Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-19
SENATOR REED SM00T
Why He Should Not Retain
His Seat.
CON TESTANT'S BRIEF
HIS OATH AS AN OFFICIAL OF
MORMON CHURCH.
Inside Of Mormonism Shown in Print
ed Pamphlet-Decision Of Judge An
derson Denying Citizenship.

tor Reed Smoot. the Mormon apostle, will
be urged by the various Gentle bodies
which are opposing his remaining In the
Senate. The committee on privileges and
elections will investigate and report upon
the contest. and the decision in his case
will rest solely upon grounds other than
sentimental or religious. The fight against
Senator Smoot will be made, it is de-
clared. not on account of his being a men,
Der of the Mormon religious faith, but on
the ground that his oaths an official of
the church UNFOLDING that faith render him
unfit to act as a senator of the United
States.
Senator Smoot. it must be remembered,
already is in the Senate. having taken his
seat at the extra session of that body last
March. The will be brought on the
question of ousting him. There has reach
ed Washington what might be called the
brief of the contestants being printed
pamphlet of some ninety-three pages emit
tied The Inside of Mormonism,' published
by THE Utah Americans"
The contents of the pamphlet are for the
most part certified abstracts of testimony
taken before the United States District
Court for the third district of Utah. in the
naturalization Cases of some MOrmonS and
the opinion of the court in those cases
Analogy is attempted to be drawn between
the unfltness of those Mormons for citizen
ship. declared by the court. and the al
legged unfitnesS of Senator SmoOt upon the
same grounds.
The Real Issue.
The introduction to the pamphlet says:
1.-THE issue of vital Importance referred to
above is the question whether Mr.. Reed
Smoot. apostle Of the Norman Church
and senator-elect from Utah. is a proper
person to be admitted to seat in the SEN
ate of the United States:
1.-THE purpose in publishing this evidence
at this time is to show that a man who is
a member of any one of the three quorums
which constitute the government of the
Mormon Church and are the fountain au-
thority in that church is not loyal citizen
of the United States. and cannot, by the
most liberal construction of his covenants
and obligations. consistently qualify as a
member Of either house of Congress.
IF the decision of Judge Anderson, which
is herewith presented. is valid, and if the
denial of citizenship to foreigners who are
under endowment house oaths is warrant
ed by the evidence. surely an inspired and
pre-eminently authoritative official in the
Mormon Kingdom. whose first obligation is
to aid in maintaining and administering
that alien and hostile government. ought
not to be allowed to participate as legis-
lator in the affairs of the nation which he
is sworn. If so counSeled by the Oligarchy
to which he belongs, to help destroy.
This is purely civil question with which
religion has nothing to do, and into which,
by possible sophistry. should it be al
lowed to be thrust. In this business we are
called to deal, not with the Mormon people.
nor with the Mormon Church as religious
body but with an oath-bound, disloyal and
despotic organization which exists for other
PURPOSES than worship or charity, and
which obscures its political nature and
character behind the exteriors of religion.
1T is in essence government separate
and distinct from the United States Of
America, and not subordinate to it nor con-
cic tnrf n ha s1 tiyra
executive and judicial systems complete.
Its form is stable, it's faith is variable
Throughout its history its one dominant
purpose to rule or ruin has been MAIN
tanned, while it's religious element has been
subordinate and subservient, and has been
made to conform, by frequent adjustments
to that dominant purpose.
Civic Features of Mormon Church.
"Witf the religious faitn and worship of
this organization we need have nothing to
do, but with it's civic features 1t is our bust
ness and responsibility to have a great deal
to do. Wherever in this pamphlet the word
church occurs reference is made to the
framework, the organization, the president
and his cabinet of fourteen prophets, seers
and revelators Of whom Apostle Smoot is
one, and not to the company of worshipers
or their system of faith. This despotic
oligarchy interferes with rights which are
guaranteed to ever citizen by our Consti-
tuition. 1T vitiates society, 1t offends the
ethical sense of our people and 1t menaces
the government itself
1.-THE accompanying decision Of Judge An
derson and the abstract we have given of
the evidence before him show conclusively
that the Mormon people are under control
Of a power which denies them a republican
form Of government. Every men,
Der of this organized power owes his su-
preme allegiance to the organization to
which he belongs. He can obey the laws
Of the country and support the Constitu-
ton only when they do not conflict with the
will of his quorum.
LAS one of the quorum Of Mormon apos-
ties Senator-elect Smoot must place the
will of his quorum above the Constitution
Of the United States or the laws of the
land as interpreted by its supreme court
He cannot by reason of this higher al
legiance participate in any attempt of the
Senate to enforce certain of its laws in
territories under it's exclusive Jurisdiction.
In his personal influence and official acts
at home he must Of necessity set at de-
fiance our courts, defeat their attempts
to mete out Justice, advocate practices
which are in violation of existing laws and
restrain the people of his community from
respecting the authority of the United
States. Moreover. by the obligations rest
ing upon him. he is bound. under death
penalties, to conceal such evidences of
polygamous or plural marriage as would
enable the law-abiding people Of the state
or the United States to see and deal with
polygamy and polygamous practices as they
ought to be seen and deserve to be dealt
with"
Judge Anderson's Opinion.
The opinion Of Judge Anderson, in the
naturalization cases. covers the question
whether certain oaths required Of Mormons
unfit the subscribers to the oath for Amer
lean citizenship. In his opinion, Judge
Anderson said. in part:
"The claim is made by those who object
to the admission to citizenship Of these per-
sons that the Mormon Church Is and al
ways has been a reasonable organization in
its teaaNings and in its practices. hostile to
the government of the United States dis
obedient to its laws, and seeking its over
throw, and that the oath administered to
its members in the endowment house binds
them under the penalty Of death to implicit
obedience in all things. temporal as we'll
as spiritual. to the priesthood. and to
avenge the death of the Prophets Joseph
and Hyrum Smith upon the government
and people of the United States
1T Is claimed by counsel for applicants
and some evidence was introduced to show