was.
he is a braiuy and an able man, and
We regret that Congress rejected him.
But It is inconceivable that the United
states senate will treat Mr. Smoot in
the same way. for in the matter Of
wives he could not have offended any
member Of the upper house OF Con-
gress AS | said before, he has but one,
The Mormon population In Utah is
! three-fourths Of the whole and We had
approximately the same majority In the
Legislature that elected Mr.. Smoot We
| simply take the position that we are The
best judges Of the sort Of men whom
we want 10 represent US at Washing
ton, and that Washington isn't quail
| fed 70 act as a superior court to pass
| upon our judgment.
Mr.. smoot is a miner by occupation,
| and a man OF independent means In
| his personal habits he will outclass a
| majority of those who are TO be his
official associates IN future, and be is
! az clean minded and honest handed as
any representative that comes from
New England. But as I said before, we
do not want the United States senate
to think that We are antagonizing II In
| this matter. We just want IL UNDER
stood that we are sending our best clt.-
zens to represent as at Washington,
/ and that we don't care q cents worth OF
alfalfa what their religious quallhca-
| tons are"
Mr.. Evans Is something Of . politician
| himself He Is mayor of Lehi, ana for
a long time represented his district IN
/ the Legislature But just now be Us de-
voting himself 10 business, and has been
most successful
Last year" he said eve put ont 2l,-
] 0o0 900 pounds of beet sugar, and next
! year We propose 10 break an records, i
| am In Portland now looking for labor
the one thing we lack in Utah. ] am
firmly OF the opinion that during The
next 10 years the great west of The
| United States will supply the whole
/ worlds demand FOR sugar We are not
afraid OF Cuba. Even when annexation
| comes. Cuba viii find ID SO much more
| profitable 10 grow tobacco than sugar
that we VIII be able 90 arrange q per-
feet system Of reciprocity with her.
Mr., Evans win be al the Portland for
a week, and will then return 10 his home
IN Utah.