The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-01-20
REED SMOOT is
REELECTED WITH
GREAT ACCLAIM
Continued from Page /.

Reed smoot was elected a senator of the
United States from the state Of Utah.
THE contest in the senate resulting
from his election forms a most thrilling
political episode
When Mr.. Smoot reached Washington
he was confronted by a sworn charge
made by minister Of the gospel. that he
was guilty Of a crime peculiarly likely 10
arouse the hostility of the American peo-
pie and his right to a seat in the senate
was formally contested by certain citi-
zens Of the state OF Utah, for reasons,
to use the words of the prOtestants. 'af
fectine the honor and dignity OF the
United States and their senator's in con-
gress' This opposition to Senator Smoot
was sggressively and powerfully support
ed by numerous religious organizations
and social, educational and patriotic So
cieties of women.
The Severity of the Contest.
THE charges against Senator Smoot
were investigated by the senate commit
tee on privileges and elections. The time
Of taking testimony extended over a pc
riod Of three years. and is contained in
four volumes Of thirty-three hundred
pages. The cost to the government of the
hearings before the committee in witness
fees and other expenses approximated
S75.o00.
The senate was deluged by petitions
from every state in the Union asking for
Senator Shoots unseating.
matter came before the senate in series
of debates Of unusual brilliancy and
power and on Feb. %, 1907, four years
after he had taken the oath Of office. Il
was decided by vote Of the senate that
AIr. SmOot was entitled to retain his seat
in that body.
A contest covering four years. arous-
ing the deepest antagOnism Of thousands
Of our countrymen, conferred upon man
occupying conspicuous place IN public
life, cannot but have been a severe ordeal
for the one chiefly concerned
Mr.. Shoots Record.
Senator Badger then reeounted in detail
some Of the achievements Of Senator
Smoot while in the senate. He spoke Of
the esteem in which Senator Smoot was
held by the other United States senators.
by the president and the members of the
cabinet.
He spoke of the work Of Senator smoot
as a member of the committee on pen
Sions- His work In connection WITH the
forestry system of the natiuil. said Sena-
tor Badger. had won for Senator Smooi
one OF the highest honors in the gift OF
I the senate. the Craftsmanship OF the for
estry section Of the committee Tor the
conservation OF national resources The
government irrigation projects in Utah.
he added. were only few more eEidenc Is
/ Of the Creditable manner in which Reed
Smoot had represented Utah IN the United
States senate.
MIR. President he continued. Senator
Smoot now Is In the most powerful the
governing class Of senators. COMMITTEES
positions and Influence in the senate IS
/ dependent upon seniority OF service The
! senator's from wyoming. for example. hold
I the chairmsnships Of the judiciary com
mittee and the committee on military az
I fairs. because they have survived the
mutations of death political and physical
and have outiived other members sp-
pointed on these committees
Senator Smoot commenced with ths