The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-08
SHOOTS NARROW VIEW.

II will be remembered that Apostle
Senator Smoot. Just prior to the as
scmbling of Congress, made hcrce
and foolish arraigument of the so-called
insurgcnt Republicans, and at the same
time stated that it was his OPINION
that no important legislation would be
enacted at the present session OF Con-
gress, but that the time would be
taken up in inquiries and squabblcs
which would bury out of sight the
President s recommendations and the
interests of the public, We have NTH
crto commented adversely upon
Smoot s arraignment and forecast, and
are glad to see that our view upon
Smoot 5 outgivings is supported so
strongly as it is in the following
editorial which we clip from the Finan'
cial America Of December md
senator Smoots interview outlining tho
probable effect OF the coming session OF
Congress is certainly anything but en-
couraglDg to business, lie holds insur :
gcncy responsible for tho prevailing bus, ,
ness depression and unscttlemeni. ana
does not hesitate TO declare that It's real
mission is political power and not the
enforcement OF patriotic principle. Ac-
cordIngly, he believes tho coming session
viii be more of All inQuisition than a
peoples asscmby--an arena in which
bills or Presidential recommendations Will
be weighed and regarded from the angle
OF personal political eNpedicncy by the
Insurgents and Democrats and not at all
from their relation to public welfare,
Should this prediction he verified bui lit
Tie progress may bc expected from Con
gless in the settlement of vital public
thereby another
year or more that agitation and discus
sion which have seriously affected the
country's material iDtcrcsts for more
than a year past We cannot believe that
the Democrats or the insurgents. or both,
would lend themselves 10 such posi-
lively vicious programme as that suS-
gestcd by the senator from Utah, Much
that the insurgents have recommended is
radical and unset,ltng. nut. similarly,
much that they have fought for Is con-
structivc and Is supported by q rcspecta =
bic proportion of our people. The great
est radical in the world is he who tries
TO break down established precedent; but
we have seen abundantly that that must
be done at tlmcs-cNcn in Republic,
The insurgents represent new political
ideals. progressive ideals. indeed, and they
are certainly not suspected Of being In
They are minority in their own party.
II Is true: but we have never learned
thai mlnor'ties have no rights or that
minorites cannot he right upon occa- :
sion. AS TO The Democrats acting AS
Mr.. Smuot intimatcs. we believe the gem
tleman Is Gravcly la error. Their rec
| ord during tho extra aordnary session is
praiscworthy and good. That they Will
now resort to tactics which might de-
stroy or impair their earlier high service
| logically must be doubted. Some political
| backing and 6lling can be looked for on
ltho eve nf The nominating party convcn-
| tions. but t1a, the results predicted by
| Mr. Smcot Will follow and that business
| will suffer further cmbarra ssment in con
sequence. Is An outcome few riGht-t think :
| ing OF broad minded citizens believe prob
l.,h