The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-07-29
MORMON POWER
IN VESTS POLITICS
1t Is Sufficient, Senator Dubois
Declares, to Constitute
q Menace.
1T CONTROLS SIX STATES
AND STRONG IN OTHERS
Strength Will Be Increased if
Apostle Smoot Retains
His Seat.
in Brooklyn Eagle.

Reed Smoot retains his seat as Scna
tor OF the United States he Will sit In
the Senate not only as an apostle, not
only as Il prophet, seer and reyelator of
his own people, but as their chosen ono
TO guide their political affairs. AS an
apostle he will indicate to the govern
Ing powers OF his church whether or not
the Senators from the States where the
Mormons are powerful are satisfactory
to his people. II he indicates that GER
tain Senator Is not friendly enough to
the Mormon people, that Will be the end
OF the political career Of the Senator SO
branded"
The foregoing startling statement was
made today by Senator Fred T. Dubois
OF Idaho, who led the three yeare' fight
TO have Sena tor Smoot unseated. In
remarkably frank interview the Idaho
man told of the menace OF Morrnonism
to American institutions. He dwelt upon
the danger of this powerful and mys-
terious organization controlling the bal
ance OF power In the United States SEN
ate, possibility which he thinks Is not
at all remote.
States.
The politics OF six States. Senator Du-
bois says, Is now completely dominated
by the sect of which Joseph F, Smith is
the head, the influence OF which is slowly
Oub nuiciS c!IcuulhS " ctutl NpllLiul-
wealths.
Senator Dubois's disclosures regarding
the amazing strength OF the Mormon
church in American politics takes on
peculiar significance when It is known
that this denunciation will probably cost
him his seat in the Senate. He frankly
admits that his State ie at the mercy OF
the Mormons, whose every vote will be
cast against him In his campaign for re-
election this fall. Thus Dubois goes TO
defeat with his eyes wide open, q sacri-
flce to his conviction that the people
OF the country must be informed of
the peril involved In smoot remaining in
the Senate.
Dubois has the satisfaction OF knowing
that the Senate will be forced to decide
before the Christmas holidays whether
Smoot shall stay in the Senate or not,
an Issue which has been lodged by that
body ever since March 8. 1903, when the
first formal demand for his unseating
was made.
II had a consultation with Senator
Burrows. chairman OF the Committee on
Privileges and Elections, on July 12,"
said Mr.. Dubois, 'and 1t was fully agreed
that the case would be pushed to q con-
clusion and vote had before the ad-
journment Of Congress for the Christmas
holidays next December. 1t will come up
on the first day Of the session, December
8. 1t being a question OF the highest
privilege 1t has the right Of way over
everything else. l am quite sanguine
that the Senate will refuse to allow
Smoot TO retain his seat"
Smoot's Victory Would Increase Nor
mon Political Activity.
Senator Dubois was asked what effect
Shoots victory would have on the ac-
tivity OF the Mormon church, and In reply
he made the statement quoted at the
beginning OF this interview. Continuing,
he said:
"If Apostle smoot. remaining In the
Senate, should indicate that the Senator
from Oregon or the Senator from Nevada
is inclined to enact legislation which
would put the president Of the church,
Joseph F. Smith, in the penitentiary. for
Instance, the Mormon strength IN Ore
gon and Nevada, I am inclined to think,
would be sufficient to end the career of
those Senators.
Apostle Reed Smoot evidently has
been set aside as a political agent OF the
hierarchy, and the hierarchy evidently
concluded that his services to them
would be greater as q Senator OF the
United States than In any other politi-
cal capacity. He, OF course. retains his
ecclesiastical position as au apostle OF
the church, 30 that one OF the govern
Ing body Of the organization he can re-
port directly to his brother apostles and
the first presidency, who combine In
themselves all tho political power of the
organization"
''Do you think there is danger OF tho
Mormons ever exercising important in
huence in the United States Senator"
Decidedly, yes" replied Mr.. Dubois
with great emphasis. "At present they
have the power, and exercise 1t, to defeat
any one IN Utah, Idaho or Wyoming. who
aspires to be Senator, Congressman or
Governor. They use this power against
any one who objects openly to the prac-
tices and methods OF the hierarchy. If
they are not restrained and Apostle
Smoot retains his seat as a Senator, Il
Will not be long before they will control
the politics. through this largo balance |
OF power. In Oregon. Nevada and Mon
tapa. II Arizona and New Mexico vote
TO come In as a Joint State, they will |
control this new State almost from the
beginning.
Mormons May Soon Control Election
of ~ or IA q. s. Senators.
ut is perfectly plain that in a rea-
sonably short time, unless their power Is |
checked. they will control the selection
Of from twelve to fourteen United States
Senator's. Ordinarily, almost always. In |
fact, fourteen Senators are the balance
Of power IN the Senate The thing that
concerns me the most is that their po-
It is matter Of soIlcitude to the Ma
.ional parties and to National politicians
While their vote In tho electoral college
Is not very large yet 1t Is worth look
ng after, as also are the delegations to
The National conventions from these
States.
"I regard the close union OF church
Ind State, whioh Is inseperable from the
Mormon doctrine, and the complete dom
nation OF the hierarchy OF this organ
zation over their followers IN political
matters as decided II not the greatest
menace which confronts the American
people"
J What Will be the practical effect OF
5noot retaining his seat?"
Reed smoot is an apostle of the Nor
non church. His ecclesiastical posi-
Ion corresponds In way to that Of a
cardinal in the Roman church or the
bishop OF highest ecclesiastical power In
he Episcopal or Methodist church. There
8 this marked difference, however, that
he first presidency OF tho Mormon
,hurch and tho twelve apostlcu eysrcisa !