Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-05
THE CASE OF SENATOR SMOoT.

In the investigation before the Sem
ate committee concerning the Nor
mon Church, the case OF the right OF
Senator Smoot OF Utah TO retain his
seat in the United states Senate Is al
most lost sight Of The tenets, disci-
pllne and ceremonies OF the Church,
and the family relations OF its Presi-
dent, have formed subjects OF such
great interest 10 the Senators on the
committee and others, that the question
referred TO the Committee on privileges
and elections seems TO have been rcle-
gated to the rear, for the time being
The effort will possibly be made before
the inquiry is finished, to make the
Senator responsible in some way for
the acts and beliefs Of other persons,
but Just now he does not appear to be
"ln It" even little bit, Therefore
the following we'll considered editorial
IN the Butte Inter Mountain of March
@ Is quite timely and takes us out OF
the irrelevant matter made all.import-
ant Just now, and brings US face to face
with the Legitimate object Of inquiry
before that committee The Inter
Mountain says:
Renewal OF the official investigation
Of the right OF Mr., Smoot OF Utah to
seat In the United States senate Is
made In Washington today. Witnesses
have been summoned from Utah to
testify az TO Shoots connection with
the Mormon Church, which Is fully
admitted by SmoOt and regarding the
requirements OF the faith OF the Nor.
mons, which is nobody's business 30
far as Shoots right to 4 seat In the
senate IL concerned
Religious prejudice is at the bottom
Of the business with political ambitions
supplying the structural material Of the
opposition to Smoot Utah Is entitled
10 the representation I'm the senate,
There IL no dispute ~ the proposition
| that Smoot was regularly and lawfully
| elected. His alleged lack Of right to
his seat hinges wholly upon the asser-
| ton that his Church connection and
obligations disQualIfy him to perform
| the duties of his position lie takes his
| oath Of Office as other senators are re-
| Quired to do and asserts that he is at
| liberty to respect II. He declares that
he Is not polygamlst and even his OPP
ponents admit that he Is a man of ca
! emplary character and conduct apart
from his faith and responsibilities I'm
| the Church,
Truth is that number OF cons, len
| tIous people who believe In different
| religious creed are attempting TO con-
Wet Smoot OF political offense aud
punish him In anticipation that his re.
| ligious obligations viii compel him 10
| commit the oflense. II is as II some
| OF the citizens who combine business
| and politics should undertake the i'm.
| parchment OF President Roosevelt be.
cause his readiness for battle conyinces
them that he viii exceed his official au-
thority and plunge the country into dis
astrous war.
1T Is easy TO understand why Gen.
tile In Utah might be opposed to the
influence OF the Mormon Church In
politics. II IL not difficult 10 cOmpre-
bend why politicians In Washington
who owe their prominence more FREE
quently to prejudice than to patriotism
are willing 10 respect long petitions or
remonstrancos from their constituents
II Is lncomprehensIble why citizens who
are not interested in Utah politics and
who believe In religious as we'll as
political freedom should encourage u
lot Of well meaning women 20 concen-
trate their opposition TO poygamy In n
political attack upon man who never
practlced polygamy, simply because he
Is an Influential member OF church
organization which Is being divorced
from polygamous influences as rapidly
AZ common deCency and humanity viii
permit with regard to long established
condItlcr""