Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-22
PROTESTS AND OPINIONS.

While large bodies OF .nconsiderate
ladies' in the East are protesting against
senator smoot, under the mistaken ana
absurd notion that they are standing
for protection Of the home we notice
that n number Of conservative public
journals are taking q constitutional and
common-sense view OF the question that
confronts the United States Senate.
The agitation is remarkable when the
character OF the real agitators Is taken
into consideration. OF course II IS no
definite answer to broad charges, TO
show that those who prefer them and
excite the public to fury are unworthy
OF credence. and indeed Of association
with decent people, but that fact serves
TO show how popular fury can be
aroused, particularly when religious In
tolerance IL brought into action, by the
bold utterances OF male and female per-
sons, utterly unreliable and hired 10
perform the parts OF Ananias and Sap
phira. We pity the good women who
are thus deceived; we abhor the crea-
lures who engage In the work that even
Satan despises while they are tools for
his purpose.
We have copied a number Of fair
comments from newspapers in different
parts OF the country, which show that
they are not swayed by the irrational
furore that Is raging in sectarlan cir
Giles. And while on some points they
entertain mistaken Views az to the at
tltude and influence OF the Mormon
Church In reference 10 the main sub
ject, they take a clear view OF the pc.
ltical situation. We clip to-day the fol.
lowing. The first is from Georges
Weekly OF Denver;
Senator Reed Smoot OF Utah IL get
ting decidedly the best OF the combi-
nation that Ia trying TO Dust him az
Washington. We know Senator Smoot
personally and we have visited him in
his home. He loved but one woman
and he married that woman, ana he
has most delightful family. II other
senators can show az good a record
for decency and virtue as smoot can.
the nation Is to be congratulated the
ministers and the women who are
leading this fight against Smoot are
aiding, rather than injurlng him NO
reputable minister would be Identified
with go contemplate scheme ana
no far rs the women are concerned,
we believe they have been imposed
upon by some one or have allowed
their general hatred for polygamy to
warp their judgment -
The Cleveland Plain-Dealer Of JAM
IS says, editorlally;
1T viii be unfortunate II the Smoot
case now before the senate committee
shall be decided by other considerations
than those OF right and exact justice
The point raised IL 80 vital, and In TINS
country--where church and state are
presumed to be completely separated
so unique that the question OF expeui-
ency should not be allowed to enter INTO
II, e.,,
ct ia a fact admitted by Senator
Smoot's counsel Saturday, that Il menu
ber OF either branch Of Congress can pe
deprived OF his seat for any reason
which a majority Of the house may
consider satisfactory. Mr.. Tayler OF
Ohio. appearing for some Of the contest
ants and who added to his fame
while IN Congress by his conduct OF the
Roberts case, referred to the senates
right to expel member, arguing that
its power IL limited only by the ques-
ton of proprlety. though II seems ms
n no did not lose sight OF the question
OF expedlency. ,,
"All thus far accomplished by the
hearing IL to outline the issues on
which the case IL to be fought The
charge of polygnmy seems to have fall'
on 10 the ground and the real question
Is whether or not Mr. Smoot, by reason
of his membership and leadership IN
the Mormon Church. IL under obligation
10 place the Church rulings In temporal
matters above the constitution ana
laws OF the land The case seems GER
tain 10 result IN close inquiry into
the attitude and influence of the Nor
mon Church In political AFFAIRS, n sub
iect as TO which the country has al
ways been IN the dark
II the suggested inquiry is CLOSE
enough 10 ellVll Tue uutlh "Hu H"'
merely to obtain anti."Momon' mis-
information, the country viii not re-
main "ln the dark on the subject MOI
need our contemporaries, anywhere, be
IN that condition II they viii learn what
the Mormon Church teaches and it'
position as to political affairs, from Ii
authorized opponents, How do Repub'
leans like to be judged by the attacks
OF deep.dyed Democrats, or Democrats
by the assaults Of strenuous Repub'
leans? II anybody wants to know
they have no occasion TO remain III
the dark"