Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-02-02
A QUEER BRAND OF JUSTICE,

The Deseret News has already made
some comments on certain statements
OF the Washington Post Our aiten-
tion has been called TO another article
In the same papei from which we make
the following excerpts. Speaking IN
reference to the Philippine tariff bill
and its probable effects on the Nor
mon Church" the Post says:
''Great Int crest will attach to the
position OF Senator Smoot and his COLI
league upon the bill. II Senator Smoot
ehould vote against the bill, the pubhc
would probably regard his action as "A
defiant attempt TO further the interests
Of his Mormon brethren, however con
ecientlous he might be- IL he should
vote for the bill the charge would im-
medately be made that he had sacri-
feed the material Interests OF the
Church rather than lose his seat
SENATOR Smoots position u not a
happy one. II he is In the Senate for
the benefit OF the Mormon Church, It IL
unfortunate that the Philippine bill
should come up while his fate IL hang
ing In the balance. II he IL entirely IN
dependent OF the Church. Il Is too bad
that the enemies Of the Church viii
not permit him to vote for the best
interests OF Utah without impugnins
his motives"
II appears that there are two sides
10 the Post, as there are to an argu-
ment. The foregoing shows a different
eide 10 the quotations from II which
we made on Thursday. Still the Post
seems determined TO ring IN the Nor
mon Church" In association with sena-
tor Shoots official action. thus pander-
ing 90 tho plea OF his enemies and is-
norlng the positive facts In the case.
That the financial interests OF the
Church are SO small IN comparison with
the capitalization of the sugar COM
panies In this region, as TO be scarcely
touched by the Philippine tariff bill, we
have made evident TO every unbiased
reader Therefore, Senator Smoot Is
not placed In any unfortunate POSI-
ton on that account. lie stands per-
fectly free to vote on any measure that
comes before the Senate. according to
his convictions OF what would be for
the best interests OF the Nation. at the
same time giving due attention 10 the
interess Of his State and the views OF
its citizens.
We see nothing unforsun TO Sena-
tor smoot in the coming up OF the
Philippine biz at this juncture. Why
should his right to the seat In the SEM
ate, to which he was elected by his con-
stltueits. be imperilled by his vote pro
or con. on a question affecting the In
terests OF the general public9 And
what kind of logic or justice or COM
mon decency Is there in the proposition.
that ne IL to be condemned, no matter
a Senator? But that Is Just about the
kind OF fairness exhibited toward q
Mormon" by many people. whether he
Is attacked as n churchman or as n
public official
The Senator's right to his seat cam
not be assailed In any legitimate man.
ner or on constitutional or equitable
grounds. The whole course Of the pro-
ceedings against him Is unprecedented,
and unwarranted by any rule OF Con-
gress or regular proceeding OF law or
custom. The intimation made by the
Post, is equivalent to saying he will he
doomed II he does and doomed II he
doesn't, If his foes have their way, and
tells the whole story OF the assault that
r. being made upon him but the end
is not yeti