The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-29
Senator Smoot at Home.

In its issue of January II, the Salt
Lake Tribune" makes extended ed1-
torial comment on the matter. The
editor of the Tribune" is Frank }.
Cannon, once Senator, and himself a
Mormon, of Mormon parentage, his
father having been high in the coun-
ellis of the church. Following was
Editor Cannon's view OF Senator
Smoot as ''The Star Witness"
Apostle Reed Smoot has taken the wit
ness stand in his own behalf at WASH
ington-
The principal sensation created by his
testimony is one of supreme regret that
the hearing could not have been held IN
the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. before
a congregation OF ten thousand Nor
mons, that they might know how their
religious faith is kicked about like
football by the men whom they up
hold as prophets, seers, and revelators OF
God
Truthful answers to a series OF Ques-
tons which could be propounded to the
apostle Senator would Immediately de-
eide the case against him in the minds
and the country. ."
Suppose that this line of questioning
were pursued.
Do you believe, Apostle Smoot, that
Joseph F. Smith comes by legal sue
cession from the prophet Joseph Smith
to his authority as prophet. seer, ana
revelator of God to the world?
Do you believe that Joseph f. Smith
is the one man on earth through whom
God makes known His win to man
kind2
Are you, as an apostle, a special wit
ness that yourself and the other apos-
ties and the first presidency are appoint
sage which COMES through revelation.
for the coming of Christ?
Do you believe that It is the right of
the presiding biseopric, under instruc-
ton Of the hierarchy, to take oue-tenth
of all the income of Mormons through
out the world. in the name OF God, and
TO utilize the same without making any
account to the Congregation
Do you believe tnat the temporal con-
troi by the priesthood of God is merely
the direction of the spiritual command
ment of God through them, and that
there is no difference in the mind Of God
between what men call spiritual COM
mandnents and temporal command
ments, since all things are to Him spirit
ual? And do you believe that all COM
n1atively, would you obey the prophet.
of God. whether temporal or spiritual
IL character. should be obeyed as spirit
uaI commandments
Do you believe that the Mormon
Church, or the Church OF Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints, is the little stone
cut our OF the mountain without hands.
destined. to fill the whole earth with its
power?
If the prophet of God told you that it
was the viii of the Lord for you to vote
against any bin concerning which you
had previously promised TO vote affir-
mativeIy, would you obey the prophet,
or would you defy the w.'l Of the Lord ?
Do you believe that the president OF
the Mormon Church. the prophet. seer,
and rcvefator Of the last dispensation,
! is the highest authority on this earth
| IF yeu do. would you not obey him as
such?
If you do not think so. why do you
| sustain him as such by your vote, your
precept. and your example?
Do you not hold your loyalty to God
as he represents Himself through His
living oracle-the prophet of your church
las being superior 60 any other loyalty
| in this world?
If so, how can you oppose any edict
/ or practice of Gods oracle which may
be forbidden by mere earthly law OF
constitution?
If not, how dare you teach to hun
dreds or thousands of people that he i.
the living oracle Of God and is entitled
to their respect and obedience, and i.
entitled to one-tenth of all their annua
income?
| Finally, which is the higher author
/ ity: that OF the priesthood OF God, rep
resented by Joseph F. Smith, prophet
seer. and reyelator; or the Government
of the United States, represented b,
Theodore Roosevelt, President?
If Reed Smoot would, answer that Sc
ries OF questions plainly. openly. truth
fully he would cease to be a Senator
or he would cease to be an apostle
just as soon as the machinery could
| operate for his expulsion from one place
or the other.
In the same issue, Editor Cannon
II response to the request of a cor
respondent, discusses the subjec
How They 1.-THE Mormonsl Violat
the Constitution, reference being hat
to the following article in the Utal
constitution:
There shall he no union Of church anC
state nor shall any church dominate III
state or interfere with its functions.
He shows, at greater length thar
can be accorded here, that there ar
two ways The first is through in
sidious but effective influence TIL
other is open and fragrant. Touching
this Mr.. Cannon says in part:
The election of high official Of TIT
Mormon Church to 4 political position
is open and unadulterated interference
with the functions of the State. Tina
high church official enters into his civil
duties not bound first. last. and all tn
time by his obligations of citizenship L
his country. These are but secondar,
| with him He is either faker, fraud
a false priest, knave who duDes hi
feilow-men: or he is first, last, and al
the time an officer of the kingdom o
God on earth. whose right II IS 10 rul
in all things, temporal and spiritual
He can only remain in his eccle