The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-02-23

make decided hit within six months
of its first announcement there was not
much use trying to resurrect it.
| was asked to reconcile my eXpecta-
tons to the fact. that wholesalers and
jobbing houses would certainly ibe-
srudge it shelf if it did not move
off as swiftly as other books and that
my best course was to get out another
novel on similar lines and hammer
away until recognition should come.
OF course all this was very good ad-
vice and l adopted it.
1t seems, however, that the book had
made some friends who still had good
words to speak for it. One of the
bishops of the Methodist church recon-
mended it's translation into Swedish
and German and it's circulation in
those countries to check the increas
ingly aggressive work of Mormon mis-
sionaries: the missionary societies Of
the Methodist and Presbyterian
churches adopted it as part of their
reading course for this year: several
womanS clubs in the east reviewed it
and talked about it, and then it began
to be read generally in connection with
the SmOot case. The result has been
that it is now having a better sale
than at any time since it first appear
ed
Talks Of Mormonism.
If the people generally We're better
informed concerning Mormonism: if
they were more thoroughly aroused
its character and menace
such books as BY Order of the Proph
ct" and The Lions OF the Lord"
which We're written to present the dra-
matte features OF Mormon life III a Sc
of readers. l suppose We ought to be
satisfied. however, if | succeed in ad-
ding even little to the general in
formation or find that We can do some
thing to arouse even Il few 70 the vital
nature of this question:
Concerning the case of Reed Smoot
it is difficult to predict the outcome
Personally. | have sincere liking for
Mr.. SmOot. Tie is Il progressive, up-to-
date business man, and a perfect gem
tleman. If Mr.. Smoot We're Il polyga-
mist. as Mr.. Roberts WAS. and had two
or three wives III defiance of the law
of the land. of course he would not be
entitled to a seat in the United States
senate any more than any other law
breaker. and his election could be set
aside. But it does not appear that Mr..
SmOot is in that predicament. If he
has more than one wife his closest
friends do not know it, his neiGhbors
do not suspect it and he himself per-
sistently, but with dignity. denies it.
Mr.. SmOot undoubtedly believes in
Polt StttllS ne totiic IlftltlN iitit the
position of apostle in the church with
out subscribing to its teachings. But
4 mans implied beliefs ought not to be
permitted to hinder him in the exercise
of his political rights. especially if he
takes the position that those beliefs
are held in allegiance in obedience to
the Law of the land.
l heard a bishop OF the Mormon
church say. at one time. referring to
MOrmonism: "PolySamy is the Whitest
bird in the whole Internal nest" and
he may be right. but my experience
among the MOrmOns taught me one
startling fact, that it is possible for a
people to be better morally than their
religion. His was nat conspicuOusly
true except in rare cases. in the early
days when Brigham was looked upon
coming true during these later years
probably through the influence of en-
vironnent and because of the con-
straint of the law.
Give the Latter Day Saints a few
more years of contact with civilization
let their young people have IL chance
to correct their ideas and ideals by
comparison with the world outside the
settlements where they We're born. and