The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-02-27
LEGISLATORS HAVE DOUBTS
Those Who Voted For Smoot Saw He
Is Innocent

Is Innocent
State senators who voted for Reed
Smoot for senator and those who voted
against him were practically a unit yes
( terday in expressing disbelief in the
polygamy accusation. Several senat
! asserted the apostle had ia The most
Solemn manner told them, with most
, earnest protestation that he was speak,
| ing the truth, he had never practiced
polygamy in any form, directly or in
directly, before or after statehood, and
mat on his solemn assurance they had
voted for him. Senators Hoyt Sherman
ana George n. Lawrence, the two Re-
puohcans who voted against Smoot, de-
ciihed to say anything against the SEN
atOr-elect
/ have shot my wad and have moth
ing more to say" said Senator Law
| renee. What I said, I said before the
/ legislature acted. The legislature has
IothIhg further to do with the subject,
so nave nothing more to say"
Sherman Declined to Talk.
Senator Sherman. to whom Senator
eject Smoot had made direct assertion
OF his innocence of any polygamous re-
Iduon, declined to give any expression
OF opinion
Senator H. S. Larsen, who was pres
eht when Apostle SmOot spoke to SEN
ator Sherman, said:
"Mr. Smoot spoke in the most noSi-
tive and convincing manner. He told
senator Sherman he had no other wife
IMAM Mrs Smoot, that he never had
more than his one wife, and that Mrs
Smoot was the only woman he ever had
known. Before the two were brought
together Senator Sherman told me that
from Senator-elect Shoots reputation
Tor telling the truth he had confidence
I hn
tell him he was guiItIess of polygamv
ne would believe it. Senator Sherman
afterward told me he believed Mr..
Smoot. 1 know 1 believed him, and I
am sure he is innocent I should NOT
nave voted for him were 1 not sure he
was no pOlygamist.'
Other expressions were:
Love Believes Smoot.
Senator Love-I have heard Senator
elect SmOOt say in the most solemn and
positive manner that he was guiltless
or any poiygamOus practice, and 1 be-
lieve him.
lieve Senator SmOot when he says he
is innocent
Benjamin Bachman. senate docket
clerk and neighbor of Reed Smoot IN
Provo have lived near Senator
Smoot since childhood, and / know
know-he has no second wife l am as
positive of it as 1 can be of anything.
Charles De Moisey, state statistician,
neighbor of Senator Shoots at Provo I
Il know every polygamist in Provo, |
and / know positively that Mr.. Smoot
is not Dolygamist. 1 heard about
this supposed marriage with Miss Jones
long ago and her reputed removal to
Mexico. but 1 know the two were not |
married.
Mr.. Loose Said
Senator Loose, Mr.. Shoots neighbor |
in Provo and chief engineer of the |
Smoot legislative campaign
Senator Loose will repeat to any
male friend the emphatic declaration |
which would be printed in the above |
space did the postal regulations per
nit The sentiments expressed were |
about as forceful denunciation of the 1
Rev. Mr.. Leilich as could be imagined l
or executed by past master in pro- |
fanity.)
Senator Gardner of Mr.. Shoots home |
county, know the accusation is not |
true.
Senator A. B. Lewis. the Gentle who /
nominated Smoot before the party eau
cus--I. don't believe a word of it.
Senator Williams-I think it is SIN /
ply sprung as sensation. Mr. Smoot |
will have no difficulty in disproving it, |
Ready to Vote on Rawlins.
Senator Bamberger-I am ready TO /
vote for Senator Rawlins at any time
Senator Mckay-As well say that |
Bishop Mckay of Huntsville (himsel.
is a polygamist, for I know he isn't.
Senator Johnson-Of course. 1 don't |
believe it, but l do believe the state |
thrives and is built up on turmoil. and |
that this agitation will help rather than /
hurt Utah.
Ex-Congressman King-This will be