The Ogden Standard

SENATOR SMOOT

The re-election of Reed Smoot as United States Senator from Utah is an unprecedented event in at least one particular. Senator Smoot was the unanimous choice of the Republican caucus and received all the votes of House and Senate with but two exceptions-two Democrats: and, further, his candidacy was not announced, yet every Republican member of the legislature voted for him in caucus and then again in joint session of the two houses at noon Wednesday.

Going back a few years we recall the predictions of dire calamity to befall the Republican party in Utah, if Reed Smoot were elected. He was made a senator and later the United States senate placed its seal of approval upon his certificate of election: and now Utah, better acquainted than ever with the qualifications of the man, reaffirms its faith in him, and the Republican party in the State is stronger than at any time since statehood was granted

Napoleon made it a rule to surround himself with successful men. He said that often it was impossible to analyze the forces which go to make up success, that many times success is ascribed to "good fortune." or "luck," or some other indefinable influence, but he had learned to attribute success to the inherent ability of the successful which made it possible to take advantage of opportunities.

We see in Reed Smoot a successful workman, merchant, manufacturer, politician, churchman. Like Napoleon, we reason that these triumphs of the man who had an humble beginning are not accidental, but are the outward evidence of his mental strength and moral worth.

There are two characteristics of Reed Smoot which are generally recognized One is he is never guilty of double dealing and, the other, he is steadfast in his friendships. He never has been accused of playing anyone falsely and all his political career is a tribute to his high sense of honor

When Reed Smoot was elected to the senate In 1903 he went to Washington handicapped by charges which appealed not to reason but to religious prejudice. He was looked at askance by the public and subjected to the closest scrutiny by his fellow senators. He had to overcome the preconceived notions which an active campaign of abuse had fastened upon those with whom he had to associate; he had to win over a senate adverse to him in every way. He not only won a seat in the senate, but he made friends of enemies and completed his six years of service with the respect of even that bitter and implacable foe, Senator Burroughs of Michigan. He gained the confidence of members of the cabinet and established himself in the esteem of President Roosevelt. He gained important committee appointments and became recognized as an important factor in national affairs. receiving the President's compliments in the form of an invitation to be one of the few distinguished men of the United States to serve on the conservation commission.

We cannot recall a senator in the west who has stood out more prominently in the past six years or who has been honored with more evidence of confidence in his ability by the United States senate and those high in authority in the government than Senator Reed Smoot. There are senators-men of worth-who approach as near to being ignored in the affairs of the nation as is possible and still maintain a physical existence, but Reed Smoot is not in that class. There is our own Senator Sutherland, One has to stop and ponder to recall the Utahnian's name in connection with a single piece of legislation, good or bad or indifferent, or other public service, and yet Senator Sutherland, though among the ordinary, is spoken of by his friends as a fairly good lawyer and a nice fellow who is deemed capable of making a mark if the opportunity is presented, but like Micawber, he has been waiting so long for something to turn up that he has become a nonentity.