The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-01-21
81 .SM00T i'jIj, CASE IS ARGUED!
Status Of Mormon Senator Bright Up
for Investigation Before Rrivi-
Ieaes and Elections Committee

a. washington special says: ins4
senate committee on privileges and
elections met Saturday to hear the at
torneys on both sides OF the case In
yolying the right Of Senator Smoot to !.
occupy his seat. Former Represents
tive Tayler, Of Ohio, was heard Tor
some Protestants, and E P. Stevenson
for those who are representing the
National Rerom Association. A. s.
Worthington and Walderman VanCott
were present on behalf OF Senator
Smoot, who also was in attendance.
The first presentation was made oy
Mr.. Tayler, who said the Protestants
expected to prove the following
charges:
l. The Mormon priesthood, accofd-e
ing to the doctrine of the church and
belief. practices and its membership
is vested with, and assumes to e1ef.
else supreme authority in all things,
temporal and spiritual, civil and politi-s
cal. The head Of the church claims 70
receive divine revelations and these:
Reed Smooth, by his covenants and
obligations, is bound to accept and
obey.
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 called prophet, seer
and reveaator. q
! 5. As shown by their teaching and by
their own lives, this body OF men has
not abandoned belief in polygamy and
polygamous cohabitation. On the con-
trary-
(a) As the ruling authorities Of the
church they promulgate in the most
solemn manner the doctrine OF poly
gamy without reservation.
(b) The president Of the Mormon
church and majority of the twelvas
apostles now practice polygamy and
polygamous cohabitation, and some or
them have taken polygamous wivesz
since the manifesto Of 1890. These
things have been done with the knowl.
edge and countenance of Reed Smoot.
Plural marriage ceremonies have been
performed by the apostles since the
manifesto of 1890 and mary bishops
and other high officials Of the church
have taken plural wives since that
time. {. All of the first presidency and
twelve apostles encourage, countes
nance. conceal and conniye at polyga-
my and polygamous cohabitation and
honor and reward by high Office and
distinguished preferment those who
: most nersistently and defantly violate
the law of the land.
4. Though pledged by the compact
of statehood and bound by the law
of the commonwealth, this supreme;
body, whose voice is law to its people
aud whose members were individnally
directly responsible for good faith t0S
the American people, permitted, with.
out protest or objection. their legisla-
tors to pass a law nullifying the stat
ute against polygamous cohabitation
For all these things Reed Smoot IS
responsible in law and in consciences
to this body and to the American pe0s:
pie. In connection with the third spe-s
cifcation Mr.. Tayier gave list Of the
documents recognized by the Mormons
church as inspired. rs
In reply, Mr. Worthington said the
statements made by Mr.. Tayler dlfsr
ed very materially from the charges
made in the formal statements, and ne:
asked time in which to make reply.
| which was granted.