The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13
1t Is the Mormon Church Itself
That Is Being Fried by a
Senate Committee.
ALL UTAH IS INTERESTED
Verdict Against Smoot Would Be
a Blow to the Proposed Tenn
poral Kingdom.
/ correspondence of the Journal.

-" ~ o. 49, E
Senate committee on privileges and cleo
tons to determine whether Mr.. Smoot
shall hold his seat is without a prec-
edent in that not one charge is made af-
fecting the personal fitness of the man elect
ed senator from Utah. He is accused of no
crime. His honesty, uprightness and ability
are not questioned. No bribery is alleged
in bringing about his election. No technical
point is raised as to the. procedure of the
Legislature which chose him. The charges
are against the governing authorities of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Lattcr-day
Saints, and Reed SmOot must bear the brunt
because ne is one of them and is asking
for recognition as a senator of the United
States. AS a director i'm the corporation,
he must assume his share of the response
bility for its acts. If the corporation is
convicted he must be the sacrifciaI lamb.
The people of Utah are more deeply inter
ested in the result of the Smoot inquiry
than they were in the case of Brigham II.
Roberts. elected representative in Congress
from Utah and elected from the House.
The issues involved more vitality the future
development of the State. Roberts was
accused of violating the law. His fate
served notice that a p~olygamist must not
be sent to either house of Congress. The
present fight is broader. The following
charges are made against the Mormon
Church:
First-Winking at polygamy and even en-
couraging it clandestinely.
Second-Interfering in politics.
Third-Interfering in business.
OF these three issues, the greater mass
of non-Mormon and progressive Mormons
in Utah regard the second as the most i'm
portant. On it depends to a large extent the
remedy for the first.
A TEMPORAL KINGDOM.
Wildly mindful of past legislation affect
ing the practice of their peculiar religion
and apprehensive of the future, the Mormon
chiefs determined to secure a foothold in
the halls of the national legislature. The
policy of the church since Joseph Smith,
its founder. became a candidate for the
presidency of the United States, has been
TO exert a persistent and insistent pressure
having for its object the attaining of po-
litical power. 1t is all part of the an
nounced plan of the Mormon people to
build a temporal kingdom"
Reluctance on the part of non-Mormons
to receive the political dictation of the
Saints caused this object of the church to
be kept in the background. Nevertheless,
the Mormon rulers have continued the
struggle, despite their pledge to stop it
when Utah was admitted TO the Union. In
the domain of national politics the Roberts
experiment failed. Roberts was cast out by
Congress for personal unfitness; nothing of
the sort could be proved against Smoot,
the church leaders reasoned, and if he could
be elected he could retain his seat. To win
the election was not difficult. The faithful
were given the message from the authori-
ties TO vote for legislative nominees favor
able to Shoots candidacy. Word issued
forth that the time has come for the voice
of an apostle of God TO be heard in the
halls of Congress"
SMOOT is THEIR CHAMPION.
Twenty-Five years ago Apostle George Q.
Cannon. elected delegate to Congress from
Utah, was refused permission to take his
seat on the ground that he was a polyg-
amist. At that time he made a prophecy
declaring he spoke by divine Inspiration,
that he would return TO Congress and be
seated. Cannon died without this having
come to pass, but the Mormons believe that
the seating of another apostle of the church
will amount to a fulhllment Of the proph-
ecy, sustaining their doctrine Of modern
revelations from God. There are many
other reasons why the church leaders
wished to send an apostle. One of them
was that he could be relied on better tC
carry out their desires. Being himself one
of the church leaders, he could keep in
better touch with their needs and wishes
As an apostle, he would be bound by his
the decision of the quorum" He would
be more amenable TO discipline. Moreover
the election and seating of an apostle would
serve notice on the younger Mormons OF
the great desirability OF seeking ecclesias-
teal advancement as a stepping-stone tC
greater interest in church work.
Unmindful of warnings from within anC
without the church, over protests of many
devout Mormons who objected to the princi
Piles involved in this sep, the leaders per
sisted in their courses and brought about
the election of Reed Smoot. Now the pro.
gresSive element of the citizens of Utal
nave asked the Senate and people of the
United States to help them settle this ques.
ton. Shall the Mormon Church be per
mitted to send one of its apostles to Con.
gress and to remain a powerful politica
organizations"
The church has made the issue. 1t hai
selected Reed Smoot as its champion
Therefore, the eyes of the Nation are Oh
him.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-da,
Saints has sent to Washington ADLER mer
than this son OF a wealthy Kentuckian ant
a Norwegian immigrant, but it has nevel
sent a man better liked personally by thos'
who know him. George Q. Cannon, thu
MORMON hlCncllcu, WHO uTSl went DIS uelc
gate to Congress over a quarter OF a cen
fury ago, was a man of marvellous keen
ness and diplomacy and great readiness IL
debate. Brigham II. Roberts, anothe
polygamist, is a deep thinker possessed O
a strong personality. magnetism and powe
before an audience. Reed Smoot is a care
full banker, an active business man and al
earnest believer in his religion. Tall. we'll
knit. erect, with brown hair, a droopinl
brown mustache. clean-cut features am
clear. steady blue eyes, he impresses an un
prejudiced person on first meeting as like
able and sincere rather than brilliant. Hi
firm step and quick, decisive answers II
ordinary private conversation betoken tn
business man, and this is what he essen
TALLY is. He is the leading citizen" of tn
beautiful city Of Provo, nestled at the bas
of the Wasatch mountains. There hi
wealth is largely invested. and there n
huence among Mormons and non-Mormons
largely because of his geniality and in
tegrity.
Reed Smoot is decidedly human. His pro
totype is found in cities and villages al
over the United States, with variations &C
cording TO environment. He is devoted Z
his family, his business and his religion
but red blood flows in his veins. and he ha
a taste for a good story. pleasant compan
ionship and wholesome sport.
SMOOT LIKES HORSES.
An incident illustrating his love for horse
flesh and sport took place Immediately aft
er he was called and set apart" as al
apostle. in the spring of 1900. He owned a
that time one of the fastest horses that eve
trotted over the streets of Provo. ''Uncl
Jesse" Knigh a wealthy m~ine-owner O