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Show SHOOT'S RETIREMENT. Apostle Smoot's friends are saying that he Is only holding to his place in Washington now in order to vindicate the rights of the people of Utah, but that he will not be a candidate for reelection re-election In case tho Senate shall decide that he Is entitled to hold his seat during his present term. The two parts of the proposition arc self-contradicting. The people of Utah are not vindicated vindi-cated by Mr. Smoot's remaining la tho Senate; on the contrary, they are being Injured and Insulted. Mr. Smoot holds to his seat In the Senate because he Is under direction of the chief of tho Mormon church, and under tho added Inducement of his own selfish ambition. There is no element of community service ser-vice In his attitude. He stays to "vindicate" "vin-dicate" himself. At the end of'Senator Smoot's present pres-ent term If Utah should unhappily be compelled to suffer the wrong until March 3, 1909 Apostle Smoot would then demand a re-plectlon as a genuine "vindication" of himself. It Is nonsense non-sense to suppose otherwise. When he was proposed for tho Senate, four years ago, thoughtful men remonstrated. The reply of his closest friends In the church was this: "We might as well put It to the test to see whether an apostle has a. right to sit In the Senate or not. Furthermore, the time has come for the Nation to be guided by the voice of Inspiration." By the same reasoning, in 190S, Smoot and his friends would say; "Let us put It to the test this time to seg whether we can elect an apostle without having a protest or not. Besides, the time has again come to have the Nation enlightened en-lightened by revelations through the servants of God." The Mormon church did not enter upon this war of invasion without due consideration. The hlernrchs recognized recog-nized that they might antagonize the sentimentalities of the country by their outrageous proceeding. But their purpose pur-pose was to Install one of their number num-ber lri the highest legislative council of the world, and, having gained a footing there, they will never voluntarily volun-tarily relinquish It. However, some of Apostle Smoot's friends are right when they say that "Apostle" Smoot will not seek a reelection re-election to the Senate of the United States; for tho probability is he will not be an apostle very many years longer. He has drawn the sword against his fellow-apostles, and the chances are that he will perish by the same sword. And then thcro Is another reason, too, for the chances are largely that the apostle will not be permitted to retain his seat In the Senate for his full term, but will be seitt home to his people by a vote of exclusion; and not even his nerve will be sufllclent to Induce him to run for the ofllee again. Finally, Utah has had enough of Smootlsm, and If the Senate will only do Its part Utah will take care that she shall never be led captive again by the ecclesiastical barbarians. . So, while the friends of Smoot are right In Intimating that this Is his last term In the Senate, they are wrong in arguing that he will voluntarily retire from the Held of his improper ambitions. |