The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-11-13
Speech Delivered in Salt
Lake TheateF Saturday
Night, November 5.

SO MANY requests have been made tc
The Tribune TO print the address made
by Brigham II, Roberts in the Salt Lake
theater on Saturday night, November 5,
in order that the speech might be pre-
served ia history, that The Tribune
prints the speech here III full. IL was
in this speech that Elder Roberts cXcor-
lated APOSTLE Smoot In his pcrora-
tion in his address MIR. Roberts read the
following matter FROM the speech de-
liYcrcd by Senator Albert j. Bevcrldgc
on the floor of the Senate in behalf Of
Senator Reed Smoot during consldcra-
tioD of his case;
And, Nh President, the country has
been Inisnformcd. The average man ANA
woman hes been told for three long years
that Reed Smoot Is criminal suiliS %, @,
n disgusting and filthy crimc--a crime
abhorrent In our race and destructive oil
our civilization. Tho country has been
told that this man is 4 poiyEamlst mar
Is the charge upon which he has been
tried before the bar OF American pubic
opinion; that the charge upon which lie
olas been convicted by the millions, ana
that the charge that has injured him as
deeply as Dreyfus was injured For that
s.harge Is utterly false. The evidence
shows. and IT is finally admitted, that
this hecussd senator is not a polysamlst
tho word Is too foul to utter except on
CornyNleion-never WIS that base thlns.
and that his homo life is Ideal In purity
Not only Ia this true, but the evidence
shows that. from the first Reed Smoot
has heen the leader Of the younger. wiser
land moro modern element OF his church
ahat oppose this insult TO marriage.
Mr.. Roberts then read the following
iInatter from tho speech made by Scna-
tor Albert J. Hopkins Of Illinois IN the
united States senate in defense OF Sen
ator Reed Snoot:
Mr. President, we can see from the tes-
tiInony that appears before tho conlhnilee
on privileges and elections that the Nor,
mon church is undergoing fad'ca'
change for the better
Reed Smoot IS an apostle or this hlsh,
er Mormonism. He stands for the sacred
things In the church and against polyga-
my and all the kindred vices connectec
with that loathsome practice, In bis po
sition as a member Of the church. and as
an apostle and preacher or the coctrlnes
out this foul blot upon the civilization
OF Utah and the other territories where
polygarny has been practiccd than any
men outside OF the ehurch.
Mr., Roberts concluded as follows;
Is as false as hell and there is not
word of truth in it, II I had been the
senior senator Of this state, and had sat
and listened to the undeserved praise
that was lavished upon ne by those SEN
ators. I should have felt that had dis
graced the principle that gave me my
birth and position in the world. 1
should have felt that had pinned upon
the breast of my mother the scarlet let
ter and had branded my fathers dis
tinguished brow with dishonor.'
Mr Roberts IS address, which was de-
livered to a capacity audience In the
Salt Lake theater. was as follows. SAID
Mr.. Roberts.
Brigham H. Robertss Speech.
Mr.. Chairman, My Fellow Citizens; a
very strange spectacle conlronts those
who are familiar with the conditions that
exist in our nation. The great national
campaign IS drawing to q close-a cam
pnign In which more has happened IN
merely congressional election than usually
these United States there Is
eeen the unusual spectacle OF great
insurgency In the Republican party, II
Isn't necessary, especially in these CLOS
r consideration of the tariff question and
TO discuss those issues that grow out
Of that very great subject nor to dis
cuss the control OF railroads, nor trust
pie care TO hear upon those themes,
take 1t, has already been said and espe-
.iaTly here in Utah. That the Republican
legislation on the subject Of the tariff is
IN satisfe ctory is witnessed by the fact OF
The dissatisfaction within the Republican
party itself, and the promises that are
nado OF future and immediate legisla-
lion upon that subject II the Republican
party is successful In the election. But
more prominent in this election and CAM
oaign than heretofore are reform mea-
suree. In many OF the states a direct
primary law through the operation of
ng who the nominees Of the respective
parties shall be. we'll as who the
officers shall be through the election.
They are demanding the initiative and
he referendum. reform movements that
Viii place legislation, both as to initiat-
ng II and as to annulling II IL unsat-
sfac tory, more Immediately In the hands
II the people. Tho reform known as tho
'ecall, by which and through the opera
ion Of which, If ii shall occur that un- N
aitlful servants have been elected by the
oeople. they may be recalled from their
offices before the expiration of tho term
or which they have been elected, Civ
ng toSthe body polite the same rights
and privileges that are exercised by the
yreat corporations and by business men
% dlgrniss from service unworthy agenta
In addition TO these reforms there Is
also quite widespread demand for the
corrupt practice act alluded 10 by Mr..
several ,
eforms which demanded In many
states. not only by Democrats, but by ,
progressive Republicans as WELL point TO {
'nc conclusion, and that is that the
people OF our country are preparing TO ,
AXE moro immediate control of their
affairs and dethrone the bosses and ,
Freak up machine politics. and proclaim
o the world that the people of America ,
ire controlling their government (Ap-
,lause.) If you. my fellow citizens. In
his commonwealth arc to enjoy these
'cform measures. then you must stand {
or the Democratic party. for as between ,
he two great national parties repre-
'ented here the Democratic party ig the ,
me Of the two national parties that ,
stand pledged 10 the enactment OF these
'eforms into law. IL
For some mysterious reason or other 8
,ur Republican friends in Utah refuse .
@ countepance anything that looks in the
Erection OF these several reforms In {
,thcr words, the demand for these re-
orin movements. as J before remarked ]
Indicate the determination OF the pco-
Die TO rule and submit 10 boss rule no
more, (Applause)
Mr. Chairman. II is my purpose on this ,,
occasion TO present to this magnificent !,
gathering, and it seems u me / never
aced more SDlendid uu1iruce-it ic INV