The Savannah morning news., 1904-01-17
WILL PROBE DEEP
into SHOOTS CASE
COMMITTEE so DETERMINES
HEARING OF CHARGES AGAINST
THE UTAH MAN BEGAN.

for the Pedestrians Outlined What
They Expect to PrOve-His COun-
sci Maintain That SmOOt Has Led
a Blameless Life.
Washington Jan. 16.-The Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections
met to-day for the purpose of hearing
the representations of the attorneys
on both sides of the case involving the
right of Senator Smoot of Utah to oc-
cupy his seat.
Former Representative Tayler of
Ohio appeared for some of the pro-
testants and r. P. Stephenson for those
who are represented by the National
Reform Association. S. A. Worthing-
ton and Waldemar VanCott were pres
ent on behalf of Senator Smoot, who
also was in attendance.
The first presentation was made by
MI. Tayler, who began his statement
by saying he did not know that any
proof would be presented in support
of the charge that Mr.. Smoot was a
polygamist. Mr.. Tayler said the pro-
testants expected to prove the follow
ing charges:
THAT the Mormon priesthood as
sumes to exercise supreme authority
in all things temporal and spiritual,
civil and political; that they promul-
gate the doctrine of polygamy without
reservation that the president of the
Mormon Church and a majority of the
twelve apostles now practice polygamy
and polygamous oohabitation, and
some of them have taken polygamous
wives since the manifesto of 1890; plu-
raj marriage ceremonies have been
performed by apostles since the mani
festo of 1890, and many bishops and
other high officials of the church have
taken plural wives since that time"
Mr.. WOrthingtOn, in reply, laid down
the general proposition that the Sen
ate was without jurisdiction over Of
lenses which may have been commit
ted before a member became a sena-
tor, unless committed in connection
with his election.
Election Would Purify.
do you mean," asked Senator Pet
tus, a member of the committee, that
this body is not permitted to inquire
as to any moral quality Of one of Its
members with a view to his expul-
sion; that. no matter what he did, or
said, before his election, the election
purified him."
Mr.. Worthington replied that such
was his meaning. In reply to a ques-
tion from Senator Hopkins as to what
would be the effect if the offense
should be of a continuing character,
MIR. Worthington admitted that the
Senate would have jurisdiction.
Senator McComas asked whether
there was any one present who APP
peared for the person who charges Mr.
Smoot with being a polygamist.
No one answered, and Mr.. Worth
ington said that If any one did ap-
pear to support that charge it must
be borne in mind that Mr.. Smoot has
positively denied it.
Mr.. Warrington referred to the
charge that Mr.. Smoot took an oath
to support the church in connection
with his election in 1900 as an apostle
of the Mormon Church. The oath TAX
en- by Mr. Smoot as senator had been
declared, he said incompatible with
the former oath, "and," continued Mr.
Worthington, IF any one has proof
that this oath of allegiance to the
United States was taken with mental
reservation let it be produced" If
that charge could be supported, he
said, it would convict Mr.. Smoot Of
acting a lie.
Throw Down the Bars.
Mr.. VanCott made a statement in
Senator Shoots behalf. He invited
the fullest inquiry into Senator Shoots
life. I'VE throw down the bars he
said, "and invite you to investigate his
entire career"
IT." he went on, you find that he
has ever been guilty of any offense
against the laws. his counsel will
ha IL
also throw down the bars as to Mr..
Shoots moral character"
He denied that Senator Smoot had
ever taken an oath which was incon-
sistent with good citizenship.
Mr.. VanCott denied emphatically
that Senator Smoot had ever encour-
aged polygamous cohabitation. or any
other crime. He contended that if the
committee should decide to make its
investigation general, with reference to
the members of the Mormon church,
it should conflne itself to polygamy and
not to polygamous cohabitation, for the
reason that IL had been impossible, as
he believed, to entirely stamp out such
cohabitation on the part of persons
who had entered into polygamous
marriages before President Woodruff's
manifesto of 1890.
MOrmOns in POIygamy.
Senator Burrows. chairman of the
committee, asked Mr.. VanCott spe-
cifically concerning the charge that
the first president and the twelve apos-
ties OF the Mormon Church were to-
day living in the practice Of polygamy.
Mr.. VanCott said he understood and
believed that Joseph Smith, the presi-
dent of the church, was a polyga-
mist. AS for Messrs. Young and Win
der, his information was that they were
both monogamists.
With reference to the apostles, Mr..
VanCott said that 1t was his infOr-
nation that six or seven Of the twelve
are polygamists. but he added that
none of them are living in polygamous
cohabitation. He said they had lived
in obedience to the law since the issu-
ance of the Woodruff manifesto.
Mr.. VanCott said that where the as
sociates of Mr.. SmoOt had practiced
polygamy or violated laws their acts
would subject them to punishment, but
that would in no manner unfit Mr..
Smoot from qualifying as senator.
Mr.. Burrows asked Mr.. VanCott II his
answer would be the same IL 1t was
shown that Mr.. Smoot had knowledge
of the violations Of the laws of his
associates.
IF he had knowledge Of such viola
tons and encouraged them, then
would say Mr.. Smoot was disqualified
FOR service as senator" said Mr.. Van
Colt, for then he would have been