Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-01-13
WITH THE LAWMAKERS
What The Two Houses Of Congress
Are Doing.

Wnat ne lWO liOaSSS Va
Are Doing
The response Of Senator Reed
Smoot, Of Utah, to the charges made
against him was presented to the Sen
ate committee Saturday. 1t was agreed
that at the regular meeting of the
committee to be held next Saturday
the attorney for Mr. Smoot and also
for the petitioners should be heard.
They will be expected to show prece-
dents and authorities and after they
shall have made their presentation
the committee will decide whether to
go farther into the matter by calling
witnesses or dispose of it on the show
ing which will then have been made.
Mr.. Smoot submits in answer to
charges against him the following:
This respondent is advised and
AYERS that but two of the charges
made against him in said protests,
either directly or by implication, are
such as, if true, could legally aTect
his right to hold his seat IN the Senate.
These two charges are:
81. That the respondent is o polyg-
amist.
go. That he is bound by some oath
or obligation which is inconsistent
with the oath required by the constl-
tuition, which was administered to him
before he took his seat as a Senator.
Both these charges respondent de-
nies.
AS to the charges that he is
polygamist, the respondent says that
he was married September II, 1884, to
Alpha May Eldridge. She is still his
wife and is the mother Of all his
children, He has never had any other
wife and has never .6ohabited with any
other woman.
"As to the charge that the respond
ent is bound by some oath or obliga-
ton controlling his duty under his
cath as Senator, the respondent says
that he has never taken such oath, OF
in any way assumed any such obllga-
ton. He holds himself bound to obey
and uphold the constitution and laws
of the United States, including the
condition in reference to polygamy,
upon which the State Of Utah was ad-
mitted into the Union.
"The respondent denies that he is
one Of said alleged self-perpetuating
bodies of fifteen men, or that there is
any such body of men, or that the Iol-
lowers or members Of the Church OF
Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, or
any of them, accord the right to SAID
alleged body to claim supreme au-
thority. either divineiy sanctioned or
otherwise, to shape the belief or con-
troll the conduct Of those under them
in all or any matters, civil or tenn
poral. or that said church OF such al
legged body or any person or body ex-
crcises any authority or power to IN
culcate CT encourage aNbellef IN the
n.ac'ce of polvgamy or belief in or
practice OF polygamy or belief in or
y.actice OF polygamous cohabitatlon.
or that either countenances or con.
ni..-es at any violation of the laws OF
the STATE of Utah or of the United
States and this respondent for himself
in particular denies that he is one OF
said alleged self-perpetuating body OF
fifteen men, or that there is any such
body, or that said church or any part
thereof or person therein inculcates
or encourages . belief in the practice
OF nolygamy or belief in or practice OF
polygamous cohabitation, and this re-
spondent denies that he is guilty of
polygamous cohabitation, or that he
is a polygamist, or that he ever has
been a polygamist, or that he has ever
practiced polygamous cohabitation.
Mr.. Smuot denied that he has ever
connived at any violation OF any law
of Utah or Of the United States, and
declares that "since the manifesto OF
President Wilford Woodruff was is
sued in 1890, neither belief in, nor
a practice of polygamy or polygamous
cohabitation has either been taught or
encouraged"
The House was in session but II
minutes Thursday. Mr. Hemenway,
chairman of the committee on appro-
priations, obtained unanimous consent
that that one hour be devoted at the
opening of Fridays session to the con-
sideration Of a bill amending the act
appropriating S500,000 for the eradica-
cation OF foot and mouth disease
among cattle, so as to make S250,OO0
ol that amount available to meet the
emergency caused by the Mexican bool
weevil. The bill was favorably report
ed today. The House adjouned.