The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-10
SHOOTS ANSWER
Is PRESENTED
Denial of Most of the Charges
Made Against Him.
HEARING NEXT SATURDAY
COURSE TO BE PURSUED NOT
YET DETERMINED.
CspecilI to The Herald.)

elections committee at which
Senator Shoots answer was read,
was held behind closed doors. The
senators present were: Chairman
Burrows, MeComas, Beverage, Dill
lingham Hopkins, Republicans; Pet
tue, Dubois and Overman, Democrats
Smoot's answer was read ana
printed. Copies Of il and of the
committee of nineteen's protest were
furnished all members and an informal
discussion of the protest and smoots
answer followed the reading OF the lat
ter
Senators BeVeridge and hopkins, who
had not been present at prior meetings
of the committee. were of the opinion
that the committee had no jurisdiction
in the case beyond the hearing Of evl-
dence relative to the cnarge of poly
gamy ana determining upon Smoot
innocence or guilt Of that charge. Nc
Comas. who also mad expressed q sim
liar view at prior meeting, today ac-
quiesced in the view held generally BY
the committee that the attitude Of the
Mormon church to the affairs Of state
could properly be inquired into IN
Shoots case.
Activity of Dubois.
Senator Dubois spoke freely on this
1 point to the committee and read from
/ the book of covenants Of the Mormon
church numerous extracts intended 10
show that the church is paramount IN
I temporal as well as in spiritual mat
/ tiers in dealing with it's members.
J Chairman Burrows took no decided
part in the arguments. but suggested
I that the committee should hear from
] the attorneys of the pro>estants Just
IN ~arsr o.
ton with the charge set forth III their
petition and also that the attorneys for
Senator Smoot should be heard in re-
Ii was therefore decided to call d
meeting of the committee ror saturday
5 next. when opportunity will be given
: the attorneys for the prosecution ana
I defense to present legal arguments on
the points involved. It has not been
/ determined whether witnesses VIII De
summoned by the committee.
Senator Dubois said today that ne
{ considered Shoots answer weak de-
/ Tense and in his opinion it leaves the
/ case i'm such shape that the elections
T committee viii feel that il is ineum-
bent upon il to make a full inyestiga-
/ ton of all the charges filed b. the
committee Of Utah citizens and called
for by many thousands Of petitioners
from all parts of the country
Two Vital Charges.
sTeuawing is the answer
! ..This respondent is advised and AYERS
that but two of the charges MADE
against him in said protests, either d.
rectlv or by implication, are such as.
If true could legally affect his right
TO hold his seat in the senate. These
two charges are
4. That the respondent is a polyg-
amist. -.
- That he is bound by some oath
or obligation which is inconsistent with
the oath required by the constitution
which was administered to him before
he took his seat as senator.
Both these charges respondent de-
His Life Has Been Pure.
AS to the charge that he is a polyg-
anist. the respondent says that he was
married on the 18th day Of September
1884. to Alpha Nay Bldridge- She Is
still his wife and is the mother of al
his children He has never had an
other wife. and has never cohabited
with any other woman
LAS TO the charge that the respond
ent is bound by some oath or obligation
controlling his duty under his oath as
a senator. the respondent says that ne
has never taken any such oath, or 81
any way assumed any such obligation
He holds himself bound to obey and up
hold the constitution and laws of the
limited states. including the condition IL
reference to pOIygamy upon which the
state of Utah was admitted into the
Union.
Moves to Strike Gut.
..'TE,e respondent now moves to strike
out and eliminate, separately from saic
protest. each and every matter and
thing therein contained, except the twE
charges above mentioned.
while the respondent &c advised and
AYERS that tho other matters referref
to in said protests are such as eanno
legally and properly be considered a.
affecting the right of the respondent Z
retain his seat in the senate, neverthe
less the respondent now proceeds to an
swer the same. submitting the question
Of the relevancy of the same. not waiv
ing his said motion, but insisting there
or
The respondent denies that he is on
of said alleged -perpetuating bod,
of fifteen men. or that there is any sucl
body of men: or that the followers o
members Of the Church Of Jesus Chris
of Latter-day Saints. or any of them
accord the right TO said alleged bod.
to claim supreme authority. either oil
vinely sanctioned or otherwise, TO shap
: the belief or control the conduct O
those under them in all or any matters
. civil or temporal, and that said chUrc
or such alleged body claims or exercise
any such alleged rights: or that sal
church. or said alleged body of meT
or either Of them. unite either in on
body or in all OF them. the authorit
of church and state. or of the state;
Does Not Connive
"Or that said church, or said aIlese
n body. on any person or body, exercise
/ any authority or power as to inculeat
: or encourage q belief in the practice c
polygamy. or belief IN or practice {
! tpolygamOus coha bita ton. or that eithe
i countenance or connive at any viola
} ton Of the laws OF the state of Utah. {
I. Of the United STATS. either regardles
: Of pledges or pledge. or otherwise q
a all. either made for the said aliege
n purpose or otherwise. or at all, or
q any covenants or covenant or other
o wise either made with the people {
The United States or any other perso
or body, or. that said church. or an
. 4 person or body. by all or any meaT
whatsoever. either protects or honor
pSi SONS u 0tS BSA sCl4' WIZ - u AIe
, be guilty Of said alleged practices,
> any practice, either destructive Of Il
= family or the home. or otherwise.
, that said alleged body, or any of Their
, violate any law of the land. or is guilt
: of any Of said alleged practices; an
? this respondent for himself in partil
? ular denies that he is one of said a
? legged Sslf-perpetuating body of 1iftee
= Continual on Page s.