Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-11
SENATOR SHOOTS CASE.

We publish today, in full, the answer
OF Senator Reed smoot to the protest
OF nineteen citizens Of Utah against
his retention Of the seat In the United
States Senate, TO which he was elected
by the majority Of the Legislature OF
the State of Utah. We printed the
synopsis furnished by the Associated
Press on Saturday II was very
creditable piece Of condensation and
gave the salient points OF the reply.
We commend the complete rejoInder
as 1t now appears In our columns, 10
the candid reader 1t Is clear, ex-
plicit and emphatic. That Reed
Smoot was spoken OF as candidate for
the position OF United States Senator,
before he was ordained one of the
Twelve Apostles of the Church Of Jesus
Christ OF Latter-day Saints, Is well
known to people who are posted on
political affairs. The statement that
his apostleshlp was the cause of his
nomination is therefore untrue,
When the political campaign was In
progress II was generally understood,
and so stated In public journals, that
the election Of Republican members Of
the Legislature meant the choice Of
Reed Smoot for United States Senator
He was the candidate Of his party. All
the proceedings that led up TO his cleo
ton were regular open and without
faint OF fraud or anything improper
He was chosen, not because he was an
Apostle but In spite Of the objection
raised on that ground, for 1t was con-
sldered no bar to his acceptance OF the
Office.
1t Was no more q real and tangible
objection than could have been raised
against any Elder in the Church.
George Q, Cannon served ten years in
the House OF Representative when he
was an Apostle, and part OF the time
when he was one OF the First Presl-
dency. He did not act in the capacity
Of an Apostle when representing Utah
In Congress, but as citizen duly elect
ed by his fellow-cltizens az the polls,
So with the Elders who have served
In Congress, in the lower OF the upper
House, and whether they were Demo-
Gratis or Republicans,
All the talk that has been INDUCED
IN about 1.-THE oath Of an Apostle Is
sheer speculation based upon guess
work, There Is no such thing as tht
oath OF an Apostle or Of any other ~
der IN the Church, Nor IL there amy
covenant obligation or agreement II
any public or private ceremony that
is antagonistic, or has any re-
latIon to the Government Of th'
United States The ceremonies and or
dlnantcs Of the Church have nothing t
DO With the state, either local or ma
tional.
Some persons who have seeded From
the Church and have become bitter II
their feelings, have made statement
about so-callcd endowment oaths
some Of them maliciously fabricated
others but echoes thereof, and ropeate
more through bad memory Of the fact
han from wilful falsehood. But ever
truthful person who has carefully stu
He'd and comprehended those s6cre
ordinances. knows that there Is no oat
VI any kind taken therein, nor any al
uslou TO the government OF this o
my other country 80 mat there
Nothing In the Temple ceremonies tha
endars a person unit TO discharge tn
uIl duties Of citizen 81 the Unite
itates or out OF harmony with an oat
" civil office,
The Twelve Apostles are under III
immediate direction Of the First Pres
ency Of the Church when acting !
heir apostleship When serving In
ocular calling, as director Of bus
ess institution. or working on farm
following any Industrial pursuit Il
living, they are not serving In the
ecclesiastical calling Nor DO they net
lay II down or cast II of. any mo-
han they would their membership
he Church because there Is nothir
,compatlble In their Office OF religit
nth their work or duty In any publ
private capacity The calling OF q
,postc need not interfere IN the Sigh
II degree with a mans fealty TO h
ountry, or the duties Of official positi'
nder the government, or his perfe
cedom to observe and hold sacred h
nth Of Office
The Council Of the Twelve Apoetl