New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-17
SM00T HAS A HEARING.
PROTEST.4NTS APPEAR.
Inquiry Into Charges against Utah
Senator TO BE Thorough.

OF hearing the representations Of the attorneys on
boz SIDES Of the involving right of Sena-
to- Srnoot, OF Utah. 10 occupy his LEX Repre-
sentative Gayiel, Of Ohio. appeared for some of
the protestasts ana T. p. Stephenson for those
who represented 5y the National Reform Asso-
citation. =. :. Eorthngton and Waidemar Van
Colt We're present behalf OF Senator Smoct, who
also in attendance The first presentation wa.
made by Mr.. Tayler. who began his statement by
saying he cid not know that any proof would be
presented in support Of the charge that Mr. Snnoot
was poly gan.ist He took up the question OF the
right Of the Senate expel member contending
that the Senates authority is limited only by the
question OF propriety. On the point OF testimony
Mr. rayler said the protestants expected TO prove
the following charges:
s Iirst.Ihe Mormon priesthood; according to the
OF its membership, IS vested with and assumes to
exercise supreme authority n al! things. temporal
church claims receive divine revelat ions and
these AgeG sinool by his covenants and obligations.
second-The hrst presidency and twelve apostles.
OF whom Reed Ssnoot is ona are supreme in the
exercise Of he authority of the church and in the
Each Q: then. called prophet seer and reveia1oT
Ihirc-As shown ny their teachings and by their
belief in polygamy and poiyganous cohabitation.
the church they rromugate in the most Solemn 1
manner TIE doctrine o. polygalny without
majority - the twelve apostles now practise
of eTi have taEe poiyga@S Wives since some tbe
I2antesto q 1873; these things have been done with
S. apostles since the manifesto Of gs5 aSs an S1
bishops and other high officials of the church have
t.Sea pllrat TICS slnSe that time All of the first
tena51ce, colce a ana connive AT polygamy and
fgb fc and ii[tn,9se go r TonSr anq fsMarG by
most persisteAtiy and deiantly violate the Law of
Fourth Though pledged by the compact of State
This supreme body whose voice Is Ia 70 is ,eonie
and whose members were individually directly re-
eTitfed without protest or obecon therP fe Ps
lators TO pass law multiplying the statute against
For all these things Reed Smoot Is responsible
American people
In connection with the third specification Mr.
Tayler gave list OF the documents recognized by
the Mormon Church inspired. In this list he
did include the manifesto Of 1880 suspending
the command 10 take plural wives. but he contend
ed that this manifesto does not prohibit poygamy.
He also declared that the doctrines and covenants
Of the church still published by the church
without any reference to the manifesto.
IN reply Mr.. Worthington said the statements
made by Mr.. Tayler differ very materially from
the charges made in the formal statements and
he asked time in which TO make reply which
granted.
THE sENATEs JURISDICTION.
Mr.. Worthington agreed that there was no limit
to the power Of the Senate to pass the qualihca
ton Of its own members but contended that its
jurisdiction is limited. He laid down the gen.
eral proposition that the Senate without juris
before member became Senator unless commit
ted IN connection with his election.
DO you mean." asked Senator Pettus. member
of the committee that this body is not permitted
10 inquire as TO any moral quality of one Of its
fsnemoers with view 10 his expulsion: that,
1natter what he did said before his election the
selection purified him?"
Nr. Worthington replied that such his mean
ttng and he quoted the action Of the Senate in the
Roach and the position Of the House in the
Roberts case IN support Of this view In reply a
iouestion from Senator Hopkins to what would
he the effect If the offence should be of continu-
Eng character. Mr. Warrington admitted that the
SENATE would have jurisdiction He also said, re-
plying to Senator Beverage that ii intend
ed admit that his client had been guilty of Of
tfences before his election.
Senator McComas asked whether any one present
appeared for the person who charges Mr.. Srnoot
with being polyganst-
No one answered and Mr. Worthington said that
# any did appear TO support that charge 1t
must be borne in mind that Mr.. Smoot had posi-
lively denied it. He referred TO Mr.. Shoots an
swer setting forth the circumstances OF his mar
riase, which, Mr.. Worthipgton said is the only
marriage he has contracted.
Mr.. Worthington referred to the charge that Mr..
srnoot took an oath to support church in con-
nectioa with his election in 1900 apostle Of
the Mormon Church. The oath taken by Mr..
smoot Senator had been declared, he said, in
compatible with the former oath, and. continued
Mr.. Worthington 'if any has proof that this
with mental reservation let Il be produced" II
that charge could be supported. he said it would
convict Mr. SEoot Of acting a lie, and would be 4
violation o. the compact between Utah and the
United States by which Utah admitted into the
Union a State. This charge, he argued. de-
rlas.ded PROOF, FOR IL il be shown that Air.
Suloot has furthered movement to promote polyg-
aniy contrary this compact, then VIII say. Of
course, that Mr.. Staoot ought to be expelled"
M Morth:ngton read large number OF court
decisions leading up TO The abandonment OF polyg-
amy. ana then read from official Church proclama
tions including the manifesto of $780, declaring that
poly galsy should he abolished. He also read the
amnesty proclamation OF President Harrison, and
declared that not only by this proclamation. but
absolved from the charge of polygamy by comply
ing with enabling admitting the State into
the Union.
FULL INQUIRY INVITED
Mr.. Van Colt made statement in Senator
Shoots behalf. He referred first the act Of the
Utah Legislature multiplying the Anti-Poly gamy act,
snd he confirmed Mr.. Tayler's statement that the
bin had been vetoed by Mormon Governor He
said Senator Smoot had nothing to do with the
passage or that bill. and should not be charged
with it. He invited the fullest inquiry into SEN
stor Shoots life we throw down the bars"
ne SAID land invite you TO investigate his entire
career IT," he went ''you find that he has
ever been guilty Of any offence against the laws
his counsel viii throw up the and walk out
We also throw down the bars to Mr. Shoots
moral character" He denied that Senator snoot
had ever taken oath which was inconsistent
with good citizenship
senator AIcComas asked whether il was true that |
tho apostles take a oath. and Mr.. Van Colt
replied that moi being Mormon. though a resident
OF Utah, he could not reply of his own knowledge
i his understanding however that the Nor |
mon apostles took oath
senator Dubois asked how it was with the elders