Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-04-15
THE SCHEME or AGITATION


AS part OF the plan Of crusade
against the Mormon" people, concoct-
ed in this city and aimed ostensbly
against Senator smoot, but really de-
signed to place the entire Mormon
Church in false light before the
country, advance agents says the
Washington correspondent OF the
Cleveland Plain Dealer ARE arranging
for headquarters In the east, from
which the battle impending can be d.
rected" That correspondent states IN
letter dated April and published
April 10, on the first page with sensa-
tional headlines, that. salt Lake pa
pers have recently sent here WASH
ington, d. CT representatives familiar
with the situation, especially to look
after the developments expected before
Congress shall meet again The OBJ
ject in view is outlined IN this way:
Reed Smoot has been sworn In, and
seated and Is now a fun iicdged mein-
Der Of the senate. Even the Genties
who are planning this fight are not
sure they can undo what has already
been done The unexpected special
session admittedly took them by sur
prise and at a disadvantage, But they
insist that they will make Senator
Shoots seat an uncomfortable one, and
that they viii raise an agitation
through the east before they are
through that will compare with the
storm which unseated Roberts as a
gentle zephyr TO cyclone
The correspondent shows that reli-
ance is placed by the Salt Lake agi-
tators and their ant-"Mormon"
friends in the east on two propositions
namely that polygamy is still prao-
tlced under the auspices Of the Nor
mon Church, and that the Church has
broken its agreements, oaths and
pledges in me State Constitution and
elsewhere" Here is another para
graph from his letter to the Plain
Dealer;
1T Is learned that elaborate prepare
lions are being made by Utah Gentlles
TO create public sentiment against
smoot during this summer and next
fan Several tons of the printed protest
filed against his seating will be scat
tered through the length and breadth OF
the land This protest Is an indication
Of the line Of attack 20 be made against
Smoot VI Is not charged that he is a
poygamist although this Is insinuated
by inference, and the opposition to him
hope TO secure evidence that will en-
able them TO charge him with this be-
fore the fight is over. But It Is charged
that the Mormon Church and people
have broken their agreement with the
United States, made when Utah was
admitted as a State to abolish poly
gamy; that this Church Is deliberately
urging this practice upon It's members
at the present time; that the doctrine
Is part and parcel Of It's missionary
propaganda; and that Reed Smo0t as
one Of the Twelve Apostles who rule the
Church and determine It's policies,
through the convenient medium OF FREE
quent divine revelations, Is cOgnizant OF
these things, partially responsible for
them, and in thorough accord with
them. It Is not directly charged as yet
that Smoot Is an individual breaker OF
the nti-poygamous laws, as Roberts
frankly was but that-what IS said 10
be more serious-he IS melting and en-
couraSng the larger part OF the p0pu-
lation In three States to break this law
and to defy the United States govern
ment."
There Is one thing that the consplra- |
tors in this lovely little plot do not
seem TO have taken into account: that |
f. the Senate Of the United States Is
not likely to be swayed by a popular |
outbreak, founded on baseless rumors |
IN the fashion Of the storms that have /
impelled the House Of Representatives. |
on several occasions. to take hasty and |
unwarranted action, IN obedience TO re-
llgous dictation backed by unreasoning |
public prejudice. The whole matter
viii be investigated, with the fairness.
dignity and deliberation that usually |
distinguishes the proceedings OF that |
august body. Unsupported assertions. |
speeches. improved allie
cations viii probably be placed at their
true value, which is nil. and both sides |
Of the controversy viii be heard before
& decision is reached That f. some
thing that the schemers have not fully |
We do not believe that such a popu.
lar storm as is counted upon win De
successfully brewed n the ploiters |
could furnish proofs that Senator
smoot Is a polygamlst there might be
some prospect OF arousing fierce gen.
eral sentiment against him That Gle.
ment ls lacking ana lbs absence mater
Tally Neakens the coordination. THE
agitators will have TO ian back on their
general charges against the Church.
which when examined prove TO be lit.
Ne more than assumption mixed with
ABSOLUTE falsehood and devoid OF the
essential support OF real evidence.
just ihink or an attempt tO prove
mat the Mormon" Church has broken
Us pledges In the State Constitution
What had the Church to do with an In
sirument that declares There shall be
no union OF church and stalef' DO the
protesiors mean 10 say that tte state
has broken its pledges 10 the ration?
n so, IN what way1 Even n the SUR
mises and accusations end reported VI
olatlons Of the law are uue-which we
A. not admit-what would these few
rasts Of law-breaNng Prove. except
that they should have been pros, cutad?
It Is astonishing that The manufactur.
en- of the special pleading TO be clrcu-
lated By The ton thtoughou, the coun.