The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-03-20

What WIN be Mr.. Shoots fate IL he
declines to take this course In as yet
an open question. There are some In
dlcations that majority OF the COM
mittec is opposed 10 retention OF him
on the rolls of the senate. II IL doubt
less true at the same time that prob
ably a majority Of the committee have
not yet made up their minds and viii
not do 30 until the whole case Is heard.
One republicas member OF the COM
mlttee said 10 me that he was wholly
convinced that Smoot should not he
permitted to remain In the senate.
He admitted there was nothing against
Smoot OF direct personal character.
He was not a poIygami9t. He had not
countenanced polygamous relations by
any positive act or expression. but
negatively he had countenanced viola
tions OF law, thought this senator
He had associated constantly with the
hierarchy. Il majority OF whom were
known TO everyone to be living In po-
lygamous relations. Smoot must have
known OF these facts. BY example
and association at least he was giving
approval TO crime
III man were a member OF club
or society, majority Of whom were
known 10 be counterfeiters, for exam
ple." said this senator would there
be any question about our permitting
him to hold n seat in the United States
senate? II would do no good for him
to plead that he was not a counter
felter himself and that he had not in
uuired into the private life OF his as
sociates. II every one else in the
community knew these men were law
breakers, he should know II and gov
ern himself accordingly. II he comes
here on his oath and says he did not
know, and that he abhors such things
and sewers his connection with these
Objectionable and unlawful associates
he may be pardoned. But in my
opinion, not on any other ground"
Members OF the committee who are
dispo ie1 to take a favorable view Of
Smoot's case say II is true a majority
OF the apostles are living with plural
wives, but that Is an offense which
must be Differentiated from any ordi-
naiy crime. like counterfelting. One
Of these senator's, also republican,
remarked that he would have mighty
little respect for man who was
caught with number of wives on
his hands, relies Of the old days, and
who failed to stand by them and live
with them afterwards, no matter what
the laws were. He added that II
there was such q thing In the world as
a moral crime, his was one. and it
could not be justly regarded as harsh
ly as many good people are In the
habit Of regarding It. ut seems to
me-" saiA this senator, shat the evi-
dence 30 far adduced shows that the
old men Of the church are nearly all
polygamists now, because they were
polygamlsts under the ancient regime.
But the younger Mormons are not po-
lygamists and as the old men die the
evil will disappear. Smoot is COM
paratively an young man; he is not
So far as we know his
life is correct in all its particulars. 1t
Is pretty hard to ask US to declare
that he cannot sit in the senate be-
cause some of his elder associates,
relics OF the Old days, are continuing
he relations contracted many years
ago. 1t seems to me this is a case in
which little charity and forbearance
should be exercised. If we deny !,
5moot the right to keep his seat, It |
(Continued nr1 page Fourl