Hearings united states senate committee on finance. Flake found a fascinating forum to explore these themes in the investigative hearings inspired by smoots 1903 election to the u. In protest, lowtariff democrats and progressive republicans slowed the tariff debate over a tedious 15. Though it was doubtful that theirconduct was legally relevant to a determination of smoots quali. Therefore, after reading the entire transcripts of the reed smoot hearings, i have decided to describe the contents of them here on this blog. Contrary to popular folklore, the lds temple ceremony was not performed or recited in the u.
In 1903, apostle reed smoot was elected by the utah legislature to the u. Smoot was an apostle in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, one of the top 15 leaders of the church. Utahs election of reed smoot, a prominent mormon, to the united states senate sparked a marathon investigation that became the focus for americans fear, ignorance, and suspicion of mormonism. The committee suggested smoot s removal, but the full senate voted to keep smoot. Oct 18, 2009 therefore, after reading the entire transcripts of the reed smoot hearings, i have decided to describe the contents of them here on this blog. Reed smoot simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The hearings, which started in 1904 and ended in 1907, saw senators, prompted by constituents, investigate the appropriateness of seating an apostle of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
The reed smoot hearings of 190307 reveal important insights into shifts within american religious and secular history. The committee suggested smoots removal, but the full senate voted to keep smoot. He is known for his work on indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull 2008, homeward bound. During this time the fitness of lds churchman reed smoot to serve as a us senator was subject to intense debate. Reed smoot hearings project gutenberg selfpublishing. Reed smoot was a member of the council of twelve apostles from 1898 until his death in 1941 and a united states senator from 1903 to 1932. Shall reed smoot, a mormon, hold a seat in the united states. Yeah, in the reed smoot hearingsso basically, he is brought in front of the government.
Smoots role in the lds church led to a controversy in the united states senate. Prophet says no revelation in 21 years insights from smoot. President smith, of the mormon church, as the senate committees hearing in the case of reed smoot, boldly confessing the practice of polygamy by himself and associates summary joseph smith being crossexamined by seantor hoar. In that capacity, he coauthored the 1930 smoot hawley tariff. Because of the united states strained relationship with mormonism, a series of congressional hearings were conducted to determine whether the senate should seat elder smoot. Even though reed was an apostle, he was also a monogamist. There were also rumors of polygamy and a secret oath against the united states a senate committee questioned smoots authority in the reed smoot hearings. Reed smoot to serve as a us senator was subject to intense debate. Between 1903 and 1907, the senate committee on privileges and elections held hearings about the right of newly elected utah senator reed smoot, a monogamist mormon apostle, to retain his seat. The smoot hearings are a relatively unknown piece of mormon history. Senate was held in question and subsequently investigated. In that capacity, he coauthored the 1930 smoothawley tariff. Smith didnt know, he was in charge of all the monies that came from and went to that business. Journal of american history flakes excellent monograph illustrates the significance of religion in the progressive era and brilliantly puts it into context by linking it to critical themes.
To his dismay, that highly protectionist measure worsened the great depression and cost him his seat in the resulting 1932 democratic landslide. Proceedings before the committee on privileges and elections. The reed smoot hearings and the theology of politics. Jul 09, 20 the smoot hearings are one of the more fascinating bits of mormon history. Reed smoot died in 1941 at age 79, one step removed from the presidency of his church. At issue was whether utah republican reed smoota mormonshould be allowed to serve. The reed smoot hearings, also called smoot hearings or the smoot case, were a series of congressional hearings on whether the united states senate should seat u. Official transcripts of the reed smoot hearings addeddate 20150402 18. Smoot was an apostle in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints, one of the top 15 leaders of the church.
Smoot was also a prominent leader of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, serving as a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles from 1900 until his death. The seating trial of senator reed smoot pdf, gaines junction, 3 1. Transcripts of the reed smoot hearingssignature books. The reed smoot hearings smoot hearings or smoot case were a series of congressional hearings on whether the united states senate should seat u.
The reed smoot hearings, also called smoot hearings or the smoot case, were a series of. Smoot and anna kirstine mouritsen, and was born jan. Hoovers failure to object encouraged other economic interests to lobby the senate finance committee, chaired by utah senator reed smoot, for further tariff hikes. So we have these reed smoot hearings that lasted for like two years. Senate committee on privileges and elections, held 190406, in the matter of the protests against the right of hon. Prompted by mainline protestants and others determined to highlight mormon practices and loyalties they found threatening to the moral and political. Reed smoot january 10, 1862 february 9, 1941 was a businessman and apostle of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church when he was elected by the utah state legislature to the united states senate in 1902. In this case it was gun mounts for the united states navy. Here is another entry from a financial report that was discussed with joseph fielding smith. Statement of the case on february 23, 1903, the credentials for reed smoot rut were presented and placed on file. Reed smoots prayers and the mormon moment of usamerican. Smoot was an apostle in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints lds church, one of the top 15 leaders. Reed smoot related to abraham smoot of byu fame was up for being a senator, but the united states decided they needed to investigate polygamy. Reed smoot was a member of the q12 and was the first mormon elected to the u.
