Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-08
The Investigation of the Smoot
Charoes,

The Senate investigation Of tn"
charges against Senator Smoot of Utah
has established the fact that President
Smith of the Mormon church is a
polygamist. who lives in absolute de-
f.ance of the laws. 1t has also brought
out the fact that there has been, since
the manifesto of President Woodruff
in 1890, q gradual falling off of the
number of polygamOus families in the
state of Utah. At the time of Presi-
dent Woodruff's manifesto. there were
death, removals and divorces. this
number has been reduced to S9.. the
great majority Of whom are said TO DE
Of advanced age, having entered into
their pOlygamous relations many years
ago under the old conditions. IL Is
eI idcnt, therefore. that if this rate II
decrcas" continues a few years longer
polygamy will die out Of its own ac-
cord. President smith declares en-
phaticaily that the Mormon church n"
longer sanction plural marriages, put
he believes that the men who contract
ed such marriages. under the oid-iiihe
conditions, are Under solemn obll-
cations to care for their families. IN
this he is only partially right. lhcie
i, no rcuuirCment on the part OF the
American people that men VINO con-
tract such marriages should fail to
support their fatalities. There Is L
strong conviction, however. That every
citizen of the republic is bound 10 obey
its laws and that men VINO continue
10 practice pOlygLm"us re'atiohs Iii
defiance of all laws III the llagrant
manner confessed To by President
Saith. should be severely punished for
their transgressions.
The people OF this country are dis
pos.d 10 be- brnal and charitable, but
they are also just. and when President
smith admits that H. has had eleven
children born of polygamous mar
,iapes. since the manifesto of 1880, he
forfeits all claim to the respect and
sympathy of his couhtrymcn, ana
stanIs befOr" them a Self-confess"d
criminal. with nothing to palliate his
offense.
All this l.; interesting as it applies to
Pre- sident smith. who thus far appears
10 have been the real man on trial 1t
is dilticuit TO see however, just how it
all applies to Senator Smoot, who is not
ana lever has been Il polygamiSt: II Is
possible that his opponents hope, by
stirring up popular prejudice against
President Smith ana the Mormon
church in general. to make it possible
to deprive Senator Smoot of his seat In
Congress. bat the only ground upon
which this could possibly be done would
he to show that Senator Smoot has tax
cn all oath as Il member of the United
States Senate which is in violation of
uuiitmri.ts he would be unable, as Il
lnyal member Of the Mormon church.
to fulfil. This is denied by both Presi-
dent smith and Senator SmoOt and
while some testimony has been adduced
to show that such is the fact. it is by no
means as yet conclusive. 1t must be
re,?i-mberCd that we have thus far
heard only one side Of this case. and it
may be well. before forming definite
conc lusions as to its real merits so far
as Mr.. Smoot is involved. to hear what
the other side has to offer. The cOnsti-
tuition Of the United States provides
that Congress shall make no law re-
spe, ting the establishment of religion
Of 1t is evident. therefore. that 4 YER
diet against senator Smoot based who'll
" upon religious grounds would be in
great danger of being reversed by the
supreme court Of the United States.
Senator Smoot declares emphatically
that he is as free to follow the dictates
of his own conscience and the prompt
ings of his own judgment in his senate
rial career as any other member OF That
body. As he has violated no law, it is
difficult to see how he could be made
personally responsible for the short
comings of President Smith, or any of
tn" other older members of the Mormon
church. 1t may be well, however to re-
serve final Judgment OH the whole dues-
ton until the evidence is all in. and the
public is in position to view the Situa-
:ion in ali it's bearings.
N,riouc State CanitOlc