Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-04-15
LABOR IN VAIN.

The Pittsburg Times had a represent
alive I'm this city short time ago, who
interviewed President Joseph f. Smith
on current topics relating to the
Church, It's non-interforence in political
affairs, its connection with the material
interests established for the general
welfare, the distinction between the
Church and State, the freedom Of
speech and Of the press enjoyed IN
Utah, the disposition Of the tlthlng
contributed by the voluntary donations
Of the Latter-day Saints, fast Offer
ings, the subject OF inspiration and
revelation, and other subjects which
the Times correspondent viewed as OF
public interest, The Deseret News re-
produced the article which was fair and
interesting. In reference 10 the charge
made by Thomas Kearns that the
Church interfered in politics, President
Smith was reported as saying that,
"Thomas Kearns, former senator
from Utah, and now active In this cruz
SADIE against the Church, has come to
me, time and time again, and urged me
to use my influence with Senator SmOot
to get him to resign his seat In the
Senate, and that have invariably told
him that | had nothing whatever 20 do
with Shoots election, I did not help
to put him I'm the senate, | am not In
politics, and / will not be led or driven
into politics The Republican party Of
Utah elected Reed Smoot to the senate,
and is responsible for his being there
| am not, nor is the Church. | will also
add that while pleading with me to'get
Reed Smoot TO resign, Mr.. Kearns
also pleaded with me to help him 10 be
elected to succeed himself, and that to
both pleas | made the same answer, I
am not In politics, and viii not be led
into politics.
It win be remembered BY readers Of
the News" that Elder b. IT, Roberts
In his complete answer to the rhodo-
montsde Of Thomas Kearns in the Sem
ate Of the United States, exposed the
attempts made by Koarns to deceive
the senate and the public as to Pres-
dent Smiths attitude toward political
affairs. Elder Roberts said
Knowing full well the seriousness OF
the charge | make, ! say TO this great
audience and would say II to the people
| Of Utah and the United States II my
voice could reach them and that upon
| my word u honor that this man, ex-
! Senator Kearns, Notwithstanding all
| his lofty utterauCes, both directly and
| indirectly, too sought that very In
! nuence for reelection which now he
| affects 20 scorn. lie, by personal appli-
| cation 10 President Joseph T.. Smith
| sought u IN the city OF Washington
| when President Smith was there TO tes-
! tify before the Senate committee on
! privileges ana elections lie sought
| for that influence I'm Salt Lake city,
| sought II personally Of the President Of
! the Church and received the grand re-
ply. eve are not In politics." lie sought
! Church influence Indirectly through
| what WAS intended 20 be the good OFF,
! cog ~ % fellow senator whose influence
| rests upon the same basis as his own,
| the influence Of wealth, not only once
! did he thus seek H. but on several oc-
/ casions."
After the publication Of these two en-.
phauc statements which had never
been seriously disputed, a desperate
effort is made by feeble apologist for
the ex-senator to simmer down these
charges to mere assertion that Kearns
simply tried to get President Smith to
induce Senator Reed smoot to resign
his office, II is claimed that all that
Kearns dld according to President
Smiths statement to the Pittsburg
Times representative, was that Kearns
urged him to use his influence with
Senator smoot to induce him TO re-
sign the senatorship, but, as we have