The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-12
MORMONS TURN
AGAINST SMO0I
Utah Senator Stirs His Church
People to Bitter Wrath by
Political Meddling.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal. 49,.
Salt Lake, Utah, Nov. 11.-Reed
Smoot, Mormon apostle and United
States senator, energies from the Salt
tlcian and in disrepute among the
members of the church. AS the result
Of his interference in the political af-
fairs of the city, where he does not
reside, his retirement from leadership
in the republican party of the state is
demanded, and charges of unchristian
conduct are likely to be preferred
against him in his church.
Smoot' has succeeded in sol1dlfylng
the Gentle opposition to his presence
in the political field. and has aroused
bitter antagonism within the church
So intense is this revolution among
members of his religious faith that it
mons that Smoot may be deposed as
an apostle.
Quarrel with Penrose.
He has become involved in a bitter
personal aparEsl With a fellow apostle,
Deseret News, the official organ Of the
Mormon church. Penrose had been
almost savage in his defense of Smoot
prior to their personal breach. Now the
5 editor is accused by Smoot of false
statements. Penrose has great influence
in Mormon court circles and it is not
to be presumed that he will submit
meekly t. the abuse that Smoot has
heaped upon him.
Smoot's frantic Efforts to control Salt
Lake City politics. For the last three
years he has been sole arhiter of re-
publican affairs in city and state. Dis
paign, however, due chiefly to the ar
rogant manners of the senator and his
Ypolitical coterie.
7 The Smoot Campaign.
During the week before the election
smoot and his close personal friend
c.. E. Loose of Provo. visited Salt Lake
ity. Coincident with their arrival, large
sums of betting money appeared or
the streets in the possession of repub
licans. His visit to Salt Lake City was
reported daily during the week and the
stock of w. J. Lynch, chief Of police
and republican candidate for mayor
rose steadily. Lynch was the Smoo1
candidate.
The Smoot campaign moved on quiet
~ until last Sunday, when Mormon fam
lilies all over the city were indignan
recipients Of invitations to a repub
1ican reception at the home of forme
Governor Heber M. Wells, whicl
All the leading members of the govern
ing board of the society were named a
members of the committee to assist i
honoring the Smoot candidate for may
or. Some of these women are demo
Gratis many of them did not sanction
the use of. their names, and others hav
always held aloof from participation Il
political affairs.
Beloved Of the Mormons.
The Relief society is beloved of tn
Mormons and respected by the Gentiles
Purely charitable in tbs character, it i
ings. Nominally under the control O
the Mormon church, it is supported b
Gentiles and Mormons alike. Never be
fore had the Relief society been dragge
into politics, and some Of the age
workers shed tears Of grief and huml
alton.
Early Monday morning Relief societ
workers and their relatives went to tn
homes of the bishops and lesser officer
of the Mormon church, demanding tina
the stain be wiped out. Mormon demo
Gratis visited the headquarters. :S 8 n
ESee President Smith and tell hi,
this must be stopped if the Mormo
church is not in politics." they. sal!
Then Mormon officials and Democrat
leaders descended on President Smith.
President Smith Spoke.
A conference of church leaders TO
lowed and that evening the Desere
News bore on its front page an offci;
statement by President Smith. In e
feet it said:
~" Mormo'ns-Pay no attention to whs
the church leaders write to you or viii
per to you about politics.; what the
have done has been done without a,
! thority" I'D
, Somebody broke the news to Smoc
/ and he called Penrose liar He wer
!, directly to, the Desert, News office an
!, the two apostles had an excited debat
!, On. election day Smoot made a tor
!, of the Mormon wards in an automobil
|, seeking to rally votes for Lynch, BIZ
] he was coldly received. *
+ eco on about your business,' erie
!, Mormon woman to the apostle, an
i the remark will go down in histor,
4 Never before did Mormon woman da1
| to- fout aMormon apostle. In the san
l spirit was. he encountered everywher