Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-07
OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.

AZ the risk OF offending some oi me
Yiruleut antagonists Of Senator Reed
smoot. We notice fcH more comments
on HIS case. The course of .hc comm.i-
toe on privilege and elections 100 rels-
lions to Co. and the probable action II
the Senate when % consideration of o. Is
reached by that body ln spite Of the
savcn.to-fye vote ou ,he Dubois reso-
luton. there is O. general feeling a.
doubt as 20 the vote upon the malt
question when @ SIS taken up To the
Senate. aud the feeling ~ the press NJ
the country seems 20 be- largely
against unfavorable action by that
body. We have quoted some remarks
made by the New York sun on This
matter as reported in q contemporary,
ana we now reproduce the entire cdi-
torlal from the sun entitled 'lntImi-
dating tho Judges as follows
Ever since Reed smoot Of Utah took
his seat iu thC senate Of the Iniled
States, on March 4. 1903. the Congress
sional Record has borne constant tesu-
mony 10 the unceasing activity ot the
persons and organizations that want 20
see him ousted from that body. Prac-
fically each number 81 the Record has
contained a long list Of petitions intend
Cd 10 influence the minds of the soma
tors against him. and now that early
action seems probable the Mormon 3
enemies have redouhed their enor,s.
YESTERDAY a number % bulky volumes,
each containing the petition Of protest.
ants IN a single State. were presented
IN the anti.Smoot library.
in deciding on Mr.. Smoot's eligibiu-
~ 20 membership in the Senate The
members Of that body act as his Judges
in seeking % influence their conduct
By the means that have been adopted
Il Is apparent that MS opponents nave
given little or no thought 10 the lu-
dicial nature OF the task. for they evil
IDENTIFY desire a decision based on pop
ular prejudice and not on the facts ana
.he evidence. one distinguished SEND
tor regarded these efforts % force the
Senate 70 expel Mr. Smoot AS Improper
and indetensihle. on November u,
1903. George Frisbie Hoar Of Massa-
chusetts, presenting several anti
snoot petitions 10 the Senate, said.
- ask the unanimous consent OF
the Senate 10 say. for the information
OF the very excellent and admirable
citizens who have signed these petit
lions. that the decision OF the title ~ a
Senator 10 his seat IN the Senate IL a
purely judicial question. 10 be deter
mined upon evidence and the applica-
tion TO the evidence Of the Constitution
and laws OF the United states. and that
Al seems 20 me. with an due respect 10
these petitioners. n Is as much out of
place 10 address such petitions 20 This
high court which Is 10 determine those
cases as q would be 20 petition the
Supreme Court 81 the United States
20 take M some case which was before
Il or decide Il in a particular way.
II Mr. smoot Il disqualified for
membership ln the spuatc, bis disquali-
flcation rests ON the fact of hts mem-
bershin IN the Mormon Church and the
Obligations he owes 90 that organize
ton, and not on the prejudice against
that Church that exists among many
worthy persons I'm considering his case
the Senate should De guided only by
against him. The carloads OF petit
;iOns that have been cot Up against
rim show a distinct plan 10 intmi1ate
individual Senators and sway their
Judgment by introducing outside con-
siderations, Il Is seriously 90 be hoped
that no such scheme viii bear fruit and
that every Senator viii vote ID the
Smoot case on the evidence. and not
in accordance With The preJudices Of The
respectable but mostly uniformed
slgners o. these petitions.
This bears out so strongly the views
expressed IN the "News' on ths sub.
sect Of Trial boy Petition. that we have
given space 10 % iH eXtenso. The rsht
of petition extends 10 am rsh,WI slb-
jects Of petition Good common sens,
will distinguish between those that are
and those THAI one not rightuL The
motion that objections 90 the latter pre-
clude the former. is am absurd.iy that Do
only advanced or entertained hy aDn
Mormon sophIsts. scdbes ANA PhlG-
sees. The annexed remarks Uu ODE suh-
sect Of the vote aIc frlW tr ,hlcaru
pecor5.u.-sl5 which SAWS ,ltor.4lIy.
THE Senate committee on privileges
and elections hls voted seven 90 nae.
that Senator Smoot 70 Utah ls not enc
titled 90 his sf1l This resolution 'f
On expression ~ orin.on hnt no'a'He
more, Even should tro Senate i'i-
mally adopt Co. 10 .s doubtful whether
It would have any effect un Senator
Smoot unless DO hlit IBIS f.eiuss 80
badly that Do resigned which s nor
probable. ll order t1 Dust him ta"
Sehate must take express action and
aynico point u ro.iue is Involved
d to whether Ca majority 0r O. tNo-
thirds vote ls necessary The senate
committee had two other resolutions
before %. providing f0r tne Two l.leI-
eut methods of action. but % could uot
muster votes enough TO adopt el,Ial
OF them
Tt Is over thrra 1esrs-uore illu
'alf of "a senatorial term -sHcr S.la-
" Smoot took h.s oath anI VITA 10
Is seat The attack ou MIN bad bee