The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-17
WILL DECIDE WHETHER
 SHOOT IS A POLYGAMIST
(continued from rlrst Pase)

connection with the charges made against Senator Shoot He agreed, he said, with MT. Taylor, that the authority of the committee in the matter of the investiga- ton was practically unlimited, but Tn view Of the fact that previous inquiries by con gress had developed facts with reference to the early history of Mormons, he thought the Investigation should be con fined to the period since the admission of Utah into the union.
 Senator Shoot, he denied emphatically, had ever encouraged polygamous cohab- itation or any other crime. He coDtended that If the committee should decide to make It's investigation general, with ref erence to the members of the Mormon church, it should ccnfine itself to polyg- amy and not polygamous cohabitation, for the reason that 1t had been impossible. as he believed, to entirely stamp out such cohabitation on the part of persons who had entered Into a polygamous marriage before President Woodruff's manifesto of 1890.
 Senator Burrows chairman of the com mittee asked MT. Vancott specifically concerning the charge that the first pres idency and the twelve apostles of the Mormon church were today living in the practice of polygamy. In asking the question he refrred to these officials as "the governing power of the church" Senator Shoot himself took exception to this characterization of the body and at his instance MT. Worthington interrupted Mr. Vancott to say that they do not constitute the governing power of the church.
 Had No Personal Knowledge.
 Mr. Burrows waived the point and MT. T f.A I. .r1 a1 knowledge of the fact but that he un- derstood and believed it to be fact that Joseph Smith, the president of the church, was a polygamist. As for Messrs. Young and Winder, his informa- tion was that they were both monogam- ists.
 With reference to the apostles, Mir. Van colt said that 1t was his information that six or seven of the twelve were poyga- mists, but he added that none of them are living in polygamous cohabitation.
 Replying to qu1 tations from Senator McComas as to the charge that poyga- nous cohabitation was practiced by members of the Mormon church. within the knowledge of the apostles. MT. Van colt said that 1t was not true. He de- clared that Senator Shoot did not know of such practice and that If he did, he would give the information to the com mission.
 MT. Vancott said that where the asso- citations of MT. Shoot had practced polygamy or violated laws their acts would subject them to punishment, but that would in no manner unfit MT. Shoot from qualifying as senator.
 Mir. Burrows asked MT. Vancott if his answer would be the same if it was shown that MT. Shoot had knowledge of the violations of the laws by his asso- ciates.
 Would Say Smoot Was Disqualified.
 'If he had knowledge of such violations and encouraged them, then I would say MT Shoot was disqualified for service as senator" said Mir. Vancott: then he would have been guilty of connivance at the disregard of laws. But MT Shoot has urged over and over again that every law should be strictly observed.
 Mir Taylor replied to MT. Shoots at- torney on the point as to whether it was competent for the senate to go into the acts of the senator prior to his election. He laid down the general proposition that acts of continuing character should be investigated even though committed be- fore election.
 Nor" he said. lis the church in general to be investigated except as it's acts affect the propriety of MT. Shoots being here" He added, however, that it was impossible to know what MT. Shoot stands for unless it Is what the church teaches with refer ence to the charges against the senator.
 ''All we want" he added. lis justice" Hei declared that proof of Mir. Shoots acts and his knowledge of other acts in contravention end defiance of the law would be supplied.
 rr-t-~ +4 the attorneys for MT. Shoot a written re- ply to MT. Tay1er's argument. This reply Is expected to be made Monday. and Sen ator Burrows will convene the commit