Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-22
THE sMooT CASE.
Report May Be in Favor of Unseatina
the Senator

At this stage of the proceedings in the
case of the investigation relating to Sem
ator Reed Smoot and his right to hold his
seat in the United States Senate it seems
likely that the report of the committee on
privileges and elections, which is conduct
ing the investigation, may be In favor of
unseating the Utah Senator
Nearly all the testimony in this case Of
Tered by the protestants has been given
before the committee
Witnesses for the defense will come later,
put 1t Is not expected by many persons who
have been carefully watching the proceed
ings that it will be possible for the Nor
en- church or for Senator Smoot to place
hlmseif In such light before the commit
tee as to allow him to retain his seat
Of all the members of the Mormon HER
aIchy 1t has generally been admitted that
Senator Smoot was the one who would be
most likely to be acceptable as member
of the Senate
There Is no charge of polygamy against
him. and there is nothing in his history to
parallel the careers of some of the older
officials of the church, so far as prominence
IN matters relating to the hierarchy is con-
cerned.
But the investigation has gone beyond the
personal character of Senator Smoot. 1t
has been shown that he is a member of q
secret hierarchy, and has taken oaths in
the Endowment House which none of the
apostles of the church or others who have
taken those oaths have been willing to
divulge
1t has been shown that the Mormon
Church in its authority is recognized as
above the civil law. One after another
have in effect admitted that the divine law
of revelation, which they claim to be their
guide in the government of the church,
should be obeyed even when in conflict
with the civil law.
show that officials of the Mormon Church
who have undertaken to act at variance
with its wishes in political matters have
always been met by defeat, whereas when
they have received the sanction of the
church they have been elected to offices to
which they aspired. Senator Smoot him
self received the sanction of his church to
become a candidate for the position of
it Is admitted by leading officials of the
church, he would have been "out of har-
mOny' with the church.
Above all there is no doubt that the inn
preston has constantly been growing on
the minds Of members of the committee
that the Mormon Church is in its essential
principles and in its daily practices in
Violate of the constitution of the state of
Utah. which Is regarded solemn pledge
on the part of the Mormon Church that
when the territory was given statehood
not only would polygamy be abolished, but
that there would be absolutely no inter-
ference on the part of the church in civil
affairs. Numerous instances have been
shown of the manner in which the church
has extended its influence over business
and political affairs.
The church itself through its president
who acts as q trustee for the church. Is in
terested in numerous business enterprises
So numerous have these enterprises been
shown to be that when President Smith
was before the committee and was asked
to name the various corporations of which
he Is president. he found the greatest diff
Guilty In recalling to mind even some of the
largest of these concerns. which in the ag-
ore q INN mt r,fO kol
and include the greatest variety Of business
enterprise.
There Is strong belief on the part of
many that the mass of testimony has al
ready fixed Senator Reed SmoOt as a mem
Der Of q secret organization, whose oaths
he cannot divulge, which seeks control in
political and business affairs in such fla
grant violation of the state constitution that
he cannot be regarded as proper person
to represent that state in the United States
Senate.