Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-06-22
PRESS OPINIONS.

1t Is gratifying to see that the press
Of the country is NOT deeply Impressed
with the idea. set forth by the Presby-
tcflan Assembly at Los Angeles, thar
The religious ministers Of the sects are
TO control the Senate of the United
states ns to the qualification Of mem-
bcrs oi that body, or that they nave
TIE right to dictate TO sovereign state
Of the Union as to It's choice OF a
United States Senator A number OF
prominent papers have thrown a dish
OF colo water on the super-heated reso'
buttons Of the Assembly on this sub
lcct ana the following from the Louis
vile Conrier-Journal is fair express
sion OF the views Of sensible people and
9apers in relation TO he matter
.The general Assembly OF the Presby-
t.rinn church I'm the United states, late
iv In session al Los Angeles, Cala
adoptcd resolutions calling for the eN-
pulsiDn OF Reed Smoot from the senate
1f the United states such action by. q
nody OF such dignity deliberately tax
on must naturally attract "a consider
able share Of public attention
'TNo-thlrds Of the Senate Of the
United states have the power 10 expel
any member, with or without good reu-
SON Their action Is not subject 10
revision by any power on earth ex-
cept indirectly by the bodies which
choose Senators and the people that
elect Legislatures. In this way thorr
is n final appeal TO the great tribunal
0l public opinion. Senators are not al
Ways very complaisaGt toward public
opinion. but neither are they wholly
Indifferent TO Il. They are always alive
60 n sentiment which might make their
recollection difficult or impossible.
Irnte before expcling Mr. Smoot they
would naturally look for some reason
that would justify a step which Is
rarely taken and then usually for
grave reasons.
Mr. Smoot IL a Mormon. out there 10
no constitutional provision against
that No religious test Is possible un-
der our organic law But the resolu-
lions OF the General Assembly UNDER
take to give other reasons for his eX-
pulsiou II H. charged that he Il a
direct representative of polygamy, and
he's encouraged II by his personal in
anence as an apostle. and that by doing
this he has aided and abettcd Grimm.
MS, The sufiiciency OF these charges
would depend unon the construction
pnt upon them There Is no constltu-
tional inhibition OF p0lygamy, as Is adj
United In the resolution asking for
constitutional amendment 10 make
rolygamy a crime But polygamy Is
unlawful In Utah now, and If II can
be shown that Apostle Smoot has been
guilty Of a violation OF the law against
Mural marriage. or accessory to such
violation of law. there viii be some
ground for action But some specific
act To this effect must be- alleged and
proved before any ease against him
VIII be apparent
Tho resolutions adopted by the Con
era Assembly appear to proceed upon
the icea that q Mormon Is necessarily
favorable TO polygemy. But mere In
tcllcclual assent 10 the proposition that
polygpmy is a good thing is not q dis
Qualification for Office. The most pre-
posterous opinions with reference 10 re-
ligion or any other subject do not dis
qualify. Unless. therefore, Apostle
Smcot can be connected with polygamy
IN more direct way than has yet
been done his expulsion cannot be
expected.