The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-01-13
RI||H|I)Hl SENATOR'S DEFENSE.
Rsed snoot Declares He is Not and
as Not Been q polygamist and
IS Not Bound BY Alleged Gath.
The Answer to The Charges
Throws Some Light on Affairs
Of His Church.


Senator Reed Smeot Of Utah to the
changes made against him was present
cd ca hesenate committee on priv.
aeges and elections today by Senator
Burrows, chairman of the COMMITTEES.
1s was agreed that at the regular meet
lng OF the committee to be held next
Saturday, the attorneys for Mr.. Smoo1
srd also for tie petitioners should be
heard. They will be expected to show
prscedants and authorities, and after
they shall have made their presentation
4ase cornrnis istee will decide whether &c
90 Tirthes into the matter by calling
witnesses, or dispose of it on the show
ing which will then have been made.
Ms Smoot submits in answer &c
charges against him the following:
s1Shis respondent is advised and
AYERS that but two Of the charges made
against him IN said protests, eithel
directly or By implication. are such as,
IF true, could legally affect his right
80 hold his seat In the senate. These
two charges are:
- That the respondent is poly
canIst.
SO That he is bound by some oath
,rnbliration which rs inconsistent
with She oath requifed By the consti itu.
tson, which was administered to him
before he took his seat as a senator.
Both Of these charges the respondent
denies.
as TO the charge that he is poly
mist the respondent says that ne
sTyaa married on the 18th of September,
slss4. to A lpha May Eldridge. She is
sill his wife and the mother OF all OF
his children. He has never had any
oShsr wife, and has never cohablSated
with any other woman.
to the charge that the respondent
is bound By some oath or obligation
ccntroaling his duty under his oath as
senator, the respondent says that ne
has never taken any such oath, or in
any gay assumed any such obiigatlon;
he holds himself bound to obey and
uphold the consti tuition and laws OF
sise United States, including the
condition In reference TO polygamy
mon which the State Of Utah was ad-
xniSted into the union.
The respondent denies that he is
one Of said alleged self-perpetuating
lss.dv Of IL men or that there is any
s,ssS s 70 bsG3y y of men. OF that the follow
sss - y,,enrhers of the Church of Jesus
~ :, "a T,atter Day Saints. or any
~ stsss = accord the rieht to said alleg-
~ - y,;,;..' s,sy to claim supreme authority,
.sy,,ss s.;ss, sdiiv;neIv sanetioned or Otherwise,
Ike tie i,aiief or control the con.
49, - tbos,e ,.,S nnder taem in ali or any
ss..astars s...ss - s c;S;i or temnorsl or that
a..ssseeI .ssg cSprcb1 or snch alleged body
ass;,,, =, or asherwise exercises any such
,,sls.s,ss ssIssaa = r;ohts: or that said church,
said alleged body, or any
.seyson ,-,e, NJ or body exercises any
rnEi,arity or power too inculcate OF
: .asaoS-sso .ssa ss - - hel;ef IN the practice OF
s..ssS...a,,ssy,s col,ah;tatinn. or that
~ 800 anees or connives at any
1850, =, If she laws of the State Of
IIsss rT.s,ses, - af the United States, and this
Z rasrondans es.rse for himself in particular
5an;ss that he IS one of said alleged
Z gssITsnarnetnatinp BODY of Is men, OF
fi,at there is any such body, Or that
sid ehurch. or any part thereof, OF
s.rTr snv nerson therein. inculcates OF
I s,,sonrsgss 49, belief in the practice Of
s,osrcamy or belief in or practice OF