The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1904-02-27


INVEsTIGAEING THE saOOT CASE.
AstI- nsrassu Petitions stn Poursng In -
Congress-.
The Investigation Of the right Of
Senator 6moOt to sit In the United
States senate promises 10 be the in
tenestiDg sidesb0w Of congress this
session. OF course, the important
events will take place in the big tenta
where each house assemblies daily,
but up on the top Hoor OF the ssalAts
wing, in . room overlooking Pennsyi-
vaDis avenue and the Virginia bills.
there will be something doing. Here
Senator Burrows. sitting judieiaily
at the bead Of the table and hanked
on the right by Senators HoAr, Ne
COmas, Foraker, Depew, BeEeridge.
Dillingham; and Hopkins, and on the
left by Senators Pettns. Dubois,
Bailey, Oyerman. and Clark, Of
Arkansas, the COMMITTEES Of privileges
and elections, will listen TO stories Of
Utah and the influence Of the Mormon
church in politics and the polygamons
relations Of members Of that church.
II will be going ON for some time,
but IL is the intention Of the com
mittee 20 get through and reach
verdict before the adjournment next
June. Meanwhile, the work Of in
fiueDcing the jury, /. e., the senate.
goes steadily forward.
+ The good women Of the country
have not ceased their efforts once they
secured an investigation. The
petitions demanding an investigation
are not 80 numerous, but letters are
still being written, and senators are
being advised that many Of their con
siitnenis do not want Smo0s 20 re
main in the senate, Bot the efforts
q those Who are making the eight on
Smoot go much further. The wives
81 senators are receiving letters and
senators are subject 20 home nsuence
the same as other men. Nov here is
sample. The name Of the senator
10 not given. because it might be IN
pleasant fol him:
Some time ago be said: Il see
nothing IN the case. don beliere
there will be sufficient grounds to
nnseat Mr.. SmOot. :"
few weeks later be said: When
the time comes you will ind that
senator's are more ested in their
own seats than In Smoot's Thoee
Who vote 10 obtain Smoot
must meet the wsatb Of all
who arc determined that neither =
Mormon apostle nor = Polygsmist
shall sit in the congress OF the United
States -
With a persistence that bodes 20
good for senator Smoot, Senator
Dubois is aiding the inquiry. Al
though he is a member q the com
mitiee that is trying the case, be is
also a member Of the committee that
IL delving for the evidence. Senate
committees In cases like these are not
only judge and jury, but are also .
part Of the prosecution and = part OF
the defense. Although acting a. men
who must pass upon the question At
Issue senators ON TIE committee may
take any method they see at to bring
out facts, aud they can either examine
In chief or they may cross examine.
Dubois is not only making q nght
against Smoot. but lie fighting for his
own political existence Ia Idaho.
Dubois aud the Mormons Of the Pan
handle state do not mix. II is a fight
TO a finish with them. That being
the case Dubois Is aiding the organ
izations which are opposing Smoot.
Aud he is powerful aid, too, for be
knows a lot about the church aud
what IL has done in Utah aud Idaho.
Years ago be was identified with =
contest against the church. aud made
himself felt, Just now he is leaving
nothing undone to forward the anti
Smoot campaign lie is convinced
that when the evidence is all In the
senate will vote to declare Shoots
seat vacant.
Il must he rather uncomfortable to
have a man like Dubois ON ones
trail. aud no doubt the Utah senator
begins to appreciate the fact.
ARTHUR W, DUNN.