The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-06
SENATOR SMOOT, OF UTAH.
He Submits to an Interview and
Gives Some Information.

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 estab-
hshment He won his way, according
to the sta tements of personal friends,
by industry, business capacity and ex-
ecutiVe ability Mr.. Smoot does not
talk much of this stage of his career,
says a Washington dispatch to the
Philadelphia Press
I never had to ask any man for
position" he said, with certain self
satisfaction under the circumstances.
Positions came to me, l am glad to
say was his sole statement concern
ing his early life in the mill.
He is a college graduate His educa-
ton was gained in the Mormon schools
and the university of his native state.
He picked up his education by the
wayside as it were, as he logged along
in his business career In the course
of our conversation I took up the direct
question of his politics and religion,and
asked.
How closely are your politics and
your religion interwoven?"
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 government under
which we live. If a Mormon mission
airy were to meet you and hand you his
card upon the back of it you would
find Rule u of our church, which com
mands every member to give allegiance
and faithful adherence to the govern
ment and the ruler under which he
lives, whether he be king, prince or
president"
You are an apostle-one of the
twelve apostles of the Mormon
church?"
Yes; am
Does that impose stringent .obllga-
tons, certain restrictions, greater than
those imposed upon the ordinary mem
Der of the Mormon church,
No; 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 a marked difference between
the Mormon church and other religious
bodies and the objection of my being a
high church official does not hold
DO you know what the duties OF an an
apostle 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
sI'n tell you" continued the sena tor
elect from Utah. 'Out of the great body
of the male members of the church
twelve men are selected, each with some
particular fitness for some particular
work. I had been superintendent of the
mills at Provo for many years, and 1t
is possible that the success of that oper-
alton was in a measure responsible Tor
nv selection My duties as an apostle
of the church have been what? To at
tend a meeting from 10 to u once a week
on Thursdays and offer any suggestions
or advice from a business standpoint on
whatever business might come up af-
q 2 u ffaIl ste
lions Cooperative Institution. On
Sundays I go out somewhere and deliver
a lecture, but that has been done by me
for years"
TT has been charged, as you well
know, Mr.. Smoot, that your first ale
glance above and beyond everything, is
to the Mormon church,"
Z know that, and a great deal more
has been charged that is untrue" he
said. but without any trace of anger.
ssAS a member of the senate. If 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 CASTE?
For the country every time Let there
be no misunderstanding or mistake
about that question: and the senator
elect from Utah leaned forward in his
chair, and. shaking a long forehnger by
way of emphasis, continued:
Il want you and everybody else to un-
derstand that / am an American that
my IOTeIaL1efS were Americans IOE gen
erations, and that, although I am
Mormon in religion. I am an American
at heart Besides that. would violate
the teaching and rules of my church
We're I to go contrary to my duty, to my
country and to my fellowman."
Then you have no mental religious
reservation that would interfere with
your duties as a senator or as citi-
zen2
None whatever, sir"
There is a rather amusing story of
Mr.. Shoots advent into Republicanism
As stated, his father was a Kentucky
Democrat with all that that implies, to
the day of his death. While yet a young
man Reed Snoot had his attention at
tracted to the principles of the Repub-
lican party, and during the presidential
campaign of 1880 adopted a unique
method Of settling the question of his
party allegiance. He subscribed to two
newspapers, one Democratic and the