Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-14
THEY SEE THE POINT.

Public sentiment, az expressed by
prominent journals appears to be OPP
posed to the methods resorted TO by a
small minority of the committee ON
privileges aud elections, to exclude
Senator Reed Smoot from the upper
house OF Congress There appears, how
ever, to be a general misunderstanding
as TO the action OF the committee In the
case. While It has been rumored that
eight of the committee were ready TO
vote against the Senator's retention
and five in favor Of H. action has been
postponed until May Is on a resolution
introduced by Senator Dubois. Even II
a vote IL taken by the committee on
that date. there Is no certainty as to
the position that viii be taken by The
wembers. With this explanation, We
reproduce all editorial which appears IN
the Boston Herald, as follows;
The action of the Senate committee
on privileges aud elections IN the
case of Reed Smoot will surprise
many who have tried to keep track
Jor.ty OF those, we think, had come 10
the opinion that he would not be dis
turbed IN his place. that the commit
tee would take no decisive unfavorable
action. The matter has dragged along
IN committee for more than three years.
Some who were members OF the COM
miitee when the matter OF his qualif-
cation was referred to Il left t. The
vote IN favor Of his expulsion was s 70
There IT. no charge Of personal prac-
tee Of polygamy against him. and the
grouni of the decision must be that The
nature of his oath of allegiance 10 the
Mormon Church Is inconsistent with
fllll fidelity Ia allegiance To the United
States. This conclusion would apply -
all Mormons who have taken the same
religious oath 10 which Mr. Smoot has
subscribed. This Is the same as saying
that the Mormon Church Is an institu-
lion that Is, m may be. irimical 10 the
republic, not merely IN morals but IN
political purposes"
The effect OF decision such as the
Herald mentions, Is set forth as the
Logical conclusion OF such action This
has beer reached by other public four
nails, and indeed was 80 stated almost
at the beginning of the investigation.
The Dessert News has referred to Il on
several occasions. but did not originate
the argument, The premises as ret
forth by the Boston Herald are lncor-
rect,and therefore the conclusion should
fall to the ground. The Senator has
not taken any oath Of allegiance"
10 the Mormon Church, nor have
any of It's members taken
such an oath. There Is nothing IN any
obligation or principle OF faith in that
Church which is inconsistent with full
fidelity In allegiance to the United
States" We have explained this be-
fore, but repeat the statement now IN
reply to the reasoning Of the Boston
Herald.
We VIII hereunto append an editorial
from another influential public Journal
on this question, which sets forth the
subject IN rational and consistent
manner. We clip 1t from the Kansas
city Post, which says:
Has It ever occurred TO those who
50 Historically demand that Senator
Smoot OF Utah be expelled or excluded
from the senate because he is Nor
mon that they might be wrong. or thai
there We're at least two sides To the
question: He is not believer In plural
marriages, certainly not a practicer of
II, and all the evidence so far adduced
show him TO be man OF ability. pure
IN Ms home life and an observer Of
the law of the land. He possesses all
the constitutional qualifications for the
high office as to age and residence ana
other reasons must be found to war
rant his expulsion or exclusion before
he should be disturbed
THE Constitution provides that Each
house shall be the judge OF the cleo
tons. returns and qualifications OF it's
members, II also provides that Each
house may determine the rules OF It's
proceedings, punish Its members for
disorderly behavior, and with the con-
currcnce OF tWo-thirds expel member
Mr., Smoot has been a member Of tina,
body for over three years and In none
OF the provisions quoted can there be
found a hint that a majority OF his
colleagues can exclude him or that
two-thirds can eXpe him for conduct
which no amount Of stretching can tor.
ture into being bad. particularly when
his badness IS confined exclusively 20
being a member Of the Mormon
Church"
THAT the Senate can by such two
thirds majority cXpcl d member Is I'M
denied, but 10 do So they would at least
be expected to give q reason for dras.
tic action. and as no reason exists il
may well be asserted that he Will re-
main member OF the Senate until his
term expires. He has over two years
Vet TO serve. and as the old ship OF
state has not even felt a reasonable
tremor by reason Of his presence Il
seems the acme OF folly 10 think Of eX-
Guiding him now. n would establish
bad precedent, inhlct a needless and
grlevous wrong upon a Senator whose
private and official conduct his worst
enemy cannot successfully assaL ana
do an lrreparable wrong TO his equally
innocent family.
"rhe Senate frequently docs things
which seem radical and wrong bu,
never without giving plausible and arr
gumentative reasons for them. and TO
deprive Smoot OF bis scat now would be
INitbcuI rhyme or reason DO