Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-30
CAN'T WE AFFoRDTOBEFAIR2

CAN'T WE AFFORD TO BE FAIR?
The fact that only one side OF the
case OF Senator Reed smoot under M
vestlgatlon before the Senate commit
Tee on privileges and elections mas peeh
heard by that body, or rather by the
few members Of It that have attended
The hearings, docs not seem to be rec
ognizcd by number Of newspapers re-
llgious ministers and ladies' OF christian
associations who have made up Their
minds and are not slow or chory IN an
nouncing their verdict. IL seems 70
many old-fashioned and conservative
people that good taste, common chari'y
and American fairness would suggest
that Judgment should be postponed or
at least It's announcement be wilhheld'
until 1.-THE other side" has had a chance
10 meet the allegations that seem to DO
accepted chiefly on heorsay and on
that bias that comes from popular pre-
judlce.
The wise man Of biblical celebrity has
recorded some strong sayings against
the person who "Judgeth a matter be-
fore he hearetb it, And II Is usual
even when the vilest criminal Is on
trial to withhold condemnation until
the defense has been made and the
whole matter. pro and con, has been
summed up and submitted THIS COM
mon custom seems 20 have been 49,
nored in the Investigation that has been
but partly conducted, and even one OF
the judges has rushed into print ana
proclaimed from the platform his COM
illusions against the accused, before a
word OF defense has been spoken or
syllable OF testimony has been intro
dnced I'm refutatlon OF the charges pre-
ferred
Another popularity Of this inQuislhon
has been the almost total departure
from tho purportod purpose of the pro-
ooedings and the introduction OF mat
tors that have little or no bearing on
Tho original case. The fitness and quail
incatlons and election of Senator Reed
smoot have been apparently laid on the
shelf while the alleged tenets and doc
trlnes and discipline and ceremonies OF
the Mormon Church, largely as ln-
terpreted and distorted and ridicuIed by
SIS opponents have formed the chief
topic. and what some Of its members
are said TO have done or LETT undonc
appear 10 has been substituted fol
evidence as to the acts or omissions OF
the Senator whose seat IS placed II
Jeopardy. An that, AIS the late lamenteC
Senator Hoar remarked, may bo vast
ly interesting but can scarcely be Gale,
relevant 10 the Issue
There may be- some remote bearing Of
distant connection between these ques
tions that have been considered a
30 much length and the RICH
Of Reed smoot 20 seat IL
the United states Senate, 20 which h'
was chosen without doubt, ln due form
according to law and by Legislature
legally elected by the citizens Of Utah
And that may be brought out an'
shown up IN the argument set 10 b.
made But still the truth remains tina
only one side Of the case has been pre-
sented and ordinary fairness. TO sa
nothing Of common decenoy would sug
gest to just minds that Judgment ough
TO be withheld until The acieuso ha
been heard and tine other SIDE has ha
IT'S innings.
How much Of the so-called evidence
already introduced and on which ropu
lar prejudice has been aroused Is bu
heated atmosph5re--the say-so Of ind
vlduals who but repeat what they hay
heard and which they choose to demon
irate common repute,' the gcnerr
public do not seem to consider o
such testimony MS hui been accepted
many instances IN this case, any men
Der Of Congress whose enemies mad
charges against him might be utterl
condemned and cast out u they ha
any direct bearing on his characte
But most Of the 'repute' taken az e'
idenco against Senator smoot, has d
connection with him or with his couri
personally or as public officer. Y
It has been paraded in print and con
mented ON publicly as though It w'
proof strong as holy writ and he va
guilty u the alleged doings Of 9TH
people.
We do not believe that such snl
Judgment would be taken IN any 9th
case but that In which the Mormon
Church has been placed ON the rae
The pulpit and the press have join
forces against an unpopular rollgio
faith and organization, and that h
been the means OF obscurlng the re
question before the Senate aud 4
country, and Of causing the unciylliz