The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-23
THE ANTI-SM0oT PETITIONS.


Washington special in Philadelphia Ledger.
Senator Srloot resents the oft-repeated
statement that he has more than one wife.
THAT is absolutely false he declared.
when asked ss to the charge OF polygamy
that is being made against him. Il never
had but one wife, to whom L was married
in 1854"
$50 far as: the doctrines of the Mormon
Church are concerned, if you should see fit
to take another wife, could you do SOP" he
was asked.
II could rot" he replied promptly. Il
could not take plural wife with the sane
ton of the church. Since law was passed
against poly.gamy. and it was carried TO
the Supreme Court of the United States
and sustain6c, from that moment the Nor
mon Church: acknowledged the supremacy
of the law 81 the land, and it will always
acknowledge it. 1t is one of the tenets of
the church-one of its articles of faith-to
obey the Law
The senatcsr referred to a book containing
the articles of faith of the church and
read: -.
Presidents, sslers and magistrates. in obey
ing, honoriD& and sustaining the law That
means if 1 live in England L obey the
laws of E,;san nd and if in the 1 Tnited
but" he: was asked. IF Mormon
SHOULD be lt Turkey, where polygamy is
lawful, and, should wish to take plural
wife. wouldsthe Mormon Church sanction
such a marriage there?''
That is anere supposition," he said. Il
not believe .hey would to-day. There are
no Mormons. in Turkey, so that Is hypo-
thetical question.''
THAT is absolutely false" he again de-
charge
he had tak.1i an oath to support the Nor
mon Churc.S supreme to his oath to sup
port the Constitution of the United States.
MY first allegiance is TO my country. Nor
mons are IAver asked or required TO take
an oath suTT rior to their oaths OF allegiance
to their cotttry."
He denies with the same positiveness
the charge that the Mormon Church in
terferes in Political affairs and is seeking,
through itsEmembership. to control the po-
litical dest SHES of the States in which IL
is largely represented.
"No people on this earth" he said, "are
freer to g,s the way they want than are
do theyyvote in favor of gentiles when
they mighs. vote for Mormons?" he was
IF / wiSled to be elected for a public
office in u Elh 1 would rather be gentle
than a Mostnon. SO far as strength at the
polls is CONCERNED. If the Mormons vote for
candidates ST their own faith rather than
for others, show is it that the judges of the
Supreme C.surt of Utah, judges of the dis
trict court, and others are gentiles? They
Were e!ecteS by Mormons-
power, hov%is 1t that they are sending seven
or eight thousand people to Canada to set
tie there. Shere they have started a sugar
factory? The first beet-sugar factory
Would Shey not sef haus Rsd those
pie settle. in some of the States Sit it
of them see settling in Wyoming, but
it is not q vote. but to make homes that
they are Gfing there The Mormon people
bought ST. acres of land in Canada, and
he is selling ii to those who want to settle
| there abous sugar factory. He bought an
other trad of $4,000 acres. which he is
also selling to settlers at cheap prices. He
| is really c%ing what the railroad companies
and other. are doing"
When asked as TO the opposition made
against hG assignment to the committee
| on immigf. ltion because of the charge that
| the MormSns are interested in immigration
he said heshad no preference for the immi-
grafton ccsnmittee. He had no preference
| for any special committee. He merely
|. wanted tc$ assume the work of senator,
Pas he had scome here to work.
He emreiatically denied that any Nor
mon commissioner or any one else In be-
half of tse Mormon Church had gone 10
Senator Isubois, of Idaho threatening to
| defeat hifl for reelection If he opposed
THAT is absolutely falsehood," he said
] 'T will leave that TO Senator Dubois and
| will take shis statement on that. / have
| never meIsioned my case to him."
Senator dubois said to-day that il was
| not the i,ict that any Norman had come
! to him AID asked him to stop his attack
! on the right of Senator Smoot to sit in the
| Senate. sie said that 1t was true that the
! Mormonssare striving for political power
! and that. they have great strength in his
/ own StatS of Idaho, and that they would
| oppose hit own return to the Senate should
| he be candidate was a foregone conclu-
| sion. Nevertheless, he will adhere TO his
| position, which is consistent with the
| wishes of his constituents.