Evening star., 1941-02-10
Reed Smoot Dies
In Florida at 79;;
In Senate 80 Years
Funeral Services for
Tariff Expert Will Be
Conducted in Utoh

SOHOuStGQ III OtuU
Former Senator Reed Smoot. 70,
co-author of the Smoot- -Hawley
Tariff Act and known to thousands
of Washingtonians, died yesterday
at st. Petersburg. Fla. He was a
member of the Senate from 1908 to
1888.
Senator Smoot, a leader in the
Mormon Church. had been i'll since
fall on golf course in Utah last
year Mrs Smoot and a stepson,
DR.. w T. Sheets, we're at the bed
side when he died.
1t is expected that the body will
be taken back to Salt Lake City
this afternoon for funeral services.
Burial will be in Provo, Utah, where
Mr.. Smoot made his home
Regarded as an expert on tariffs,
taxation and public finances, Mr..
Smoot had twice been member of
the Republican National Committee
First Selection Contested.
AS one of the twelve apostles Of
the Church of Jesus Christ of the
Latter Day Saints-the Mormon
Church-his first election as SEN
ator was bitterly contested.
Opponents contended his oath as
an apostle of the church was in
compatible with his oath as Sem
ator. Mr.. Smoot maintained, how
ever. that there was nothing in his
pledge to the church that super
seded his obligations as a Senator.
Mr.. Smoot was seated after a
dispute lasting a year. He was de-
feated for reelection by Democratic
Senator Ebert D. Thomas in the
Democratic landslide in 1882.
Mr.. Smoot was next in line to
succeed the president of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles and third
to succeed the president of the Nor
mon Church. Rudger Clawson of
Salt Lake City, 81 years old. is the
president of the quorum, while
Heber J. Grant, also of Salt Lake
City and who is 81. is the president
of the church. In the event of the
death of the latter Mr.. Clawson
would become church president and
Mr.. Smoot would have become presi-
dent of the quorum.
Mr.. Smoot bought the property
and worked out the plans for the
elaborate Church of Jesus Christ of
the Latter Day Saints which was
erected at Sixteenth street and Co
lumbia road eight years ago.
Memorial Services Planned.
Construction was delayed several
years until sufficient money was at
hand to build an edifice which Mr.
Smoot contended should equal the
beauty of the best Federal office
buildings in Washington.
Bishop Edgar B. BrosSard OF the
church announced today that me-
mortal services will be held there
in about two weeks
Mr.. Smoot was also prominently
identified with this city for the de-
velopment of the Federal Triangle
when he was chairman of the Pub
lie Buildings Commission. A trustee
of the Smithsonian Institution, he
was once a frequent visitor at the
ZOO
The story has often been told
Of how he once met Mrs. Calvin
Coolidge in that park at am. to
witness the behavior of a litter Of
bear cubs when they were first
opening their eyes.
Was Interested in Golf.
In the last few years of his SEN
atorShip he became interested in
golf and often went to the golf
course at 4 am. in order that he
could enjoy the sport and still spend
a full work day on Capitol Hill.
In 1909 he built his own home
at 252l Connecticut avenue, Of
which he was owner at the time of
his death. When his first wife,
the former Miss Alpha M. Eldridge
of Salt Lake City. died in 1923, he
moved to 4500 Garfield street NV.
: He married Mrs. Alice Taylor
Sheets, the present Mrs. Smoot. in
1890 Other survivors include four
children who live in Washington,
Harold and Ernest Smoot, Mrs. Zella
Hardy and Mrs. J. w. Marriott:
another son, Harlowe E. Smoot of
Provo, Utah, and another daughter,
Mrs. Chloe Carbon of Cincinnati.
DR.. Sheets, his step-son, is a ply
sician at st. Petersburg.
Born In Salt Lake City.
Mr.. Smoot was born in Salt Lake
City. but 10 years later the family
moved to Provo, and that was his
home thereafter. He was graduated
from Brigham Young Academy
when he was II, went into business
and became interested in banking.
mining and livestock raising. He was
Utah's big businessman when he
was first elected to the Senate.
General merchandise first en-
gagged Mr.. Smoot's attention. His