Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-22

the question under consideration. The
information. too. or rather the AS
sumption that In his election to the
Senate the Mormon hierarchy wishes
10 make It, political control complete"
is Just as destitute Of foundation as
the rest Of the assumptions Of the
Denver News
The Mormon Church or 'hler-
archy' had no more 10 do with Reed
Shoots election than the Denver
News had, unless the contrary Is Prov
Cd by the fact that some Of the
citizens who voted FOR the legislators
who chose him for the position, arc
members OF the Mormon Church. But.
as n large number Of them were not
"Mormons" but Presbyterlans, Meth
odlsts. Bsptists, Eplscopalians or nom
relIgionius st would be Just az rea.
sonable % conclude that he was elect.
ed ty the nom Mofmons' OF the state
The trouble Is. that the Denver News
chooses 0s its source OF information
the most unreliable and misleading
spring Of bitterness that It could pos
slbly use Tor tho purpose. But It Il
not alone IN that Kind Of folly
Turning from that unsatisfactory
and Illogical attempt TO enlighten the
public on this matter we note 4
lengthy but vigorous and sensible cd
torial On the Springfield Republican.
Much Of Il. however. Is devoted TO the
supposed condition Of affairs 30 Utah,
embracing the "polygamy' question
and the money power but after
all that has been said ON these mat
ters the Republican shows that the
marital status Of Senator Smoot IS
beyond repro6ch and beyond question.
u also takes the ground that III has
not been established that he has been,
is. or would be, controlled as a meme
Der Of the senate by the Mormon
Church" On this point It makes some
very sarcastic references 10 the iuflu-
ences known 70 be behind number
oi leading senators, and after sum-
ming up the chief arguments and
statements Of the two reports Il con-
cludes It's able article with these two
paragraphs. with which we viii close
our quotations today.
In view Of the apparently establish
ed fact that Mr.. SmUot has personally
opposed plural marriages, even as a
member ~ the Mormon hierarchy. II
Is difficult to accept a. sound the rea-
soning OF the majority report II his
personal influence IN the Church was
In opposition 10 poiygamy, but was al
times overcome or uulllhed by some Of
the brother apostles by what prin-
ciple OF justice should he be made 10
suffer FOR their crimes3 Mr.. Smoot
Is scarcely TO be considered the Nor
mon Church. and tha Senate would
ind a tcnuous support Tor expalllng
him under the theory that he IS the
Mormon Church. lie Is constitutions
ally plain Reed Smoot. who cannot
be fairly accused OF having personally
violated the laws or proved TO have
melted or encouraged others TO violate
them.
Doubtless the case Of tho Utah SEN
ator has been deliberately delayed far
beyond the necessities Of the situation.
owing TO the grave reluctance Of many
Of the ablest lawyers OF the Senate
10 deprive him Of his seat Party In
terests, also, may have had bearing
upon the Senate's course. but delay,
after ALL seems 10 be wise. II Is a
serious matter In the United States 10
drive from the senate a man OF cor
rect life and clean record simply In
order 20 strike al the Church 20 which
he belongs, even when that Church
has Inherited faults which society de-
plores and the laws condemn"