The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-08-25
DEMOCRATIC sMooTISM.

| DGMOChATlO SMOoTlSM,
"'Jf the church is not in politics
what was he bowling sboutl And if
the church is in politics why does he
deny the factsi IT all sounded to me
like an attempt of Roberts TO boost
for the Smoot campaign while saving
his own Democratic face
In that succinct way an observer dis
| posed Of tho Saltair oration of Presi-
dent Brigham II Roberts of the Nor
mon hierarchy. President Roberts is
permitted to go upon the stump at the
present time whenever his peculiar an
tics can be of advantage to the church,
and be is Withdrawn from the platform
and political activity whenever the
church thinks he has gone far enough,
In this particular case Smootism needed
certain Democratic certification and
while Smoot himself or his machine
received no particular compliment from
Mr.. Roberts, Smootism, meaning the
church rule in politics in Utah, was
approved by the highest ecclesiastical
opinion which the active Democracy of
Utah can deliver.
This kind Of Endorsement is far bet
ter than any Republican certi6cation
could be for Smootism When a Dem
ocratic hierarch appears before the
public and says that he is ready TO fight
all corners in defense of his PROPOSE
ton that the church is not. in politics,
and when that same Democratic hie-
rarchy~ takes out his opposition to
Smootism in n denunciation Of Fussy
Jimmie Anderson, Apostle Reed Smoot
may very gratifyingly wait in the back
room at church headquarters for the
Democratic bierarch to return and re-
ceive the caress Of the priesthood and
the plaudit, "WelI done, thou good
and faithful servant, enter thou into
the Joy Of Smootism! President
Brigham n. Roberts has been called
forceful man. Never was his strength
better exemplifed than in his Saltair
address; for all the Republicans in the
Smoot machine in Utah could not have
rendered so great service to Smoot-
ism as President Roberts rendered on
that occasion.
And the opening words of this ar
ticle, quoted from an intelligent COM
mentator upon public affairs here, ex-
actly suit the occasion. IL the Mormon
church is not in politics there was no
need for Roberts to- discuss the propo~
sition; and the only logical reason
which can be given for his attention
TO the subject is that he desired to
give to Smootism clean bill of health
SO far as church influence is concerned
The Smootites are already publishing
the Roberts certificate broadcast. And
while they quote President B. II. Rob
erts to the effect that the church is out
Of politics, the Smootites are using the
church In politics to the full extent Of
its power. Verify it is fact that
Smoot has two political quorums-one
Republican and comparatively useful,
and the other Democratic and super
latively helpful, The Republicans only
work for Smoot for what there is in it;
but for all-around self-sacrifeing devo-
tion, for help in an emergency, for lead
ing n forlorn hope, for pulling him out
Of the quicksand, for everything that
is servile if not altruistic, Smoot pro-
fers his Democratic quorum with Pres
ident Brigham II. Roberts as its spokes-
man. Nor does President Roberts 8
apparently uncomplimentary attitude
toward Reed Smoot personally detract
from Smoot s approval. The main thing
with the apostle is to have Smootism
Endorsed by the Democracy; and this
was successfully. accomplished when
Roberts certified on his Democratic
word that the church was not in poll
tics. Apostle Smoot only chuckles at
what might appear as sighting re-
mark concerning himself from the lips
of Roberts; for Apostle Smoot knows
that Roberts dare not go too far and
that Roberts would take back every
innuendo against Smoot if the priest
hood required that servility from him.
Roberts is not only a member Of the
! hierarchy, but he is its paid employee
and representative. Apostle Smoot be-
ing his superior, is his employer. Ac-
cording to the modern lexicography of
the church Roberts is a hireline of
Smoot- and merely says what Smoot
wants him to say.
What business had President BRIO.