Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-21
THE SENATOR FROM UTAH.

Under the title Of "fhe Senator from
Utah. the Boston Transcript one more
of the influential newspapers OF the
country, expresses the growing ana
prevailing public sentiment concerning
utahs senior senator Il VIII be OBJ
eerved that the Transcript, like other
leading journals. has been somewhat
misled as to the action of the commits
tee OF investigation No such vote as
that telegraphed from Washington
(eight to nve) was taken when the word
syas sent out. IT was estimated that
this was the probable status OF the
committee on resolution introduced
but not acted upon The purported
"oath" supposed TO have been taken
OF allegiance to the Mormon Church
IN conflict with loyalty and full duty
10 the country is another error popu-
larry entertained but having no found
alton IN fact There is no such oath In
this Church and no evidence has been
sdduccd during the examination that
proves It's existence, But IL h interest,"
ing 10 note the position taken by so
many leading publications IN relation
To this matter. even when they regard
the story as correct. II takes time for
the truth to come uppermost and for
Justice and fairness TO prevail. But
they are bound TO win IN the end. When
the excitement raised by prejudice and
false reports iH dissipated, The right
eventually rules. The Boston Trans
cript says editorially;
The case OF Reed Smoot senator
from Utah. Is at least nearing crit
ical stage. We forget how many yards
or miles Of petition have been piled up
demanding his official decapitation.
but the amount Is something f0rlnid-
able. Perhaps never before IN he
eountry's history have so many sub
scribed 10 a demand that a respectable
man should be deprived OF his official
position, and that demand has evident
~ had its effect. Petitions are judged
as a rule not 10 much 10y their sweet
reasonabeness as by the amount OF
parchment or paper thar is covered
with the names OF freeburn electors OF
those who have influence with free
born electors. In this instance, we be-
lieye. the women are more generously
represented than the men In the far
flung list Of signatures
Three years ago last March Mr.,
Snoot was brought before the Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections
TO show cause why he should not be
denied the privilege Of occupying tbs
seat to which he had been elected,
The case has dragged through half his
term. Perhaps had the committee re-
ceived the benefit of these petitions at
the outset II might have decided
promptly, but being without them II
elected no convincing response when
asking what evil hath he doneg'
Now, under pressure, the committee
has voted teight TO fve) Tor his ex-
pulFon. and n resolution to that effect
VIII be offered for action by the whole
Senate In couple of weeks, Mr..
Smoot has served out moro than half
his term. He has been an Intelligent,
q Woodworking and. so far as the pub
lie can see, rather more than ordin-
arily oreditable member OF the Senate.
especially for q new man.
His private fife is as correct as his
public service is exemplary. One wife
suffceth him. and In other respect, so
far as any evidence has been made
public, he has been not only respccter
of the laws and wholesome social con-
yentions, but loyal citizen of State
and nation. The somewhat questions
able foundation OF the committees
finding Is that his oath Of allegiance
to the Mormon Church prevents his
giving full allegiance To the United
States But the manner IN which he
has manifested his allegiance To the
latter hardly affords ground for crit
icism. Who can tell ho'N he constructs
his oath, ard whether IN his c0nstruc-
tion II Is at all In conflict with his
loyalty and fun duty 10 his country?
IN the various comments upon the
latest heresy trial II Is held by many
churchmen of high standing and nu-
thoritative position that there Is no
necessary Inconsistency between the
acceptance OF the terms of the creed
and denial of their htcralness at
many points, and In mis- connection
they may be- correct. But why not
exercise MS much charity toward Mr.
SmoOt when there arises an apparently
ifrec0nCilahle conflict between his vows
OF Church and his vows of State. es-
pecially when the issue is not one Of
eternal salvation, but simply the bust
ness OF correct legislation To which
no seems 10 bee faithfully and properly
attending. II there IL "A genuine desire
TO purify the sonute 1t seems TO us
that moro promising opportunities are
afforded Il than in the expulsion Of Mr..
Smoot.'