Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-16
THE CHARGES.
More Against Senator Shoots
Church Than Against Him,

Washington, Jan. l6.-The senate
committee on privileges and elections
met today for the purpose of hearing
the presentations OF the attorneys on
both sides of the case involving the
right OF Senator Reed Smoot of Utah
TO occupy his seat Former Repre-.
sentative Tayler, Of Ohio. was heard for
some OF the protesthnts and T. p.
Stephenson for those who are repre.
senting the National Reform associa.
ton a. $, Worthlngton and Waldo.
mar Van Colt were present on behalf
OF Senator smoot who was also In at
tendance.
The first presentation was made by
Mr.. Tayler who began his statement
by saying that he did not know that
any proof would be presented I'm sup
port OF the charges that Mr.. smoot
was polygamist He took up the
question Of the right OF the senate TO
eNpel a member contendng that the
senates authority In the matter was
limited only by the question Of pro-
priety. on this point Of testimony Mr.
Tayler said the protestants expected to
prove the following charges:
THE CHARGES.
THE Mormon Priesthood accord.
Ing to the doctrine u the Church and
the belief and practise Of ts member.
ship, ls vested with and assumes TO
exercise supreme authority I'm an
things temporal and spiritual, civil
and political The head Of the church
claims To receive divine revelations
and these Reed Smoot. by his covenants
and obligations Is bound to accept and
obey.
2-The First Presidency and Twelve
Apostles, OF whom Reed Smoot is one.
are supreme IN exercising the authority
OF the Church and In the transmission
OF the authority TO their successors.
Each Of them Is called prophet. seer
and reYelator.
BIAS shown by their teaching ana
by their own lives, this body OF men
has not abandoned belief I'm polygamy
ana polygamOus Cohdbitation. on the
contrary (a), as the ruling authorities
of the Church they promulgate in the
most solemn manner the doctrine OF
polygamy without reservation; tbl, tho
president Of the Mormon Church and
a majority OF the Twelve Apostles now
practise polysamy and polygamous co.
habitatlOn ana some Of them have
taken poygamous wives since the man.
ifesto Of 1880. These things have been
done with the knowledge ana counten-
ance Of Reed Sm0ot. plural marriage
ceremonies have been performed By
Apostles since tho manifesto OF 1890,
and many Bishops and other high Of
ncials OF the church have taken plural
wives since that time, Al Of the First
Presidency and the Twelve Apostles en-.
courage, countonauce, conceal and con.
nlye at polygamy and polygamous co.
habitatlon, and honor and reward by
high Office and distinguished prefer.
mont those who most pcrslstently and
definitely violate the laws Of the land.
although pledged by the compact
Of statehood and bound By the law "
their commonwealth this supreme body.
whose voice is law 20 liz people and
whose members were individually d.
rectly responsible for good faith to
the American people. permitted with
out protest or objection, their lcglsla-
tors to pass a law multiplying the statute
against polygamous cohabltation.
SENATOR HELD RESPONSIBLE.
For all these things Reed smoot is
responsible In law ana In conscience
TO this body and to the American peO-
pie,
In connection with the third spccI-
fCatlon, Mr.. Tayler gave list Of the
documents recognized by the Mormon
Church as Inspired. In this list he did
not include the manifesto OF 1890, end.
ing the command 70 take plural wives
but he contendcd that this manifesto
does not prohibit polygamy He also
declared that the doctrines and cove
nants Of the Church are SIN pub.
lished by the Church without any ref
eren2e to the manifesto,
In reply Mr., Worthngton said the
statements made by Mr. Taylcr differ
very materially from the charges made
IN the formal statements ana he asked
time In which to make a reply, which
was granted,
Mr. Worthington agreed that there
was no limit to the power of the senate
20 pass upon the qualifications of liz
own members, but contendod that its
jurisdiction Is limited. He then laid
down the general proposition that the
senate was without jurisdiction OF Of.
lenses which may have been committed
before a member became a senator un.
less committed In connection with his
election,
QUESTION BY SENATOR PETTUS,
"Do YOU mean," asked Senator Pet.