The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-13
NOT TRUE, SAYS SHOOT
MORMON SENATOR FILES ANS.
 WEIR TO CHARGES.
Sweeping Denial to the Allegations Made in Effort to Prevent His Holding His
 Seat.

Washington, Jan. 12-The response of Senator Smooth, of Utah, to the charges l made against him was presented to the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elec- tions by Senator Burrows, Chairman of that committee.
 The document was in printed form and the members of the Committee did not go through the formality of reading it dur | ing the session.
 It was agreed that at the regular meet | ing of the Committee to be held next Sat urday, the attorneys for MT. Shoot and for the petitioners should be heard. John O. Carlisle of New York. formerly Secre- ! tary of the Treasury, R. W. Taylor, for merly a representative in Congress from l Ohio. will appear for the prosecution, while Mir. Shoot will be represented by
 Messrs. A. s. Worthington of Washing | ton. D. C.. waldeman vancott of Utah, and W. E. Bosa of Idaho.
 | The attorneys will be heard as to the | merits of the case as already presented They will be examined to show precedents and authorities and after they shall have made their presentation the Committee will decide whether to go further in the
 matter in calling witnesses or dispose of
 1t in the showing which will then have been made.
 | MT. Shoot submits in answer to charges
 against him. the following:
 "This respondent is advised and ayers that but two of the charges made against
 him in said protests, either directly or by | implication, arc such as, If true, could legally affect his rNht to hold his seat | in the Senate. The ser charges are: 1 First-That the respondent is polyga-
 mist.
 Second-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 l took his seat as a Senator.
 l Both these charges respondent denies. As to the charge that he is a polyga- | mist the respondent says that he was | married on the 17th day of September. 1884, to Alpha May Eldridge. She is still | his wife, and is the mother of all his chil- ! dren. He has never had any other wife. | and has never cohabitated with any other woman.
 As to the charge that the respondent is | bound by some oath or obligation con- | trolling his duty under his oath as Sem | ator. the respondent says that he has never taken any such oath, or in any way assumed any obligation.
 He holds himself bound to obey and up- l hold the Constitution and laws of the
 
 reference to polygamy on which the State of Utah was admitted into the Union. The respondent now moves to strike out and eliminate from said protest each and | every matter and thing therein contained except the two charges above mentioned. While the respondent is advised and ayers that the other matters referred l to in such protests are such that cannot be legally or properly considered as af- fecting the right of the respondent to re- tain his seat in the Senate, nevertheless the respondent now proceeds to answer
 the same. submitting the question of the | relevancy of the same, not waiving the
 motion. but insisting thereon.
 The respondent denies that he is one Of said alleged self-perpetuating body of men, or that there is any such body of men or that the followers 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 su- preme authority either divtnely sanc- tioned or otherwise, to shape the belief or control the conduct of those under them in ali or any matters, civil or temporal or that said church of said alleged body of men, or either of them, unite either in one body, or in all of them. the au- thority of church and State, or that said church or said alleged body or any per son or body exercises any authority or power either so or at all as to inculcate or encourage a belief in the practice of polygamy or belief in or practice of polygamous cohabitation, or that either countenances or connives at any viola tion of the laws of the State of Utah or of the United States regardless of pledges or pledge, or otherwise at all. either made for the said alleged purpose or otherwise, or at all, or of any cove nants or covenant or otherwise, either made with the people of the United States or any other person or body, by all or any other person or body, or that said church or any person or body, by all or any means whatsoever, either pro- tects or honors person or body or that said church or any person or body, by all or any means whatsoever, either pro- tects or honorS persons or any person who is or may be guilty of said alleged practices or any practice, either destruc- tive of the family or the home or other wise; or that said alleged body. or any of them, violate any law of the land, or Is guilty of any of said alleged practices and this respondent for himself in par ticular denies that he is one of the said alleged self-perpetuating body of fifteen men or that there Is any such body or that said church or any part thereof. or any person therein inculcRtes or encourages g. belief in the practice of polygamy or belief fin the practice of polygamous cohabitation and this re- spondent denies that he is guilty of po- lygamous cohabitation or that he is a polygamist or that he ever has been q poIygamst or that he has ever practiced polygamous cohabitation.
 This respondent further denies that he has ever countenanced or connived at any violation of any law. either of the State or of the United States; that he ever protected or honored any person or persons, who may have violated the laws of the land And this respondent denies that he is guilty of any practices or practice destructive either of the family or home.