Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-04-11
ReSoected Church Leader Makes
Plain Statement Of Facts Con-
corning Smoot Case,
CHURCH IS NOT IN POLITICS.
putsburg Times Prints the Matter as
Giycn, without Twisting or
Turning

The Pittsburg Times Of recent date
contained the following interview with
president Joseph f, Smith, had by their
,necial correspondent, Henry Hall
while on a brief visit 10 this city. The
interview Is SO accurate as to be truly
refreshing in these days of anti Nor
mon" abuse and Misrepresentation, II
follows
salt Lake City April 3.-"The Church
Of Jesus Christ OF Latter-day Saints
does not direct, nor attempt to direct,
who shall or shall not be elected 70 any
office, high or low IN the State Of Utah.
with regard 20 the charge, continually
md persistently made, that Apostle
Reed SnOot was the Church candidate,
and that by Church dictatlon and
through Church domination I'm politics,
ne was elected to the United states
senate, / want to say to you, in the
presence Of these three gentlemen who
had full knowledge of all the Circum-
stances, that ] had no more to do with
his election, nor had they than you,
living I'm Pennsylvania, had, except
that at the polls l may have voted for
members Of the Legislature who i'm
turn supported him I'm the joint legis-
lative convention for that Office"
This positive. unequiyocal statement
was made to the Times correspondent
By President Joseph Il. Smith, Of the
Mormon Church. The three men whom
he called as witnesses We're Presidents
. John h. Winder and Anthem II, Lund,
his colleagues I'm the highest office Of
The Church, and Apostle Charles w,
pcnrose, one OF the Twelve" and edi-
Tor Of the Dessert News" the official
organ of Mormondom.
And IL you ordered Va TO vote for
Reed Smoot," said President Winder,
with n broad smile, there are two Of
us here who fatty disobeyed you, for
Brother Penrose and | are Democrats,
and ! certainly didn't vote for Repub-
lican candidates for the Legislature
who voted for SmOot for senator"
Neither did l." declared Apostle PEN
rose u voted for the Democratic cam
ddates."
There, you see how Mormons are dl-
vided politically" said President Smith.
Here are four OF us together and two
are Democrats, one my counselor and
associate in the first presidency, and
the other an Apostle of the Church.
That ought to show how little there Is
IN the charge that Mormons vote as
they are told to vote by the Church Of.
fcials"
'Mormons are like other citizens Of
the United States" said President
lund They are divided politically. |
think the division is about an equal one
and those who are Democrats voted
against Apostle Smoot,'
sMooT FREE FROM OBLIGATIONS.
II Will say further" continued PresI-
dent Smith, that Reed smoot no more
represents the First Presidency. the
apostolate, nor the Church, in the Unit
ca States senate than does his col
league, George Sutherland, who is not
OF our faith and Church.
Let me say further than that" said
President Smith, growing more and
more emphatic TO you and to the
country, that Thomas Kearns, former
senator from Utah, and now active I'm
this crusade 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 in
vorlably told him that | had nothing
Whatever to do with Shoots election,
] did not help TO put him In the SEN
ate, am not In politics. and | will
not be led nor driven into politics. The
Republican party of Utah elected Reed
Smoot TO the senate. and is RESPONSE
Die 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 90 help him to be
elected 10 succeed himself, and that Ia
both pleas | made the same answer,
! am not IN politics, and viii not be led
into politics"
This is the answer made by the
highest officers of the Mormon"
church. TO the charge that Reed Smoot
one OF the Twelve Apostles, was elect
cd TO the United states senate by and
through their influence and dictatlon
And let me say something on that
point volunteered Apostle George A.
Smith, son Of Apostle John Henry
smith, IA prominent man in the Church
father and son being both members
or the apostolate-who had entered the
room while the foregoing statements
were being made. "When Reed Smoot
was a candidate for the senate, the
hearns people right here in our con-
Nynlion I'm Salt Lake county, united
With the SmOOt fOrrpg IN nominate can