The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-01-17

a. ASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-The senate
w committee on privileges and cleo
tons met today for the purpose
of hearing the presentations of the at
torneys on both sides OF the case in
volving the right of Senator Reed
Smoot Of Utah to occupy his seat.
Former Representative Tayler of Ohio
was heard for some of the protestants
and 7. 2. Stephenson for those who are
representing the National Reform as
ISOLATION A. s. Worthington and Wal
demar Van C'O4t were present 0n behalf
e. Senator Smoot, who was also in at
tendance.
The first presentation was made by
AR. Tayler. who began his statement
by saying that ne did not know that
any proof would be presented in sup
port of the charges that AR Smoot was
polygamist. He took up the question
of the right of the senate 10 expel a
member, cOntending that the senate's
authority in the matter was limited
only by the question of prOpriety. on
this point of testimony Mr.. Tayler said
the protestants expected to prove the
following charges;
Proof VIII Be OneTed.
1.-The Mormon priesthood. according
to the doctrine of the church and the
belief and practice of its membership
is vested with and assumes TO exercise
supreme authority in all things tempo
raj and spiritual. civil and political
The head of the church claims 10 re-
ceive divine revelations. and these
Reed SmoOt. by his covenants and OBJ
4
2-The first presidency and twelve
apostles. of whom Reed SmOOt is one
IS supreme in exercising the authority
OF the church and in the transmission
OF the authority to their successors.
Each of them is calico prophet; seer
and revelatOT.
Polygamy Not Abandoned.
AS shown by their teaching and
By their own lives. this body of men
has not abandoned belief in pOlygamy
and P0iygamous cOhabitation. On the
contrary (a), as the ruling authorities
Of the church they promulgate in the
most solemn manner the doctrine Of
polygamy without reservation. Cb) the
president of the Mormon church and
q majority of the twelve apostles now
practice pOlygamy and pOlygamOus CO.
habitaiiOB. and some of them have
taken polygamous wives since the man
ifestO Of 1880. These things have been
done with the know ledge and counte-
nance of Reed SmOOt, plural marriage
ceremonies have been performed by
apostles since the manifesto of 1890.
and many bishops and other high Off
Gals of the church have taken plural
wives since that time. All of the first
presidency and the twelve apostles en-
courage, cOuntenance, conceal and con-
nive at polygamy and polygamous CO.
habitation and honor and reward by
high Office and distinguished prefer
nent those who most persistently and
definitely violate the laws of the land.
Law Nullihed.
EThough pledged by the compact OF
statehood and bound By the law OF
their commonwealth this supreme body.
whose voice is law 10 its people and
whose members were individually di-
reetly responsible for good faith TO the
American people, permitted without
protest or objection. their legislators TO
pass law multiplying the statute
against polygamous cohabitation-
For all these things Reed SmoOt is
responsible in law and in conscience to
this body and 10 the American people
In connection with the third specif-
cation. Mr.. Tayler gave a 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 to take plural wives
but he contended that this manifesto
does not prohibit p0Iygamy. He also
declared that the doctrines and cove
nants of the church are still published
by the church without any reference
to the manifesto
Worthington's Statement.
In reply Mr. W0rthington said the
statements made by Mr.. Taylor differ
very materially from the charges rade
IT, the formal statements. and he asked
time IN which to make a reply which
was granted
Mr. W0rthingt0R agreed that there
was no limit 10 the power of the sen.
ate TO pass upoa the notification Of it's
own member. but contended that it's
jurisdiction is limited. He then laid