The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-07-25
PRESIDENT SMITH
OFF FOR EUROPE
Chief Hierarch Desires to Leave
Political Campaign
Behind.
SM00T WILL BE AT HEAD
OF "SHELL-GAME" ARTISTS
Cards, However, Presumably
STACKED" Before Depart
ure Of Church Head.

President Joseph F. Smith Of the
Church OF Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints left Salt Lake last Sunday for
Paris, France. President Smith was
accompanied by C.. W. Nibley, wife
and two children. The party will pro-
ceed to New York City by easy stages
and sail from there for Europe about
August 1.
The departure of President Smith
from Salt Lake at this time is signif-
cant. The further fact that he ex-
poets to remain abroad, or, at least, not
return TO Utah until after the fall cleo
tion also is significant
"'Wny Smith Left Home.''
The fact is that President Smith is
well aware of the mix-up that will oc~
cur in the political contests in Utah
and Idaho this fall, end he wants to
get from under in abundant time. In
other words, the chief hierarch, who,
declare that he is not manipulating
gum-shoe politics, determined to get
out Of tho game, or, appear to get
out, before the cards were dealt. That
he fstacked'' the cards before his de.
parture, however, but few will at
tempt TO deny.
Smoot Will Be ''It.''
The sudden determination Of Presi-
dent Smith to take a trip abroad 'for
the benefit of his health,' at this time
fbof
Apostle-Senator Smoot and other wire.
pulling members of the Twelve, to-
gether with what help OF hindrance
may be given by the lesser authorities,
along with "Fussy' Jim Anderson
Curly Callister and the remainder of
the ecclesiastical gang, will "look af~
ter" the church end Of the political
fight in Utah and Idaho.
Denials Two Years Ago.
Two years ago, during the well-re-
membered campaign, when Smoot
elected Sutherland to the United States
Senate, President Smith was heard
to declare that he was taking no part
in politics, but, in view Of the fact that
everything worked out exactly as Pres
ident Smith desired, and that he was
on the ground during the entire con-
test his denials did not make any i'm
preston to speak OF upon the minds OF
those who listened to his frequent dis
chalmers.
Ostensibly Out Of It.
This fall, however, President Smith
70 pboo o,1
tion that he is taking no part in poll
tics, by betaking himself far from the
seat and scene of the political battle.
w lille Apostle Senator Smoot and his
gang of ecclesiasts are doing their ut
most to more firmly fasten the church
yoke upon the people of Utah and
idaho, The chief hierarch will, perhaps,
be feasting his hungry eyes upon the
gaiety of Paris. lolling about in the
picturesque Eternal City, OF padding
gondola through the well-watered
streets Of Venice
Then, when Smoot and his sheu-game
artists have done their utmost and
have failed, President Smith will come
home refreshed and invigorated by his
trip abroad, raise his hands in holy
horror, when church influence In poll
ties is broached, and declare that he
not only had nothing whatever to do
with the election, but that he was not
even in tho country, or in a position to
know what was going on. In other
words, ne will do as Smoot did when
the Senator fed TO San francisco to
S11gt
amous hierarch in conference so that
he might tell the Senate committee and
the country that he did not vote to
sustain the first presidency and the
apostolate.