Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-10
GENERAL PUBLIC APATHY.

During a recent visit TO several OF the
Eastern States. the writer was some-
what surprised to md a general lack OF
interest concerning Utah, the Nor
mons" and the case of Senator Reed
smoot. To listen 10 the alarms kept
up daily in certain quarters at home,
one would be led to think that the
whole country was in a state OF excite
ment over what Is generally called The
Mormon question"
The people who We're visited, and who
were aware that President Joseph f.
Smith and number OF prominent
"Mormons" were present. acted in the
kndest and most generous and hospit-
able manner, There was nm entire abb
sence OF that hostile spirit which some
years ago met a Mormon Elder at
almost every step. In many places
where the people We're not acquainted
with the visitors. or their purpose In
travelling IN those parts. there appeared
TO be a lack OF understanding con-
cerning the "Mormons' and OF anything
about them
Certainly there was no excitement
visible In relation to the subject. and
when inquiries were made OF well-read
gentlemen, who We're acquainted with
public affairs, as to the feelings OF the
people generally the answer was ''the
rumpus that Is raised In order to inf.u-
ence United States Senators Is chiefly,
10 not entirely, among religious wo-
men and preachers" II is sure that
the masses of the populace know little
II anything about the matter and that
they care still less.
The press was not noticing the ques-
ton, and the Chicago Record Herald.
discussing the petitions 10 Congress,
which, II deemed. were OF the only real
importance to come before the present
session. and which It said were pour
ing in IL large volume, specified but
two that we're OF Special interest to
the public" namely. "the restriction of
Immigration and the regulation OF rail-
road freight rates"
In reference to the case OF the Sena-
tor from Utah. the Cleveland Plain
Dealer of January 2 takes occasion TO
refer to other Senators whose standing
ii points out is far more necessary to
be investigated than that OF Reed
Smoot. The Plain Dealer remarks edi-
torially:
THE months during which the smoot
case dragged It's slow length along at
the last session OF Congress held out
little prospect that II would be' con-
cluded even at the session which has
Just begun. Much light was thrown on
the inner workings of the Mormon
hierarchy, and Shoots connection with
1t was not left matter OF doubt; but
ID was not shown and, from the evil
dcnce disclosed, IS not likely to be
shown affirmatively, that Smoot owes
or ever did owe any allegiance 10 the
Mormon Church that would be incon-
slstent with the performance OF his du-
ties as "A senator IN Congress.
''rhe hint comes from Washington
that the senate, or number of influ-
entail senator's. has decided that a
stern sense of duty will compel II ~
resume consideration of the Smoot
case, even though this may necessitate
postponement OF railway rate leglsla-
tion so dear 10 the senatorial heart"
We DO not intend by the foregoing
opening remarks to detract In the least
from the importance Of the Investga-
tion that appears about TO be roopened.
but to show the present condition Of
the public mind concerning IL. and in
relation TO the Church OF which senator
Smoot Is a member and which appears
20 be the real object Of attack on the
part Of his opponents.
There IS a general lack Of interest IN
the subject among the masses OF the
population IN the East, and the bitter
rancorous. venomous spirit manifested
in certain little circle here az home
finds no sympathy or correspondence
among the people Of our country except
that which agitates the very pious
people few Of whom know anything
about the real merits or dement's OF the
matter about which the preachers full
inmate and which their lady followers
attack by petition.