Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-03-27
AS JOHN P. MEAKIN SEES IT.
.'E'raternal Evangelist" Interviewed by
Buffalo Enquirer on SmoOt Case.

The Buffalo CNew York; Enquirer OF
March 10 has the following 10 say OF
John T. Meakin and some OF his views,
publicly expressed. concerning persons
and conditions in utahs
John Phillips Meakin of Salt Lake
CITY. Utah, known the country over
as the "FrsternaI Evangelist Was
clie of the men who led the light Sena-
tor Reed Smoot made TO retain his seat
in the nations Capitol Mr.. Meakln,
who has been spending a few days in
the city. says he considers Smoot one
OF the most maligmed and nsisunder-
stood men In the United States,
Il regard smcot as q man OF stain
less character. one who is faithful to
his trust both In public and private
!lte" said Mr.. Meakln TO representa-
tlye OF the Enquirer this afternoon. Il
believe every man has a right to his
own views, and | appreciate the fact
that there are no two men alike In the
world, nor are there amy two thing S
alike 1t is the acme OF absurd fool
ishness. therefore. for people 40 quarrel
because they see things differently, AS
Tor myself. il i saw Il poor BARBARIAN
praying to "a stuffed snake | would
rather kncel down beside him than howl
on kick at him. ! am not a mem Der of
the Mormon Church. or any church as
for that ain fraternalists however.
ana as such / believe most ernphatlcal-
ly in mental liberty. But other mems
religion is mine to defend and never
ask for right but | accord TO my fell
lcws.
LAS see the Snloot AFFAIR 1t was
practically a. difference between states-
inep and politicians, and this often
means much. for YOU know that the
!aIIer work for themselves. while the
former work for the people The hight
In Utah was really commenced by fe "
disgruntled men becauHe they were not
able 10 gain certain material advan-
tages they desired. Appreciating the
facr that there Was smouldeTlnG
flame or prejudice against the Mormon
people, They acutely made that
gteater part OF their stock Ia trade,
This they did their best TO tan Into
a bigger dame until. at last. II was
barely safe for one to speak truthfully
and knowingly on the subject in lnany
sections OF abe east and retain the
good oplnl ion of the masses. The ears
OF the people seem to be stunned wnen
once d camor is roused and then N Is
almost impossible for them u listen 10
truth,
" kGCClltlb l. AlllNS
by Senator knox OF Pennsylvania TO
thIs effect. III referring to ihe Dreyfus
cssa. / believe with him. that had 1t
nos been for tho friendship and sense
of Justice of Mai. Plcquart and Emile
lola, hacked ny the purity and love OIL
a good woman, Mr. DreytuS would to.
dEy he on Devils Island or dead And
had n not been for certain levelheAded
men, statesmen and others, and The
love oil a devoted wife, Reed Slnoot
would have lost
"a dead fish can swim down stream,
but IL takes q live ono 10 swim UP the
stream,
II have known Reed Smoot from boy
hood and know him TO be one OF the
kndllest and best Of mem Know lnAS
M has put one wife and sis beautiful
children and that his home llfe Is an
Ideal one.
IN would be Impossible TO describe
I'm words the su1fGrlngs and heart1chcs
that fight against him made tho MAN
tnd his family During the heht ! was
a guest OF the family one night and az
IL his custom, Mr. slnool conducted
family prayer before retiring, II was
N n prayer of Christian man The
nest morning Mrs. SlnOot led the littl0
Sorvice ard before she had finished
prayIng found myself IN tears She
nrayca most fci'vently petitlonihG God
ID Bless not only the members of hes
,sully but all Of His children, She
snpplieated the 'rhrone- asklns partlen-
law thai Reed might be given strength
w. ',vlthstnna the abuse heaped upon
him ~ the American people, And when
, a., i had finished my eyes had been
opened 10 tha beautiful homo life Of
49, neople. and ever since ! have
~, IKE nghiIng any man like q wild.
cal who would cast any reelection on
tie character OF SENATOR slmOoL Or nls
~ h., 20 andeayored 10 give The people
IN nv lectures on Utah and the MOI
mons. a trnthful picture OF this greitly
,nss,iaderstood mars home llle and
| drsrtYbe his real charncleI,