The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-09-13
A PROBLEM FOR ROOSEVELT

|
There is a mystery in the political
situation In Utah that Colonel Roose
would devote Il few moments OF his
time at Ogden this afternoon to throw.
ing light upon this dark problem he
would confer n great favor upon tho
public OF this state. We refer to his
altered relations with Apostle Smoot.
II will be remembered that when the
proposition was on of sending Apostle
Smoot to the L. S. Senate, there was
at first decided opinion on tho part
of Colonel Roosevelt that the mixing
Of ecclesiasticism with politics, which
would he involved in the selection
be a Senator would have q bad effect
upon tho country, and would tend TO
aceentuate the meddlcsomeness OF &c.
clesiasticism in politics and public af
fairs, then and Heretofore altogether
too much in evidence Accordingly
President Roosevelt sent message
through Senator Kearus to the people
of Utah counselipg them against the
sending of Apostle Smoot to the Sen.
ate and pointing out the undesirability
of such election.
There was no indication OF Colonel
Roosevelt's change of opinion in this
matter until he visited this city in
1903. But from that time onward he
was known as not only staunch sup
porter OF the claims Of Senator Smoot
for Senatorial position, but was i'm
pervious to any argument or even ap.
proach from the opposition. when the
contest against Smoot retaining his
seat vas brought.
This later attitude OF Colonel
Roosevelt, combined with the dila.
tory tactics Of the Senators in
prolonging the hearings and post.
poning tho decision Of the ease.
gave (then) President Roosevelt the
opportunity, which he avaiIed himself
OF, to turn the case into a partisan po-
lItical question. This was the saliva,
tion of Apostle Smoot so far as his
claim for scat in the Senate was con.
cerned, and so when the vote came
most of the Republican Senators voted |
to retain Smoot in the Senate. and the
Democrats as a body voted against
him. This lining up Of the case upon
political partisanship was unqucstion-
ably tho work OF Colonel Roosevelt;
{ was the salvation Of Elder Smoot,
md 1T was assumed that Apostle Smoot
would be grateful accordingly. and
yould always be found supporting
jolonel Roosevelt whenever he made a
iemand upon the public for recognition.
But all at once it was found that
'moot was one Of the bitterest and
most vindIctive opponents OF Colonel
Roosevelt, and that he recognized no
obligation on his part toward the third.
erm candidate. Undoubtedly it was
'moot,s direction that held the Utah
delegation so firmly for President Taft
Without his concurrence it would have
een Impossible to pass the resolution
Iedglng the delegation 10 President
ats support. Recently, the apostle g
riday made, as chairman Of the bogus
republican State Convention, one of
he most malignant attacks upon Roose-
cit that has been made in this cam
aign. good many people in Utah .
'ondered at the sudden and complete
mango, and were astonished to see ,
.postle Smoot throw Off all obligations L,
gratitude and tura his back upon
oionel Roosevelt and his man make so !
curious an assault upon him.
Now the question is, what made this
nange? Colonel Roosevelt undoubtedly
an tell the story if he will. Every one
Utah would be glad TO hear from !
I'm on this point when he speaks in
gden today.