A well-respected Cree man named Pe-o-kis introduced Smith to other influential settlers like Francois Adam and Camille Miquelon.

Smith formed good relationships with the Métis of the Laboucane Settlement and the Saulteaux peoples and developed a lucrative fur-trading business.

[2] Smith was re-elected in a landslide to a second term in office during the 1913 Alberta general election significantly increasing his plurality from last time.

The issue arose from a question Robert Marshall had asked in the legislature in regards to $5,820.00 that had been plundered from the Alberta Treasury in September 1921 by Smith.

The United Farmers government had Smith charged with fraud as they believed that the money which was taken from the treasury to pay Esdale Press Ltd. for services rendered.