The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-01-14
WITH The LANMAkERS


Are Doing
The response OF Senator heso
Smoot. OF Utah, to the charges made
against him &as presented to the sen !
ate committee Saturday. IL vas agreed
that at the regular meeting OF inc
committee to be held next Saturday |
the attorney for Mr.. SInoot and also
for the petitioners should be heard.
They will be expected TO show preoe-
dents and authorities and after they
shall have made their presentation
the committee will decide whether 10
60 farther into the matter by calling
witnesses or dispose Of 1t on the snow
ing which will then have been made.
Mr.. Smoot submits in answer TO
charges against him the following;
This respondent is advised and
avers that but two OF the charges
made against him In said protests,
either directly or by implication. are
such as, IL true. corid legally affect
his right to hold his seat in the Senate
These two charges are:
Il. That the respondent is polvg-
amist
"2. That he is bound by some oath
or obligation which is inconsistent
with the oath required by the consul
tuition, which was administered 10 MN
before he took his seat as Senator.
Both these charges respondent de-
MES.
AS to the charges that he is
polyeamist. the respondent says that
he was married September II, 1854, 10
Alpha May Eld1dge. She Is still MS
wife and is the mother OF all his
children. He has never had any other
wife and has never cohabited with any
| other woman.
LAS to the charge that the respond
ent is bound by some oath or obhga-
tion controlling his duty under his
cath as a Senator, the respondent says
| that he has never taken such oath. OF
| in any way assumed any such obliga-
ton. He holds himself bound to obey
| and uphold the constitution and laws
| of the United States, ineiudlng the
| condition in reference to poiygany,
| upon which the State Of Utah was ad-
| mitted into the Union.
"The respondent denies that he Is
| one of said alleged self-perpetuating
bodies of fifteen men, or that there Is
| any such body Of men, or that the loi.
lowers or members of the Church OF
Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints, or
any Of them. accord the right to SAID
alleged body to claim supreme au-
thority, either divinely sanctioned or
otherwise, to shape the belief or con-
troll the conduct Of those under them
in all or any matters, civil or tenn
poral or that said church or such al
legged body or any. person or body OK
ercises any authority or power TO In
culcate or encourage a belief in the
practice of polygamy or belief in or
practice of polygatny or belief In OF
p;actice of polygamous cohabitation
| or that either countenances or CON
nives at any violation of the laws OF
the State of UtaL or of the United
States and this respondent for himself
| in particular denies that he is one ol
said alleged self-perpetuating body OF
fifteen. men, or that there is any such
body. or that said church or any par'
thereof or person therein inculcates
or encourages a belief in the practice
of polygamy or belief in or practice o
polygamous cohabitation, and this re
spondent denies that he Is guilty o.
polygamous cohabitation, or that hs
is a polygamist, or that he ever has
been a polygamist, or that he has eVel
practiced polygamous cohabitation."
Mr.. Smoot denied that he has eve
connived at any violation OF any Law
of Utah or OF the United States, ant
declares that "since the manifesto o
President Wilford Woodruff was is
, sued in 1890. neither belief In, no
a practice of polygamy or polygamou
cohsbitation has either been taught o
encouraged"
The House was in session but L
/ minutes Thursday. Mr.. Hemenway
> chairman OF the committee on appro
priations, obtained unanimous consen
2 that that one hour be devoted at tn
4 opening OF Fridays session to the cor
: sideration OF bill amending the &C
! appropriating 100000 for the eradics
4 cation of foot and mouth diseas
e among cattle, SO as to make $250.00
D | Of that amount available to meet th
Y emergency caused by the Mexican boo
+ | weevil The bill was favorably repor1
: ed today The House adjourned.