Evening star., 1923-01-07

sons Senator smoot has never owned
a single sheep from that day and
does not own any now.
After having read of the years Of
study and application spent by the
ranking member of, the finance COM
mittee, the reader will be able to un-
derstand why II was that he was
able, during the tariff hearings, to
make certain representatives Of the
textile industry appreciate the fact
that he knew what he was talking
about. In addition to being a banker
and a woolen manufacturer. he has
been interested for number OF years
in the mining of gold, silver, lead and
copper. His mining interests, how
ever, have been entirely in the hands
of his friend and partner, Col. c. E.
Loose.
Senator Smoot spent a year In Eu-
rope, supervising the immigration OF
Mormon people to the United States,
and while abroad devoted much time
and study to matters relating to the
tariff Upon his return to this coun-
vision of the business of the wooden
mills and his fathers affairs.
Reed Smoot had taken but a pass
ing interest in politics until he an
nounced his candidacy for the SEN
ate. His father had been q democrat
from Kentucky, but one who believed
in the upbuilding of American indus
tries. In fact, the senior Smoot
brought the first beet sugar plant to
this country from France, transport
ing the machinery by means OF OK
teams from the Missouri river to
Utah. The young man had not quite
decided with which party he should
affiliate. He subscribed 10 democratic
and republican newspapers, read
them carefully, not only during one
presidential campaign, but for year
or more afterward, finally making
the decision that he would cast his lot
with the republicans.
X u + y
THERE were mighty few Tepub-
i licans in Utah before it gained
it's star as state, and there was no
stampede into the @. o. P. ranks even
after it had gained its place on the
field of blue of our national flag. Pc
ter Stubbs, a sturdy character Of
Utah. had talked over with young
Smoot the idea OF forming a repub-
lican party in the state. Finally one
afternoon Stubbs marched down the
main street carrying a flag. Anoth-
er man carried q banner calling at
tention to the fact that there would
be a meeting of citizens in the opera
house that night. A pace or two in
the rear OF the one who carried the
banner was Reed Smoot. beating a
bass drum with might and main.
That night the opera house was hll-
ed to overhowing, and the now senior
senator from Utah made his first ap-
pearance as a speaker for the repub-
lican party.
About IL o'clock that night, when
Smoot returned home. he found his
father waiting for him and, after g.
casual inquiry or two. the elder man
proceeded by saying: 'Reed. what got
you offT" To which the young man
replied as follows: Your teachings,
as much as anything else. You be-
lieve in protection to our industries
here. / am merely extending 1t to
the whole United States" One of the
strongest traits, according to old
timers who know him, that Reed
Smoot possesses, Is his great love and
respect for the memory Of his moth
] er and father.
It has long been a matter OF won
der among those who have listened
to him on the floor of the Senate or
In the committee room as to how
Smoot can take seemingly endless
masses Of figures and an instant later
/ have them Strengthened out and put
in such form as the ordinary lay
man can understand. This skill, per-
haps. can be explained by stating
| that the senator from Utah is one of
| the greatest mathematicians in the
world. A man who attended school
| with him said that while the sem
| ator was securing his education he
was the marvel of the entire institu-
tion. Higher mathematics are as
| simple to him as common fractions
are TO the average individual While
at school he amazed his instructors
Iby HIS marvellous feats of addition
and subtraction, taking columns ef
IS F