The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-03
SENATOR sMooT, OF UTAH.
He submits to an Interview and Gives
some information.

He submits to an Interview and Gives
some Information.
Washington Special in Philadelphia Press.
At the age OF eleven Reed Smoot was put
to work. He began as a bobbin boy in the
wooden mills AT Provo City. His father was
one of the Mormon stockholders in that
corporation. and by this means he secured
employment. In six years from that time
he had been promoted through all the
grades to general superintendent OF the es-
adjustment He won his way, according
to the statements of personal friends. by
industry, business capacity and executive
ability. Mr.. Smoot does not talk much OF
this stage of his career.
II never had to ask any man for a posi-
tion," he said. with a certain self-satisfac-
ton under the circumstances Positions
came TO me, am glad 10 say" was his sole
statement concerning his early life in the
mill.
He is college graduate. His education
was gained in the Mormon schools and the
university of his native State. He picked
up his education by the wayside. IL
WERE as he logged along i'm his business
career In the course OF our conversation
took up the direct question of his politics
and religion. and asked:
,; How closely are your politics and your
reIlg1on 1nterWOven?'
Not any more closely than those of any
other member of the United States Senate.
One of the first rules of the Mormon Church
is that we must give allegiance to the gov
eminent under which we live III Mormon
missionary were to meet you and hand you
his card upon the back of it you would lind
hule IL OF our church, which commands
every member to give allegiance and faith
full adherence to the government and the
ruler under which he lives, whether he be
King, Prince or President
You apostle-one OF the twelve
apostles OF the Mormon Church,"
Yes: / am"
Does that impose stringent obligations,
certain restrictions. greater than those i'm
posed upon the ordinary member OF the
Mormon Church,"
mo; for the reason that the entire adult
male membership of the Mormon Church
is composed of officials in that organization
Under these circumstances there is q
marked difference between the Mormon
Church and other religious bodies, and the
objection of my being a high church off,
ciaP does not hold.
do you know what the duties of an apos-
tie In the Mormon Church are?' asked Mr..
Smoot, turning questioner.
Principally TO exercise supervision over
the spiritual and general welfare of the
whole church., was the answer
iii tell you, continued the senator-elect
from Utah. Out of the great body of the
male members Of the church twelve men
are selected. each with some particular fit
ness for some particular work had been
superintendent of the mills at Provo for
many years and Ii is possible that the sue
cess of that operation was in measure
responsible for my selection. My duties as
an apostle of the church have been what?
To attend meeting from 10 to ~ once a
week on Thursdays and offer any sugges-
tions or advice from a business standpoint
on whatever business might come up affect
Ing the n. &. o. j., which stands for lions
Cooperative Institution. On Sundays L go
out somewhere and deliver a lecture. but
that has been done by me for years.
1T has been charged as you well know,
Mr.. Smoot that your first allegiance, above
and beyond everything, is TO the Mormon
Il know that, and great deal more has
been charged that is untrue" he said. but
without any trace of anger.
LAS member of the Senate, III a ques-
ton affecting equally the interests of the
Mormon Church and the interests of the
whole country were to come up, how would
your vote be cast?"
For the country every time. Let there
be no misunderstanding or mistake about
that question" and the senator-eIect from
Utah leaned forward in his chair and, shak-
Ing long forefinger by way of emphasis.
continued:
81 want you and everybody else to un-
derstand that am an American: that my
forefathers were Americans for genera
lions. and that although i am a Mormon
In religion, l am an American at heart.
Besides that, l would violate the teaching
trary to my duty, to my country and TO
my fellow-man."
"Then you have no mental religious res
ervation that would interfere with your
| duties as a senator or citiZen?'
None whatever, sir"
There<is a rather amusing story of Mr..
Shoots, advent into Republicanism. AS
stated, his father was kentucky Demo-
crat, with all that that implies. to the day
of his death. While yet young man Reed
Smoot had his attention attracted to the
v>rfxx 4s,@Ix. n
| during the presidential campaign OF 1850
| adopted unique method of settling the
| question of his party allegiance. He SUBJ
scribed to two newspapers, one Democratic
and the other Republican, and during the
progress of the campaign read each pub
| LEGATION carefully. with the result that when
the campaign ended he was an avowed Re-
| publican.
| A few years afterward, while a State
| canvass was I'm progress, II was decided TO
| hold a meeting in Provo to be addressed
| by several prominent Republicans. A band
was secured, and on the night of the meet
| ing Reed Smoot. with some other young
| men, marched behind the band to the place
/ of meeting. 1t was a rather slim process
sion. and only three out of the crowd mus
| tered sufficient nervc to sit on the platform
with the speakers. Young Smoot was one
| of the three.
Several evenings later he visited his
| father in Salt Lake. After the usual greet
ings the father said, with emphasis and a
| sternness beyond the ordinary:
81 understand you had a Republican
| meeting in Provo?"
Yes sir, and IL was success was the
! sons reply.
| 81 am told that you took an active part
| in it, said the father.
yes / did
| "Well, / cannot understand, and will
| never be able to understand, how "A son of
| mine can be Republican" And that end
| ed the subject forever.
| The wife of Mr.. Smoot was daughter OF
| Gen. III. l.. Eldridge, a relative OF Abraham
Lincoln. They have six children, the Oldest
| now about thirteen, the youngest {. little
| over year.
Mr.. Smoot is said to be worth a hall
| million dollars. He Is president of the
| Provo Commer~ial and Savings Bank. vice
| president of the Grand Central Mining
| Company, and one of the directors Of the
Zion Cooperative Institution. one OF the
| great concerns OF Utah, i'm which many
capitalists and non-Mormons have stock.
The Book Famine.
Indianapolis Special" i'm Chicago Tribune