The Monticellonian., 1904-01-21
SENATOR SA,9OT'S
 CASE IS h AGAIN
The Senate Committee on Privi ges and Elections Meet to Hear
 Arguments of Attorneys. V
REPRESENTING 1AYbER
 HEARD FOR THE PROTESTANTS.
MT. Worthington, for senator Smoot, Claimed That Mr. TayIer's State ments Differed From the Formal Charges. and Asked Further Time to Make Reply.

Washington, Jan. 1.-The senate committee on privileges and elections met. Saturday, for the purpose Of hear ing the presentations of the attorneys on both sides of the ease involving the right of Senator Shoot, of Utah, to oc- cTpy his seat. Former Representative Tayler, of Ohio. was heard for some of the protestants, and T. P Stephen son for those who are representing the National RefCem association A S. Warrington and Waldemar Van Cott were present on behalf of Senator Shoot, who also was ~1 attendance The first presentation was made by MT. Taylor. who began his statement by saying that he did not know that any proof would be presented in sup port of the charge that MT Shoot was polygamist He took up the ques- tion of the right of the senate to ex- pei member, contending that the sen ate's authority in the matter was linn tied only by the question of propriety On the point of testimony MT. Tayler said the protestants expected to prove the following charges:
 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 tenn porai and spiritual, civil and political. The head of the church claims to re- eeiye divine revelations and these Reed Shoot, by his covenants and obliga- lions, is bound to accept and obey.
 ?. The first presidency and 12 apos- ties. of whom Reed Shoot is one. are 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 reyelator.
 ,. 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:
 ta) As the ruling authorities of the church they promulgate in the most solemn manner the dactrine of polyg- amy, without reservation.
 (b) The president of the Mormon church and a majority of the F apos- ties now practice polygamy and po- lygamous cohabitation, and some of them have taken poygamous wives since the manifestation of 1890 These things have been done with the knowl- edge and countena1ce of Reed Shoot; plural marriage ceremonies have been performed by apostles since the mani7 festo of 1890. and many bishops and other high officials of the church have taken plural wives since that time All of the first presidency and the 12 apos- ties encourage, countenanee. conceal and connive at polygamy cohabitation, and honor and reward by high office and distinguished preferment those who most consistently and defiantly violate the law of the lard.
 1. Though pledged by the compact of statehood and bound by the law of their commonwealth, this supreme body, whose voice is law to it's people, and whose members were individually directly responsible for good faith to the American people, permitted, with out protest or objection, their legisla- lures to pass law nullifying the stat ute against polygamus cohabtation.
 For all these things Reed Shoot is responsible in law and in conscience to this body and 10 the American people.
 Tn connection with the third specifi- 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 sus- pending the command to take plural wives, but he contended that this man. ifesto does not prohibit polygamy. He also declared that the doctrines and covenants of the church are still pub lished by the church without any refer ence to the manifesto.
 In reply, MT Worthington said the statements made by MT. Tayler differ very materially from the charges made in the formal statements, and he asked time in which to make a reply, which was granted.
 MT Worthington agreed that there was no limit to the power of the sen- ate to pass upon the notification of it's own members, but contended that it's Jurisdiction is limited. He then laid down the general proposition, that the senate was without jurisdiction of of lenses which may have been committed before a member became a senator un- less committed in connection with his election.