Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-01-13

This respondent further denies that he|
has ever countenanced or connived at any
violation of any law, either of the statei
Of Utah or of the United States; or that
son or persons who may have violated the
laws of the land. And this respondent de-;
MES that he is guilty of any practices, Or
any practice, destructive either of the
family or the home On the contrary. this
respondent alleges that he honors and REL
spects and obeys all Of the laws of the,
state Of Utah and of the United States and
has never been guilty OF any offense against
either. And this respondent further alleges
that the president OF said church and his,
two counsellors constitute the first resi-,
dency and is the highest governing body IN
said church, and the same has control Of
the spiritual and temporal affairs OF said
church, but not OF the temporal affairs
said church; that the next highest govern
ing body IN said church IS the twelve
apostles, consisting Of twelve members OF
Of the first presidency and said apostles.
on the dissolution OF the first @presidenEyt
for any reason whatsoever. then and mot
otherwise have authority equal to such frst
presidency.
Polygamy Not Believed In.
manifesto Of Presdent Wiford Woo
was issued In 1880, neither belief In, nor
a practice Of poiygamy or polygamons CO.
habitation has either been taught or en-
couraged.
.Ir Smoot admits that the first presi
dency of the Mormon church is vested
with supreme authority in AL things spir-
itual and in all things temporal so far as
temporal things pertain to the affairs OF
the church. He denies that the first
presidency or twelve apostles are supreme
in the exercise of the alleged mandates.
He says the only accepted standard
works Of the church are the Bible, name
w. King James version the Book OF
Mormon. the Pearl of Great Price and
the Doctrine and Covenants. together
with the manifesto Of President Milford
Woodruff dated 1890. So far as quota
going and correctly quoted. the respond
ent makes no complaint. but he denies
the construction placed on them by the
Protestants
Politics Not Prohibited
1t is admitted that the Mormon church
made a rule in regard to it's leading Of
ficials taking part in politics. but denies
that this rule is fully or correctly set
forth in the protest. IL, In reference to the
Twelve Apostles and his defeat by the
church in his contest for senatorship in
the Legislature, the respondent denies
that the defeat was due to his opposition
to the rule of the church. He admits
that remarks s:,1 We're made by George 9;
w
Snow, John Henry Smith, Brigham
Young and Joseph Smith on the subject
Of deposition, but denies that such re-
marks are correctly quoted in the pro-
test.
Mr. Smoot.alleges that since the mani
festo of President MILFORD Woodruff of
1890 the practice Of polygamous CO.
habitation by those who were polyg-
amists Heretofore had been abandoned
by many. but continued by some for
time, and where continued it is on the
sole responsibility of such persons and
subject to the penalties of the law.
Mormons Against Polygamy.
1t is denied that any body of officials
either practices or connives at polygamy
or that Mr.. Snoot or any body of of
6cials sought TO pass law multiplying en-
ton. 1t is admitted that such a law
did pass the Utah Legislature in 1901.
but that many of the Mormon members
voted against the bill and that it was
vetoed by the governor and the veto was
sustained by the Legislature. a large
majority of which We're members of the
Mormon church. Mr.. Smoot admits the
charge that he is n director of
Brigham Young academy. but alleges
that he is not familiar with de-
tails Of the employment of instructors.
Hold the Home Sacred.
The charge that Mr.. Smoot from the
high station Of United States senator
would wage war upon the home is denied
in strong terms. He agrees that the home
is the basic Institution upon whose purity
and perpetuity rests the very government
itself. and he alleges that he has as
sacred a regard for the station Of senator
end for its duties as has any of the
Protestants or the most loyal citizen. He
admits that the enjoyment Of the priv
eges Of statehood must depend OH the
observance of the sacred compact upon
which statehood was secured also that
the rights thereby granted are not inalien-.
able. but denies that he is or ever will be
untitled to make any law.
Significance of His Election.
Concerning the political significance OF
bis election as United States senator.
Mr. Smoot says that in May, 1902, lie
announced he would be a candidate be-
fore the Legislature to be next elected
and that such declaration was Of his own
Judgment. Continuing, he says:
That the Democratic papers In the state
of Utah, opposing the candidacy of This
prominent headlines and in strong editorials
that vote for the Republican ticket meant
just that much toward the selection OF this
respondent as the next Republican United
States senator from the state of Utah; that
the members Of the Legislature were nomi-
mated and elected on the issue and your re-
spondent was the choice. by large ma
jority of such Legislature as the Republican
United States senator from the state Of
Utah and most Of the gentle Republican
Legislature voted for this respondent for
such Office. At the same time all Of the
Democratic Mormon legislators opposed his
nOmina ton to such office and voted for an
other candidate.