The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-10-14
SMOoTISM IS SMITHISM.

"Whom the gods would destroy, they
first make mad" This old saying is
peculiarly applicable at this time to
President Joseph F. Smith. He is
credibly reported as saying at a
priesthood meeting that was an attach
ment of the late conference, that there
IS no such thing as Smootism; that
"the man who makes war upon so.
called Smootism makes war upon the
church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints
President Joseph F Smith in his
testimony before the Senate committee
at Washington swore that he had never
received any revelations. He might
go even further now. and say that he
does not even know the common things
that are going around about him, For
a man to say that there is 70 such
things as Smootism in this State is to
practically confess imbeciity o. mind;
for the one great, dominant, all-per-
vading political ulcer in this State is
Smootism. It is introduced every.
where; it lets no man alone; it seeks
to control or denounces if it cannot con-
troll, every man and woman voter in
Utah. 1t is dominant in both Gre
publican" and Democratic conven-
tions, councils, and among the party
men Of both. It is irreconcilable with
Republican institutions; between it
and the free exercise of American suf
frage there IS irrepressible conflict.
This conflict must be fought to. the
bitter end; but of that end there can
be no doubt. Americanism must pre-
vail, in the very nature of the case.
There is no room for Smootism, no room
Tor the things it stands for in any free
republic.
To undertake 70 identify this loath-
some ulcer which has entered into the
very bones and marrow of the body
polite, with Mormopisnn, IS something
that no one who is friend Of Mormon
ism could for one moment undertake to
DO. When Joseph T. Smith undertakes
this heavy task he but helps to prove
what a great many already believe,
mon; that he does not believe in the
revelations Of Joseph Smith, and that
at heart he scornfully rejects and
spurns all the pretensions Of the great
Mormon "prophet." There is a well
grounded and prevalent belief IN this
State that Joseph T. Smith is not at
heart Mormon at all He became one
Of the Twelve at an early age in pur-
suance of the promise made TO his
mother and protection afforded by
Brigham Young. He has quietly bided
his time until the passage Of years
would bring him to the sop, and now
he is there. He was poor man before
he became president Of the church.; he
is row an immensely wealthy man,
having vast estates in three different
nations; in the United States, in
Canada, and in Mexico. He has known
all along that by caring for his health
AID keeping on the mask he would one
day ascend the heights Of dominion,
and he knew the opportunities which
that ascendancy would afford him for
! dS5l 5lonoiHSHicHi, io@ WSdlLh, duu IOI
power He is in the enjoyment Of these,
a reckless, abandoned enjoyment
which speaks i'll for his saneness Of
mind and rectitude Of character But
now to come boldly out as he does
and assume the full responsibility for
Smootism, and undertake to make
it an attachment OF the church, will
be dose altogether too heavy even
for those who might otherwise have
remained in full devotion to the faith
and to the Mormon church organiza~
tiou. If Joseph Z, Smith could thor
oughly persuade the people Of Utah,
including all the Mormon people, that