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Show JOHN HENRY SMTH. While this journal cannot afford, as a role, to give np much of its space to political matters, the appearance of John Henry Smith before the congressional congres-sional committee at Washington, The Chalrman(interpr6ting) And yet you would continue them lu preference to supporting this bill? Mr Smitt (hesitatingly) I think 1 wcnld. The Chairman Let me ask you again Mr, Smith, Bbout the registrars and election officers. Were tbey not usually having nnder consideration home rnle and statehood for Utah, is published. This gi ntleman states that he voices the opinion of the republican party of Utah. Undoubtedly this is a violent distortion of the truth. That this conclusion con-clusion is correct Is averred by the esteemed Oden Standard, the If adicgy republican paper of the territory. If, says, as it lowers its head to toss John selected from the people's party, although al-though that parly wis iu the minority. Mr. Smith I waB absent from Utah years in Europe, and I cannot answer that question properly. The Chairman - Was there any movement move-ment for statehood until after thU home rnle bill was broughs npV i Mr. Smith There was a tacit understanding under-standing that we would all go for state-hood state-hood after we had divided. Mr. Kilgore Are there any democrats ont there? ilr. Smith Plenty of them. Thty are thicker than hair on a dog's tall. Mr. 0'Bonnell-(One of the republican republi-can members of the committee) That is the objection to Utah's admission. i ilr. Smith went to explain that Utah was very uncertain politically, and that r.o one could tell what the dominant partv would be if she were admitted as a state, Brigham Toong, he continued was an aideut protectionist, and if liv-j ing, wonld now be a republican. He' contended that it would be M!y to attempt to predict as to Utah's political' future. y Terry, of Arkansas, (sarcastica'ly)'!! is fenced unsafe to predict abont uew states. Colorado was a veay promising promis-ing di mccratic calf, but now she is a devilish tough old republican steer. The Chairman Mr. Smith yon have no amendmont you would like to make to the home rule? Mr Sniiih-I have not. The Chairman Then gentlemen, the commiitee will close the hearing at this point. This t aper does not care to comment npon the gentleman's utterances to the congnssional committee. The reader can read it and then appreciate how John Henry, afraid to march boldly In the broad light of day through the streets to his home, went 'cross lot3 and Hen y over the fence, "the Standari differs radically from some of the John Henry Smith's! conclusions:" Chairman Washington began the colloquy by asking Mr. Smith this ques tion; "Until this last division in the two pat ties, were you : memler of the people's party ?"' Mr Smith Yes sir. The ("ha'rmau Now you are acting with the republican party and consider yourself a republican 1 believe? Well, now the great question that has prevented the advancement of Utan, it seems to me, has been polygamy. That 1 believe has been abolished, isn't It? Mr. Smith at has beeu abolished, and it could not be re-esta ilished any more than slavery. It has been the cause of so much heartache and trouble that our people don't want it again. The chairman (inqn'ringly) And you fay the church does not interfere in poltic? Mr. Smith No. When this division came, I took part in the campaign and went on the stump just as every othef Mormon did, to advocate the principles I hold in common with many others of my friends. 1 have always at heart been a republican, and at the firtl opportunity I went over to that party. I found it very different on the tump from what I did in pulpit, the chilfren cried "rata" ani the democratic Mor-mo Mor-mo 8 said I had always been a disturbing disturb-ing element and ought to be hanged. The Chairman -When the children etied "rats" was it because you told them the McKinley bill was of great beneut to the farmers? A great roar of laughter went up from those present at this saliy.dnnng which Mr. Smith grew very red in the face and shaking his beid negatively murmured mur-mured a reply that was not audible. i be Chairman Have yon read the present bill before the committee to give local self-government for Utah, what is known as the Caine-Faulkner bill? Mr. Smith I have seen it. I do not know that I have read it in its entirety The Chairman What section do yon principally object to? Mr. Smith 1 object to the principle of the bill. The Chairman Yon object to the hill becanse von would racher remain crawled through tha wires. He looks lonesome, and he evidently does not care to remain on the fence judging lrom his present appearence and wire pulling qualities. as you are than to have local self-government V Mr, Smith The question is simply this: I object to it because of the uncertainty uncer-tainty It may be that it will last for a day, and may be it will last for some time. When you once pnt a man on sufference I do not know bow long he may be kept there. I think the same treatment should be accorded to us that has been accorded the others, others. 1 have no bitterness in regard to this proposition. The Chairman Certainly, 1 am aware of that. Mr. Smith Had this been the proposition propo-sition at first it would have b en the means of educating us. but as we have been living under our present system for thirty years or longer it has become fixed and all classes have gone right nnder it, but now, when the whole business Is goiug be changed, I think that on the eve of that we ought to wait as it occurs to my mind that s.atehood is a thing that must come, ani come speedily. The Chairman As I caught yonr argument, you said that this change from the present teintorial statuB to the one proposed in tbis bill would cast a reflection upon the people of Utah. The people under their present territorial condition do not occupy the same relation rela-tion as the otbers,and therefore the present pre-sent condition Is a reflection and cas ts suspicion upon them, and this bill, in my judgment, proposes to remove it. Mr. Smith We take the opposite view. The other sections around ns have gode into the tmon all right. The Chairman-Do you think abetter abet-ter territorial condition snch as the home rule bill would give you, would keep you out of the uuton any longer? Mr, Smith(evasively) I think it will entail on ns additional expense without any compensating advantages. Mr. Kilgore Do you think it would defeat statehood? Mr. Smith -1 can't tell. My mother used to say when t went to buy anything any-thing 10 get what I wanted, and not to get what I did not want. I apply the same reasoning in tbis case. The Chairman But did not yonr mother also say if you could not get what you wanted, to get the next best thing possible? As Mr. Smith showed a disinclination disinclina-tion to reply to this query, Mr. Cairie stepped forward, and addressing him said: "Isn't it some satisfaction to elect onr governor and state officers r.nd det-rmine the rates of taxation and set aside tne governor's veto aud make many other changes onr people so much desire, aud which they could get through this home rule measure? 1 I Mr. Smith Yes, I might be satisfied to accoaipiir-h these reforms if it wasn't tbat statehood is within our reach. The Chairman Do you believe the souate will pats the stauhocd bill? Mr. Smith-I cannot sit in judgement upon the politicians. The Chairman (with mock serious-neen) serious-neen) Senators, sir are statesmen. It is only rt presensentatives who are politicians. poli-ticians. However, let me ak ou another anoth-er question. What has been the course of the Ualh commission in the appointment appoint-ment of registrars and election otlicers? Mr. Smith I am not well posted on these matters. Everybody understand that the Utah commission is not a desirable de-sirable factor in Utah. |