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Show SMOOT CASE AS VIEWED BY THE EASTERN NEWSPAPERS Remarkable Disclosures of President Joseph F. Smith Regarding Re-garding the Mormon Church Discussed by Leading Dailies of New York. BY A. P. PHILIPS. Trlbuno Bureau, National Hotel, L WASHINGTON. D. C March 5, f New York papers are devoting much space and attention to the Smoot caso and" the resulant exposures regarding the Mormon church. Tho Sun today says editorially: "Another Important admission mado by the Mormon president was that tho church aesumes and exercises political control over Its followers. He acknowledged ac-knowledged that Senator Smoot obtained ob-tained and had to get the consent of its hierarchy to run for Senator. If ho had not got It he would havo lost his 'apostleshlp,' and would have been out of harmony with the 'twolvo.' He denied, de-nied, however, that the church exercised exer-cised Its authority In tho least in the Utah Legislature. "Incidentally It was brought out in his testimony that the Mormons 'be-llevo 'be-llevo men and women may be married after death when they are represented by heirs.' Those aro called marriages for eternity only and besides them are 'sealing for a time and for time and eternity.' Testimony beforo the Senate committee as it accumulated from day to day would seem to suggest a conclusion conclu-sion adverse to 'Apostle' Smoot." ' The Herald says: "The significant (Continued on.Pago 16.) SMOOT CASE AS VIEWED BY THE EASTERN NEWSPAPERS (Continued From Pago 1.) facts, however, have been brought out during President Smith's examination that Mr. Smoot has had close social relations re-lations with him as well as administrative adminis-trative relations, the accused Senator being one of the 'twelve apostles'; that neither Smoot nor any other 'apostle' ever made any objections to tho polygamous polyga-mous life witness was living In violation viola-tion of the law; that Smoot had to get the consent of Smith and of his associate asso-ciate 'apostles' before he could go before be-fore tho Legislature to be chosen United States Senator. "It Is to these points of alleged interference inter-ference by the Mormon church in politics poli-tics whether the Mormon Senator or Representative la a free agent that the committee's attention is to be most keenly directed. "As the constitution malcen each Jiouho of CohgrcBs tho Judgo of tho qualifications of Us members its power of expulsion la unquestioned; but whether Senator Smoot shall stay or go is of comparatively little importance In comparison with the broader ami more vital questions brought up by this investigation." The Mail and Express says: "By his frank avowal of polygamous practices Joseph F. Smith, the Mormon president, has succeeded in diverting attention for the present from tho hleratlco-polltlcal hleratlco-polltlcal phase of tho Senator's pretensions. preten-sions. That Is to say, he has ingeniously ingeni-ously smoothed over the treason which always lurks in the autocratic rule over the people of Utah and over the leading element in Arizona and Idaho. The at-tltudo at-tltudo of the Mormon church has always al-ways been one of defiance to National authority. Smith's position is practically practi-cally that of President John Taylor's manifesto in 18S3." |