The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-14
SMOOT DEFENDS
MORMON PEOPLE
Makes Light Of Protests Against
Brigham Young's Portrait on
Silver Service.

New York, March ls.-United states
Senator Reed Smoot, who was here
on his way to Utah for
of Congress, declared, when asked
about the portrait OF Brigham Young
on the silver service to be presented
to the ba,tlcship Utah, that no one IN
Washington was disturbed over the
many meetings OF protest against this
action.
."The fact u.s." he said. "that the Nor
mons had little to do with the making
of the silver service design. and that
Brigham Youngs portrait does not fig
urc in the design In a central or con-
spicuous way. TO say his portrait is
used does not give the correct impress
sioE. a monument by famous sculp-
tor, in which his portrait figures. is re-
produced.
'The committee, OF which Colonel y.
C. Jackling, one of the best known non
Mormons in the Far West, was chair
man, and of which a majority OF the
members were non -Mormons. thought
that 1t would be Well to honor upon
The design the work OF Utah's artists
and sculptors. One of the early efforts
of the sculptor, Cyrus Daliin. now of
Boston, but born in Utah, was n pio-
neer monument now standing in Salt
Lake City. 1t celebrates the trapper
in one figure, the pioneer in another,
and Brigham Young. the first Governor
or Utah. as central figure. Another
young sculptor designed monument to
the sea gulls. which made the pioneer
ing OF Utah possible by their attacks
upon the crickets Of Salt Lake Valley
Both Of these monuments are utilized
in the design Of the silver service, and
as both are subordinated in a general
grouping which includes other figures,
the impression Is Very different from
what would be ina ined by one WHO
read; that Brigham Young's portrait
is the central feature"
Senator Smoot pointed out that the
line of attack on Brigham Young. hav-
ing TO do with his alleged acts of dis
loyalty, would not he likely TO receive
serious consideration by Congress if
presented to it.
Il admit" ne said that the govern
ment sent an army to investigate Brig
winter before 1t was sent out Utah was
absolutely snowbound. and no person
Or animal or messas &c ever got through
from Utah filled the New York papers
all winter and 1t was on the showing
made by these largely that the army
ernor Cumming. who accompanied Il
TO Gust Brigham Young. remained to
be his firm and fast friend. and an
official investigation found the charges
made in the fake dispatches TO be
without foundation, while 4 court clerk
confessed that he had hid documents
which he returned to their places ar
terward. in order that charge OF de.
stroyinE government property might
be launched against the Mormons''
Senator Smoot. while here conferred
with President Ben Rich. OF the Nor
mon MOI Mission. concerning charges made
by Home Secretary Churchill in the
British House OF Commons that Nor
mon missionaries induce girls to inn
migrate to Utah for the purpose OF he
coming Mormons.
Senator Smoot said he would well
come chance to have Il thorough m
vcstigation made Of the charge, and
would Introduce a. resolution at the
extra session calling for such an in
vestigation by the Department of COM
merce and Labor.
4 lie said that the records forwarded
to him from the Mormon Headquarters
in Salt Lake City Indicated that the
entire immigration Of Mormon con
vcrts last year totalcd only n little
over 900. and that of these the Young
women between fifteen and twenty,
Ave years Of age were sixty-eiglt IN
number. Tho clergymen who Carried
charges to Mr.. Churchill insisted that
the total OF girls alone was over $500.