New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-10
THE SHOOT INQUIRY.
Is It Political OF Religious 2

TO The ECltoT OF Inc Tribune.
SIR: Some Of your readers. I know, look with
apprehension upon the methods being pursued
fin the Senate in the proceeding in the Snloot
case. Il is said that they are trying TO show
that the Mormon Church coUntenances polygamy
and that consequently no member Of that
Church Is III TO sit in the Senate. II is salts
factoriIy established that certain friars IN the
Philippines were guilty Of improper conduct and
that the Church did not interfere with them Is
that a good reason FOR expelling a Catholic
Senator
Prosecuted rs the inquiry is. under the control
Of the eminent lawyers or the Judiciary Com
mittee. q is 90 be assumed that the Senate IS
within Its rights IN the questions which are
being addressed 10 the Mormon officials called
as Witnesses but TO layrlen the committee ap-
pears 10 be skating very thin ice. The plain
issue is. Has Mr.. Srnoot been guilty Of the in
/ fraction OF any law for which he is now amena-
Die 10 punishment Has he contracted a po'yg-
arous marriage since the act OF Congress pro
/ hiai.ed them? I'm attempting 90 elucidate this
question. which is The only one the Senate Is
/ supposed 20 le trying Joseph smith. the head
Of the Mormon Church has been called on TO
give his CDiIion on the question Of Inspiration
and 70 enter into general explanations as 20 the
tenets ana practices OF his Church. II is said
also that this line OF inquiry IS being pursued
triaI)-and. II he. presumably also Mr.. smoot--
has taken some obligation 20 the Church not
compatible with his oath OF office as a Senator.
but even that ground is not broad enough 10
Justify the questions that are being asked.
i Is the first time that religious matters have
been dragged into political arena, and the
other sects ought 20 beware OF what IS being
done. Suppose a Catholic Senator makes him
self obnoxious TO a majority OF his fellow mem
hos &c -,
fore a committee. probing him as TO the articles
OF his faith and why De believes them. and
threatening his expulsion on the ground that
in their opinion he has, r. Joining his Church
taken an obligation 10 foreign To,entate which
be regards as paramount
Or II IL be an EpiscoPal.an, that he IS pro-
noting en- organization which contrary TO the
best interests CT the republic, is building up a
hierarchy with officials who are designated with
ont any aUthority-Bishop Of New-York or
Bishop q Washington-and who refuse all
afniauon with other religious bodies whom they
affect 10 look down on as non-conformists.
They might pe-chance find a Christian Scientist
whom they could charge with allowing his fam
!ly to perish for lack OF medical aid on account
r his religious convictions. and consequently as
not worthy OF a seat IN body which is the
elusive judge Of the qualifications OF its own
members. or the question might have been
raised 10 what part the Methodist Church
took IN the election OF Mckinley. and whether
any members Of the Senate had promoted 81 on
ecclesiastical grounds. and Il so. whether they
were not subject TO discipline
Up 20 the adoption Of the new code recently
the law was stn uurepeaied & the District OF
Columbia which furnished any doubt OF the
doctrine OF the Trinity with DEATH and Senators
Hoar and Morrin. Unitariaas, might have
been consigned TO she sergeant at arms for ex-
ecUtlon.
Hitherto ell religious questions have been
kept II not wholly out II politics, at least out Of
Congress, and Congress IS playing with fire II il
lets them In there. The fact that the Mormons
are IN a remote section Of the country and have
few friends does not change the character OF the
proceeding The inquiry should lie strictly linn
tied 10 the question whether Dir. SmOot has done
anything which legally dlsqualines him from
holding a seat In the Senate. and 10 amount Of
cIaluor religious zeal or feminine entreaty
ought to prevail upon that body TO 90 step
beyond that.
The point Is made that it VIII De shown that
Mr. Snoot IS so related 20 his Church that he Is
not free to vote according 20 his convictions.
and that that justiGes the inquiaition which Is
going in regard 20 Mormon church matters
but that IS dangerous ground to get on Sup
pose equally searching inquiry were made as 10
the relation CT Senators 10 certain corporations
and how free they are TO vote when their IN
terests are Involved. One Senator considers
/ himself bound BY the wishes Of his legislature
for which there is no law; another by the wishes
OF his Church: another by the direction OF imam
eial interests influential IN sending him Where
| les the difference?
II the Mormon Church and all who practise
polygamy are 70 be Investigated and proceeded
against law breakers. have nothing 10 say.
but Il should be done IN the courts. and not oy
a committee OF the Senate on a question OF the
qualifications OF a Senator.
CONSTITUTION.
washington. D. c. March .. 1904