The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-20
Charges That Are Being 11l ;se,s
tigated Really Against Gov
eminent Of the Church to
Which Slnoot B clongs.
{ ~. 8,
By EUGENE BoYLAN PALMER.

& t5i
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH. March l9.----4
Apostle Reed Snoot is not the real culprit
at bar before the Senate OF the United
States. 1t is the Mormon Church
The Investigate ton now In progress be-
fore tho Senate Committee on Privileges
and Electors 10 determine whether
smoot shall hold his seat Is without q
made affecting the personal fitness OF.
the man elected senator from Utah.
A He Is accused OF no crime. His honesty.
uprightress and ability are not lues-4
toned, No bribery Is alleged in bringing
about his election. No technically point
is raised as to tho procedure OF the Legls-s
slature which chose him. The charges are
against the governing authorities Of the
Church OF Jesus Christ Of Latter Day
Saints. and Reed Smoot must bear the,
\ br,int because he is one OF them ard is
asking for recognition us senator ot
tho United States. AS a director in tho
corporation, he must assume his share
5sOf the $responsibility for It's nets. Il { tile
corporation IS convicted, he must BIO the
sacrificlal lamb, Il
The people OF Utah are more deeply,
q Interested In tho result OF tho Smoot
4 inquiry than they were In the case Of
Brigham IT. Roberts, elected representa-
tive In Congress from Utah and re-
1ected by the House. The issues involved
more vitality affect the future develop
ment Of tho State Roberts was accused
az Violating the law. Ills fate served
notice that a polygamist must not be
sent TO either house OF Congress-, The
} present fight Is broader. The following
charges AFRO made agtirst tile Mormon
Church; 9 y
4 First--Winking Mt polyga,ny and even
s encouraging 1t clandcstinely
Notwithstanding inpolltics. 81.
3ThiTd--Interfering in business
OF these three issues. the greater mass
OF non-M ormon and progressive Morlnons
In Utah regard the second as the most
important On It depends to a large cX-
tent the remedy for the first.
Wildly mindful OF past legislation az
footing the practice of their peculiar re-
iiligion and apprehensive OF tho future,
the Mormon chiefs determined to Secure
n foothold In the halls of tho national
Legislature, The policy OF the church
since Joseph Smith, It's founder becanle
n candidate for the presidency OF the
United States, has been to exert q per-
s!stcnt and lns,stent pressure having tol
Its object the attaining OF polltical power.
1T is all part Of the announced plan OF
the Mormon people to ''build q temporal.
Kingdom"
Reluctance on tho part OF non m orlnons
TO receive the political dlctallon&of the
Saints caused this object Of the churshS 10
fbe kept In the background, Nevertheless
4the Mormon rulers have continued the
struggle. despite their pleSse to stop 1t
when Utah was admitted to the Union,
In the domain Of national politics the
Roberts experiment failed. Roberts was
cast ont by Congress for personal unfit
ness; nothing Of the sort could be proved
against smoot, the church Leaders rea-5
,soned and II he could he elected he
+ could retainshis seat. 70 WlnIIthe election
was not difcult. The faithful were given
the message from8the authorities to vote
n for legislative nominees favorable 10
Shoots candidacy. Word Issued forth
that tho time has come for the voice
III an apostle Of tiod To be heardain the
halls of Congress =
3lINFLyI4FILLEIo F'HOI'Ei Ee'
: TWenty,two years a gu. Apostle. George
g, GalilsouI elected uelegase " sopsrssss