Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-10
Against Election of Smoot to
the Senate.
PRESIDENTS POSITION
THE SAME STAND WAS TAKEN By
MIR. Mckinley.
Senator Kearns Tells Of Conferences
He Had on the Subject and
Their Result.

President Roosevelt has taken q stand
against the election of an apostle OF the
Mormon church to the United States Senate.
This position Of the President. which has
come to the public notice through an ex-
preston OF opinion directed to the legisla-
ture OF Utah. has not been taken because
Of any antagonism Of the President toward
the Mormon faith purely as q religious sect.
but is based entirely upon the idea that the
allegiance OF an apostle Of the Mormon
church toward his church organization Is
such as to interfere with his allegiance
toward the country as senator Of the
United States
Senator Kearns Of Utah was the medium
through which the President communicated
to the Utah legislature. Mr.. Kearns said
to Star reporter today that about the mid
die OF last month he was called in consul
tation with Senator Hanna and other prom
inent leaders of the republican party In re-
lation to the suggested election OF an
apostle Of the Mormon church to the United
States Senate.
Later he was called into consultation on
this subject with President Roosevelt, and
when he went to Utah during the Christ
mas holidays he carried a message from
the President and Mr.. Hanna to Apostle
Smoot, to the effect that while there was
no objection to Mr.. Smoot generally or to
his religious faith that the election Of an
apostle of the Mormon Church would
arouse opposition and bring up an unfortu-
nate question into the national politics.
This statement he has been authorized
by the President to make public. 1t was
supposed that some Mormon would nat
urally be elected to the Senate from
Utah, but the President was convinced
that IL an apostle were selected 1t would
bring into the dispute question that
would injure the best interests Of the
state of Utah. The President expressed
Int fy, tho %1,f,r nf fh0 Sf "a
OF Utah.
The President has made this same state
ment to Mr. c. E. Loose OF Provo, who has
lately been elected member OF the Utah
senate and VINO Is personal friend of
Apostle Smoot.
President McKinley's Attitude.
1t is declared on the highest authority that
this action OF President Roosevelt is similar
to that of the late President Mckinley. A
prominent member Of the republican ma
tional committee stated to Star reporter
today that two years ago last month Presi-
dent Mckinley assumed the attitude that is
now taken by President Roosevelt In rela-
ton to the proposition to elect an apostle
OF the Mormon Church to the United States
Senate.
It. Is declared that President Mckinley
stated to Mr.. SmoOt, who came to this city
to look over the situation and to ascertain
public sentiment, that it would be very un-
a
ical point OF view for MI Smoot to be elect
ed to the United States senatorsfip, and
strongly urged him not to be a candidate
or to permit himself to be elected.
1t Is understood that this statement was
made after long conference between SEN
ator Smoot. Chairman Hanna, Vice Chair
man Payne and other members of the re-
publican national committee with President
Mckinley.
Appealed to Mr.. Smoot.
President Mckinley, it is stated, with
great earnestness, appealed to Mr.. Smoot
not to suffer himself to be elected, stating
| that it would be certain to bring oppro-
br1um upon his state, to the irreparable
injury Of the state and its people.
This statement was made by Mr.. McKin-
ley from the viewpoint of public policy. At
that time there was great deal of feeling
in the east over the Roberts case, but one
or two members of the national republican
committee state that the situation Is I'M
changed from what 1t was two years ago
| unless it be that two features in the Utah
situation are more prominently brought to
light.
ed that apostles of the church have access
to the marriage records. the only evidence
which would punish the thousands of po-
lygamists in Utah, and they refuse to give
when one takes the oath Of allegiance OF
| apostleship he disqualifies himself from TAX
ing the oath of allegiance required OF Unit
ed States senators.
Asked to Write Letter.
President Roosevelt often has been asked
to write a letter in opposition to Shoots
candidacy or otherwise to make manifest
In public way his disapproval. This he
has steadfastly refused to do. It is no
secret in administration circles, however.
that the President does not look with favor
upon the election of a Mormon apostle to
the Senate and that he believes its effect
would be unfortunate for the Mormon peo-
pie as well as for the state of Utah.
The President would have no more objec-
ton to Smoot merely as a non-polygamous
Mormon, than he would have to the ad-
herent OF any other religious body. and
| would certainly assume that individual
opinions OF this character should not enter
as political consideration. But SO long
as there Is lingering suspicio that a GER
tain part of the Mormon hierarchy is not
| wholly sincere in its professions concern
ing polygamy, this obviously raises objec
ton to.the elevation to the Senate of one
Of its distinguished members