The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-05-10

Washington, d. c.. May 9.-Senator
Smoot today received assurances from
officials of the department of justice
that there would be an investigation
OF the charges OF the discrimination by
the Hartman line, which were re-
Gently made BY the merchants OF
Salt Lake and other cities In Utah.
This only again demonstrates the ln-
fluence of the Utah senator in the
highest confidence of the United
States.
Ie Is a long stride from fighting
against big odds to retain seat In the
United States senate TO place in its
Highest councils But such is the his
tory OF the Utah senator In one brief
term. The flood OF protest against his
taking his seat which came from the
eastern states is we'll known and
would have frightened away a less dar-
ing fighter Because Senator Smoot
belonged to the hierarchy of the Nor
mon church thousands petitioned
against his retaining the honor TO
which he had been without question
legally elected by the Utah legislature.
II was three seasons before the
storm OF criticism OF the new Utah
senator had subsidized ami the senate
committee on prlyilegese and elections
reported in favor of permitting him TO
retain his seat. Then, as if he had
been storing up energy during the two
previous years, Mr.. Smoot launched
into his work as a senator like dyna-
mo
Those who worked with him and
tried to maintain his pace soon drop
ped by the wayside and left this tall,
quiet man Of few words and much en-
ergy plodding steadily onward. Dur
ing ali the time that his right To sit
In the senate nad been questioned
Senator Smoot had not lifted his voice
except to vote. Now the senate found
that 1t had a good debater. Mr.. Smoot
proflted by his silence. and the opening
OF his fourth session found him we'll
located on tAe Republican side and ac-
tive.
On March 4. 1909, Senator Smoot be-
gan his second term, Opposition to
him because of his close connection
with the Mormon church had disap-
peared. Those who had taken a care
full look into his life found that his be-
]iefs did not intrude themselves upon
the daily lives Of others, and came to
know him as an ordinary American
citizen, with plenty of western snap
and energy. Those who had come Ia
contact with him In debate knew that
il was not wise TO precipitate unneces-
sarily an encounter with him on the
senate floor.
Many of those who signed petitions
to congress asking that Reed Smoot
be ousted from the senate took it for
granted that he had more than one
wife, No one understands this preju-
dice better than Senator Smoot him
self. A party OF newspaper men were
making trip through the west They
stopped at Ogden and ran down to Salt
Lake. They were invited to visit Sem
ator Smoots home at Provo.
Gentlemen" said Senator Smoot,
standing upon the broad veranda of
his home. this is my wife," and in an
undertone. but so plainly that all could
hear, "and the only one ever expect
TO have or want"
Today Senator Smoot is bearing. as
member OF the committee on finance
a heavy burden. being one of the nine
Republican senators who framed the
tarin bill just reported to the senate.
Membership OF this committee is the
most sought appointment In the Unit
ed States senate. IL is important from
a financial standpoint and gives a SEN
ator power which Is not refused. The
honor went to Senator Smoot unsought.
but was earned by hard, persistent,
careful Work upon less important COM
mittees.
ms work was watched and marked
py senate leaders. When the new COM
mittees were chosen at the beginning
Oh the extraordinary session, Mr..
Smoot rose TO the top OF the heap. On
enls committee he is associated with
senator Aldrich of Rhode Island, Its
cnairman. and Senator Hale of Maine.
lhese Two men are the leaders OF the
senate. They we're the ones who
cnose Reed Smoot to help them In the
tarln work, whlon is watched by the
whole business world
otner important work awaits the
committee on finance. Before its term
mas expired with the present congress
there Will probably have been reportod
10 me senate proposal to change tne
@noie monetary system of the Unltet
states. To the committee on fnanc,
WI come the duty of passing upc,
this measure.
In addition to place on the con