Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-01-18
5aTH CONGRESS.
Continued from page ~

church. they promuGate in the most sol
emn manner the doctrine OF poi%Saihy'
without reservation.
10 The president of the Mormon
church and Il majority of tins l. APOSTLES
new practice rolygamy and loiNSdm"IS
coma bitation and some Of them h;iN'
taken polYSamouS wives since the nl;tIli-
festo of lS90. these things have been done
with the knowledge and countclltlicH OF
Reed Smoot: plural marriage ceremonies
have been performed by apostles Sn'ct
the manifesto of 1920 and many n!Sh"pS
and other high officials OF the cn'lfcn litN
taken plural wives since that time. All
of the first presidency and the y :tpostleS
encourage. counttnance. conceal ana con
habitation, and honor and reward by nigh
office and distinguished prcferMcnt those
who most persistcntly and detlantly Nio-
late the Law of tn" idnd.
T. Though pledged by the compact of
statehood and bound 10y the law of their
commonwealth, this supreme body, whose
voic. is law to its people. ara Wh;.S'
members were individually directly re
SponSiblc for good faith to the Americas
people, permitted. without protest or OBJ
lection. their legislators L" PASS IA law
multiplying the statute against polESa-
nous Capitalization.
In reply. MIR. Worthington said the
| statements made by Mr.. Taylor diFier
| very materially from the charges made
| in the formal statements, and he aske,!
| time in which to make reply, which
WAS granted.
Mr.. Worthington referred to the charg,
| that Mr. Smoot took an oath to support
| the church III connection with his eicc
| ton in 1900 as an apostle of the Mormon
| church.
The oath taken by Mr.. Smoot as scna
| tor had been declared, he said. Incom-
patible with the former oath, and, con
| tinued Mr.. Worthington, IF anyone has
| proof that this oath of allegiance to tht
United States was taken with mental res
| ervation let it be produced"
4 Il l,..S Tod IL
| he, it would convict Mr. Smoot of actin"
IL lie. and would be a violation of tht
compact between Utah and the United
| States by which Utah was admitted intG
| the union as Il state.
| If it can he shown that Mr.. Smcot has
! furthcrcd Il movement to promote po!yg
| amy contrary to this compact. then W.
| will say. of course, that Mr.. SmOOt ought
| to be expelled.
| Senator Burrows, chairman Of the com
| mittce. asked Mr. Van Colt specifically
concerning the charge that the first pres
| i'l"nt and the T. apostles of the Mormon
| church We're today living in the practice
of poIyGamy.
Mr. Van Colt said that whore the asso
| CiatcS of Mr.. Smoot had pricticcd puiyE
amy or violated Laws. their acts woul'
| subject them to punishment, but tina
| would in no manner unit Mr. Sno"t from
qualifying as senator.
| Mr.. Burrows asked Mr.. Van Colt if hi.
| answer would be the same if it Wa.
shown that Mr.. Smoot had knowledge ot
the violations of the laws b. his ass"
| ciates.
| IF he had knowledge Of such viola ton.
and encouraged them. then | would say
! Mr.. SmOot WIS disqualified for service "A;
| senator" said Mr.. Van Colt; for thcr
| he would have been guilty Of connivailct
| ut disregarding of laws. But Mr.. Smoot
| has urged over and over again that every
| law should he strictly observed"
! The public hearing continued about NV
, hours, AMI at its conclusion the commit
| tee went into secret 81 SSon.