Many members of Congress demand that read not be allowed to take a seat because

Mormonism was in conflict with the principles of American democracy.

The fear was is that like a Catholic from the Pope, smoot would take orders not from

his conscience as an American should or the will of the people, but from the demands of

the president of the church.

And also there was a assumption widespread that he was a fucking polygamist.

Now smoot never was a polygamist, but come on.

That was what Mormons were known for.

This led to a series of hearings about Mormonism and about read-smoots relationship to Mormonism

that lasted from 1904 until 1907.

And it was a deliberation over whether smoot would be allowed to take a seat.

And this was new progressive Mormonism coming out party for America.

Moderate Mormons like smoot got to make a case to the American people for their normalization.

That they learned their lesson and that they were normal.

They loved democracy, they loved America, that they were on board.

And of course this is what you do to survive, obviously.

And it worked.

There was never any evidence produced that smoot was a polygamist.

He answered questions about his allegiance as eloquently.

And he eventually wins over the center of gravity of American public opinion and the Senate.

One of his allies in the Senate who endorsed his ascension to the seat in reference to

all of the obvious philanthropists in the Senate said, as for me, I would rather have seated

...