The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-08
STARTLED AT SNITHISM


Tn Thursday were heard many mixed
expressions of concern and disgust by
members of the Mormon church con.
cernng what is now forced upon them
as tho plain purpose Of President Jo-
seph j.. Smith 10 make Of that organ
lzatIon mere belonging or property
holding of the Smith family, and moro
especially of the lIyrum Smith branch
of that family. And not few men of
intelligence and respectable standing
IN the church have freely said that
they now begin 10 realize the fact that
The Tribune has all along been telling
the truth when it has pointed to the
developing Smith purpose to that end,
At this time it may be appropriate
TO call attention to certain conditions
as appertainlng TO official Mormondom
that may not have occupied much
thought in the Mormon mind. 1t is a
fact that in the church there is a
strong feeling of respect for all of the
prominent leaders who have occupied
high positions at all the different per
lods Of church history. While we do
not mean TO say that this regard is held
universally, and in each individual as
TO every one of these leaders who have
gone before, it is fair TO say that speak
ing generally such respect exists For
instance, one may have great regard
for Joseph Smith, the founder, anu
still not feel so generously toward
Brigham Young; while another might
reverse that esteem IN that he would
accord TO Brigham more admiration
than TO Joseph. But, rs we say, taken
in the whole there is vcncration for all.
Now, under that circumstance it
some force that in the apostolate at
the present time there is scarcely a rep
resentation Of the former Mormon
"Toyalty.' Joseph Smith has no son
or grandson in the quorum of the
twelve apostles; nor is there in that
body a member of the Brigham Young
family. John Taylor is also ignored in
the representations; so also is Wilford
Woodruff. The late George g. Can
non, than whom the church never at
any time in all its history had a
greater or moro intelligent defender
is absolutely disregarded in the make
up. There is no representative of the
Lorenzo Snow family there, nor is Doc
tor Willard Richards favored with rec
ognition. The only one of the old lead.
ers who has representation in the twelve
is Jcdediah NJ. Grant whose son,
Apostle Heber j. Grant, holds a place
in the quorum, and 1T must be confessed
ihat this representation is so light that
it might almost be left out. All of the
others are absolutely tabooed.
This condition, as forced upon the
Mormon people through the machina-
tions Of Joseph f. Smith and his sat
raps who assist him in his nepotic prof
ects for the sake of such crumbs of
royal favor as he shall permit 10 them,
is a sore blow at the Mormon affec-
tions. More and more the light of
truth is bursting upon their minds
that the object of the reigning mon
arch is 10 settle upon the Hyrum Smith
branch of the family-not the revealed
ruling branch-an unbroken success
sion in the chief leadership, altogcth-
er to the subordination Of the Joseph
Smith branch, notwithstanding the fact
that Joseph is universally recognized AS
the founder of the church. The grasp
ing, cruel selfishuess of Joseph +, Smith
was never better illustrated than in
this intent and purpose. His unserupu-
lous voracity for power and wealth is
shown in this determination to prac-
tically trample the first prophet" out
of existence and blot him out Of mem
ory for no other purpose than to sat
isfy his Unsuitable greed in behalf OF
bis own side OF the family.
Smith has few equals in avaricious
selfishnees, and 1T is certain that no
superior TO him in this respect has
been seen IN the church. Had he been
of the period when human lives were
lightly held if they stood in the way of
ambition, there is no doubt that his
reign would have been grimly marked
his trail would have been strewn
with corpses, and from end TO end be-
smeared with blood. His present i'm
pudept grabbing of all in sight is dis
turbing the Mormon people TO the cen
ter of the organization; but there is
no doubt that the discomfort will be
finally suppressed under the iron heel
of Smithism