The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-27
SMOOT IS A P0LYGAMlST
SUCH is THE CHARGE MADE By A
SALT LAKE METHODIST.
Standardized Is Said to Have Two
Wives-Other Mormon Leaders Ac-
cused of Same Ofense.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator Bur-
rows, chairman of the Senate committee on
privileges and elections, to-day presented to
the Senate protest signed by Rev. j. l..
Leilach in the case of Senator-elect
Reed Smoot, of Utah. urging that Mr..
Smoot shall not be permitted to take his
seat in the Senate. Mr.. Leilach is in
charge of Methodist missions in Utah and
resides in Salt Lake City. He is in Wash
ington as the representative of the Minis
ters' Association of Salt Lake. His state
ment is sworn to. Mr.. Leilach declares
that Mr.. Smoot is polygamist and now
has a plural wife, although he deems it in
expedient to give the maiden name of the
lady at this time. His charge on this point
is as follows:
THAT the said Reed Smoot is a polyga-
mist and that since the admission of Utah
into the Union of States he, although then
and there having legal wife, married
plural wife in the State of Utah in violation
of the laws and compacts herein described.
and since said plural marriage the said
Reed Smoot has lived and cohabited with
both his legal wife and his plural wife in
the State of Utah and elsewhere as occa-
sion offered, and that the only record OF
such plural marriage is the secret record
made and kept by the authorities of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, which secret record is in the exclu-
sive custody and control of the first pres
idency and the quorum of twelve apostles
of the said church. of which the said Reed
Smoot is one, and is beyond the control or
power of the protestants. Your protestant
respectfully asks that the Senate of the
United States, or its appropriate committee,
compel the first presidency and the quorum
of the twelve apostles and the said Reed
Smoot to produce such secret record for
the consideration of the Senate. Your pro-
testant says he is advised by counsel that 1T
is inexpedient at this time TO give further
particulars concerning such plural marriage
and it's results, or the place in which IL
was solemnized or the maiden name Of the
plural wife"
Mr.. Leilach also asserts that President
Joseph F. Smith, the president Of the Nor
has had child born to him by his plural
wife as late as 1898. Also, that President
Lorenzo Snow lived and died In the practice
of polygamy and polygamous cohabitation.
and that his plural wife, Minnie Jensen
Snow, bore him a child as late as as the
winter of 1S96-97.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Feb 26-The
Ministerial Alliance Is not back of the
charges of polygamy brought against Mr..
Smoot by DR.. Leilach, said Rev. William
Pagan, Of the First Presbyterian Church,
to-day. The charges are brought independ-
emily by DIR. Leilach. / was informed last
night that such charges would be brought
against Mr.. Smoot. Although this accusa-
test against Mr.. Smoot brought by the Min
isterial Alliance, yet that body will stand
back of DR.. Leilach. The polygamy charge
against Senator-elect Smoot was received
with the utmost surprise in Salt Lake
among Mormons and gentiles alike.