The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-05-29
Tells How Church Authorities
Bring Terrific Pressure to Crush
All Who Dare to Oppose
Hierarchy's Will
Continued From Page One.

Mormon ccclesiast. who was In the
political confidence OF the church
leaders. that President Roosevelt was
promised the votes OF the Utah dele
cation and such other convention
votes as The church politicians could
contcol The death OF Senator Hanna
made made this promise unnecessary, II
there eve" was an explicit promise,
But this much is certain: President
Roosevelts opposition TO Apostle
Smoot. for whatever reason, changed
TO favor.
The character and impulses of the
president were of a sort to make him
peculiarly susceptible to an appeal
Tor help on the part OF the Nor
mons He had lived In the west. He
knew something OF the hardshlps at
tendant upon conquering the waste
places. He sympathiZed with those
who dared, for their own opinions.
TO oppose the opinions of the rest
OF the world. He had received the
most adulatory assurances of support
FOR his candidates. and his policies.
IL Woult have required a man of the
calmcst discrimination and coolest
judgment to find the line between
any Just claim for mercy presented
by the Mormon advocates OF re
ligious liberty" and the wilful Of
fenses which they were committing
against the national integrity.
Pressure Brought to Bear.
have received IL personally from
the lips OF more than one member
oi tie senate committee that never
in all their experience with public
sure brought 10 bear upon them as
was urged from the White House.
at this time, for the protection of
Apostle Smoots seat in the senate.
on, the committee voted with the mil
nority 10 seat Smoot. One of the
presidents closest adhereuts. Senator
Dolliver. after having signed a ma
lority report to exclude Smoot-and
having been reelected. in the mean
time. by his own state legislature
10 another term in the senate-after-
ward spoke and voted against the
report which he had signed.
Senator A. ]. HOPKINS of Illinois.
who had supported Smoot consistent
ly found himself bitterly attacked.
in his campaign for reelection. be-
cause Of his record I'm the Smoot
case. and he published in his defense
read: Just a line TO congra tulate
YOU upon the Smoot case. It is not
my business, but il is a pleasure 10
see n public servant show. under try
Ing circumstances. the courage abil-
ity and sense Of right that you have
shown"
Smoot Case Delayed.
After the outrageous exposures Of
the violations OF law. the treason. and
the criminal Indifference to human
rights shown by the rulers of the
church. il an early vote had been
taken by the committee and bv the
senate itself the antagonism of the
nation would have forced the eX-
clusion Of the apostle from the up
per house. Delay was his salvation
As much to the presidents influence
as to any other cause is the delay
a VI 4olD IL haf
through term Of three years Dur
ing that time the unfortunate Cen
tiles. of Utah learned that. instead Of
receiving help from the president.
superable opposition. They believed
that the president was being grossly
mislead: that II was. OF course. i'm
possible for him 10 read all the testi-
mony given before the senate com
mittee. and that the matters which
reached him were being tineed with
other purpose than the Vindica ton of
truth and justice.
But II WAS impossible TO obtain
the opportunity Of setting him right
Even the women who were leading
the national protest agains, the DO
lygamous teaching and practices of
Smoot,s fellow apostles, were told
that the president had made up his
mind and could not be reconvinced.
President Meets Prophet.
The Mormon appeal TO his gener-
osity was not confined to Washing
ton; On his travels he met President
Smith more than once-the prophet
being accompanied by a different wife
each time-snd naturally Smith made
every effort 10 impress President
Roosevelt with his earnestness. the
purity Of his life. and the high mo-
tiyes that actuated the exercise OF
his authority. And al this sort of
pretense the Lords ancinted are ex-
pert. They themselves may he crude
in ideas and. coarse in method. but
years of applied devotion and en-
ergv
Among the emissaries OF the church
who were deputed To 'reach" Presi-
Ben Rich. the gay. the engaging. the
apparently irresponsible agent of
hierarchIcel diplomacy. And I should
like TO relate the story OF his ZAP
inner circle of church condolences.
credited-not that doubt but II will
be denied on all sides-but because
il is so Characteristic of church gos-
sip and 40 typical teven If II were
untrue) OF the humorous cynicism
OF church diplomacy.
Ben Rich as Emissary,
When President Roosevelt was
lnhElIlS MS 5WIDE around tne cir
Gle" Rich was appointed TO join
him. found the opportunity to do so
and ESQ the story is told) delighted
the president by the spirit and can
dor OF his good fellowship, When
tnev were about TO part. the presi-
dent is reported TO have said
why don't YOU run or congress
from your state? You're Just the
kind OF man I'd like TO have in the
house to support my policies" And
here (as the Mormons are todd is
the dialogue that ensued:
Rich: II have no ambitions that
vav. Mr.. President. For many rea..
sons it's out of the question-al-
though I'm grateful for the fIater-
ing suggestion"
Roosevelt: "Then let me appoint
Won To some good office. You're the
kind OF man I'd like to have In my
official family"
Rich Umpressivclv and in low
tone) "Mr President I'd count II
the greatest honor Of nv life to
have a commission from YOU to any
office. I'd hand that commission
down 10 nv children as The most
precious heritage. Butt love YOU