My reservation only comes from the perplexing manner in which the editor approached some of the footnotes. There were also rumors of polygamy and a secret oath against the united states a senate committee questioned smoot s authority in the reed smoot hearings. To his credit, he does a good job of identifying and describing the participants in the hearings. From his time in the senate, smoot is primarily remembered as the cosponsor of the 1930 smoot hawley tariff. The multi year hearings of the senate committee on privileges and elections of the united. Smoot s role in the lds church led to a controversy in the united states senate. Senator reed owen smoot january 10, 1862 february 9, 1941 was a nativeborn utahn who served in the united states senate. The politics of american religious identity will have a wide readership. Political cartooning and the reed smoot hearings sunstone. Reed smoot hearings senator reed smoot, the center of the hearings the reed smoot hearings smoot hearings or smoot case were a series of congressional hearings on whether the united states senate should seat u.
Reed smoot, a senator from the state of utah, to hold his seat. My father was a reference librarian at a university here in california. As the 20th century dawned, both the nation and the mormon church knew they still had a mormon problem. Teachers guide the mormons teacher center frontline pbs. The smoot hearings are one of the more fascinating bits of mormon history.
Shall reed smoot, a mormon, hold a seat in the united states senate. Senate, reed smoot 18621941, an apostle in the mormon church, generated a public furor, lead ing to a significant accusation by the senate and the american. In a continued effort to be transparent, the lds church is opening its vault and releasing neverbeforeseen footage of the infamous reed smoot hearings. Smith and the churchs apostolic quorum were now the express object of the senates investigation. It was a canadian company making motor cars and bicycles. Apparently, revelation given to latter day prophets is indistinguishable from inspiration given to methodistsprotestantsetc preachers. While the entire reed smoot hearing transcript is available elsewhere, this volume seems to hit the high notes. Political cartooning and the reed smoot hearings by michael h. Born in salt lake city in 1862, reed smoot became a successful entrepreneur and investor, as well as a leader in the church of jesus christ of latterday saints. Senator reed smoot, who was elected by the utah legislature in 1903. Dec 07, 2015 in a continued effort to be transparent, the lds church is opening its vault and releasing neverbeforeseen footage of the infamous reed smoot hearings. Following his election to the senate in 1903, smoot s religious affiliation prompted a congressional inquiry by the senate committee on privileges and elections. The format of a blog will allow me to post pictures, give commentary, and even quote testimony when necessary.
The smoot hearings significantly impacted church teachings and practices. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and the most definitive collection ever assembled. World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias. Soon after the utah legislature elected the influential banker early. Everyone was very wary of mormons given their rocky history with the us government and so there were a bunch of hearings in congress to make sure that the mormons werent seditious. Senate chambers during the 190406 challenge to reed smoots. Reed smoots service as united states senator from utah spanned three decades. Sunstone papers and mainstream media outlets covered the protests, they elected not to print the muhammad cartoons, leaving some u. The fabled reed smoot hearings 190406 ushered the lds church into twentiethcentury american life. Transcripts of the reed smoot hearings signature books.
What resulted was many of the prominent members of the church going on trial in the public record. Following his election to the senate in 1903, smoots religious affiliation prompted a congressional inquiry by. It established a plant at buifalo for the manufacture of special munitions for the navy, and later for the ordnance department. Originally published alongside other government business in four volumes comprising 3,432 pages, the current abridged and annotated volume makes for accessible, comprehensible, and suspenseful courtroom drama. Smith is unsure whether hes received revelation while in office as lds president. Indiana jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull. It became immediately evident that the church was the real focus of the senate investigation, not smoots personal character or lifestyle.
Utahs election of reed smoot, a prominent mormon, to the united states senate sparked a marathon investigation that became the focus for americans fear. In protest, lowtariff democrats and progressive republicans slowed the tariff debate over a tedious 15month process of congressional bargaining. Smith, and other colleagues from church headquarters to testify. Flake found a fascinating forum to explore these themes in the investigative hearings inspired by smoot s 1903 election to the u. The committee subpoenaed the president of the lds church, joseph f.
618 524 1069 1342 297 644 54 742 587 174 714 523 1512 201 1318 1522 749 384 1250 1563 990 515 170 1367 379 176 478 1394 1215 1280 330 4 855 163 535 1004 807 251 468 1208 1204 135 453 1240 283