Letters

Dear Editor,

An article in the Utah Historical Quarterly, Winter 2000, Vol 68, No 1, written by Kristen Smart Rogers and titled '"Another Good Man': Anthony W. Ivins and the Defeat of Reed Smoot," describes interesting events in the 1932 Utah senatorial campaign. Elbert D. Thomas defeated incumbent [LDS] Apostle Reed Smoot in that election

The article tells about a flyer A Hamer Reiser produced on his own initiative and paid for from his own funds and gave to the Committee to Elect Elbert D. Thomas Reed Smoot went to his grave unable to believe 34-year-old A Hamer Reiser, "the kid," as he was characterized, was solely responsible for the flyer. Reed Smoot thought some of his associates produced the flyer. He thought one of the Democrat members of the Sunday School Superintendency or one of the Democrat Apostles was behind the piece

The article also describes an interesting encounter between President Anthony W. Ivins [counselor in the LDS First Presidency] and A. Hamer Reiser which occurred in the double-doored glass cubicle at the entrance to the Church Office Building at 47 East South Temple Street in Salt Lake City. Prior to that chance meeting, Anthony W Ivins and A Hamer Reiser had never had a conversation

In the article the author states, "That Reiser professed not to know Ivins's politics is puzzling And the exact role that Anthony Ivins played in advising this group—his son in particular—is simply not known." The son was Grant Ivins.

To assume A. Hamer Reiser knew as a certainty Anthony W. Ivins's politics, or that the information mattered at the time, is inconsistent with A Hamer Reisers philosophy and behavior.

Hamer Reiser was trained in law and had membership in the Utah State Bar Association. H e often quoted United States Supreme Cour t Justice Felix Frankfurter's statement, "A man has a right to be left alone." To A Hamer Reiser, the statement referred not only to physical relationships, but to philosophical and ideological relationships as well A Hamer Reiser was not interested in prying into another person's private life. He spent most of his life serving as an executive secretary He often said a secretary was a "secret"-ary He was privy to much confidential information which he never revealed to anyone.

In the 1932 political campaign it was not necessary for him to know the political orientation of President Anthony W Ivins. A. Hamer Reiser's activity in the campaign was motivated entirely by his admiration and respect for his good friend and colleague Elbert D.Thomas. Before the 1932 campaign, A. Hamer Reiser had been active in Republican causes, as had his father He had voted for Reed Smoot in previous elections. However, in 1932 he chose to vote for a man from another party, "another good man," a man whom he knew well and whom he felt was better qualified for the office.

Hamer Reiser was totally honest and totally without guile If he said he did not know the politics of Anthony W. Ivins, he did not know the politics of Anthony W. Ivins. A. Hamer Reiser did not inquire about the political affiliation of any of his children, nor did he try actively to influence their political actions or decisions

We are the children of A Hamer Reiser We knew him well We do not find his political activity the least bit puzzling, nor do we find it puzzling that he did not know and had no interest in President Ivins's politics.

We want to set the record straight

Sincerely,

Carolyn Reiser Smith

Elaine Reiser Alder

Richard E Reiser

Barbara Reiser Call

Marilyn Reiser Crawford

David E. Reiser

Elizabeth Reiser Hunt

A Hamer Reiser, Jr