The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-03-15
Says It Is a tyranny.

Mr. Smurthwaite's formal statement is
Ogden. Utah. March Il. 7e05-Bishop T.
T WOolIcy, City.-Dear BiShOD- ON sun
day. Feb. 80 1905 Elders II. u. God
dard ara z. A olsen as special teach
erS, waited upon me. at your request,
TO discuss with me certain remarks 1
had made few nights previous IN Tue
presence o. Elders Il. n. Goddard and
Joseph : Peery, with reference To Pres
ident Joseph f Smith 1 believe ] lad
said that L could not support Joseph F.
Smith as president OF the church. nor
as prophet. seer and rcvelator because
he il. and has been IOr many years, nv
ing in sin, ON his own confession before
the senate committee OF the & nlled
States during the SO-called Smoot INV eSJi-
slider Goddard was supplied with paper
and pencil 90 transmit TO Ha-tr any
remarks l should make. AGAINST nv
protest. ne insisted upon WrlunG- an act
OF great disCOUrteSy IN view or me r.
11OustranCcs / repeatedly made ana OF
the fact that he was in my home ana
thus had no right TO do anything 10 Whlgh
stated 10 him that. when / should De
ready. ! would prepare paper WAlcn
vouid send TO Eou- setting forth 30 my
regard 10 the attitude Of the leaders to
ward the church
Threats Made by Smith.
Before proceeding formally TO 90 this
permit me To remind You tnat. last sum
mer some time, J related TO you l-ie - - ~
stance OF an lilt-l view il'LL A.-
Richard J. TavIor and myself with Pres
fdcut Joseph r. Smith cat his reuueSo IN
relation TO the salt business. WhtItllLI'
in substance. he expressed his aStonlSh-
neut that being brethren. We would go
into business ian opposition 20 them tlhe
church,. aad that they would ruin US
nv outline prices OF salt. or by other
met nod if we persisted We were thuS
hef vrcCn two certain disasters FIRST rum
second. ruin Of that business If We. closed
down. On that occasion. As ] dciaIltu
To you-I believe it was the morning az
er the iuterview-the remarks and spirit
of President Smith were such aS 10 con-
vince mo of two things. T. @. mat ne Is
not good man. ana consequently en- N,
nor he a prophet of God, and that the
church ShOuf9 not he engaged in business
at all a proposition 10 which you gave
your acquicSence-
Criticism For Smith
You viii remember subsequently that
I re-stated to you my feelings with re
! ssr3 10 President smith. and reiterated
to you that L could not believe Ne Is
Gods prophet and that as "a VISITING
teacher IN your ware. OCCASION l7 eilEli' -
ouiro that 1 so express M SER 10 me
people should the subject arise during
our converse tiOns that heretofore nau
refrained from making amy remarks on
the subject because / felt that you
might feel that il would be outside OF
my duty to do so. but that now felt
that should the subject arise, my con
science would demand that should
sneak the truth. 1 left the decision TO
Won. a to whether or not L Snoull con-
/ tjnue my labOrs as a visiting teacher. and
YOU there and then slgulfled to me my
| release from that calling That was III
November From that time forth have
/ felt free to discuss on anE and all Oc-
/ casions wherever the opportunity mlghI
be offered, the special matter involved
/ and generally Presidents Smith position
| AT Washington and at home with refer
ence 10 matters and doctrines OF the
! church. ! have felt and feel now thal
| President Smith is unworthy OF his hlgh
| office: that his testimony at Washington
| of his continued past and CONTINUOUS
| present violations of the law OF the state
| of Utah respecting polygamous cohabl-
/ tation is indefensible from the viewpoint
/ of a citizen and a Latter-day saint. and
| that the remarks made during the IN
| terVieW already mentioned in this para
| graph exhibit so violent a disregard anc
| NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the rights OF MS
| fellow men. and his duty TO God, as &c
| render him morally unqualified Tor tht
/ high office which he holds
Willing to concede Sincerity.
You will remember. on one occasion
your good self and your worthy counsel
| ors waited upon me az my home anC
| we discussed these matters At consider
| able length At that time I stated e
| YOU quite forcibly my opinions and tina
I I raoarded IL right a Iatter-daY sam