Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1904-03-10
THE SMOOT INQUIRY.
The Senator'S Supporters Staggered
by President Smiths Testimony.
The SENATE NAY PROBE MORMOgISM
a Belief That . Commission May Ne APP
pointed TO visit Utah-Apostls Morrill,
said 10 Have Eight Wives and
1 4gg FoFty-Five Children.

washington, March Tit is now
Wanerally believed that senatorial in
iquiry into the relations which the
Mormon church holds to the United
States government IL inevitable and a
cOmmission may be appointed to visit
Utah. Many of the staunchest sup
pUrterS Of Reed Smoot have been stag
gered by the disclosures made by Jo-
seph r. Smith, head of the Mormon
church. Even those who had believed
themselves to be fairly well informed
regarding conditions In Utah were In
almost total ignorance Of many facts
which have been developed through the
rigid REORGANIZATION to which
President Smith has been subjected.
Senators, in common with all other
newspaper readers, knew that none of |
the IL apostles who had plural wives |
had abandoned them or their children.
But the stories which came from Salt |
Lake City regarding the continuance
at marriage relations and the birth OF |
children to plural wives were dis
credited as the gossip. Of agitators.
Following President Smith, seven apos-
lies will 30 examined.
The prosecution promises to be able
% prove that seven Of the Mormon
hierarchy have SO wives and that the
violations between these men and their
xamily have In no wise been changed,
although the laws Of Utah, passed by
. Mormon Legislature in absolute con-
trol OF the church had prescribed PEN
atty for polygamous cohabitation.
Al the beginning Of the Smoot In
Ouiry senate sympathy was with tho
senator, whose right to sit In that body
had been questioned. Local sympathy
vas proncuncedly with him. Smoot
has only one wife His manner and
bearing is that Of q gentleman. Every
ne who met him became his friend,
and there was natural prejudice
against the reformers who took the
initiative IN the effort to unseat him.
Vow Il 70 believed that nothing short
= senatorial inquiry to examine
lAoroughly into the AFFAIRS Of the Nor
M church and determine It's rala-
lsons to the government and state win
'ztisfy the people. Those who have
1nsely watched the Developments Of
y hearing confidently look for q pop
I'ar cutlery as soon a. the facts are d.
lrsted BY the public
The charge against smoot ID not that
= d polyeamist but that the hier-
rchy Of which he is q member teaches
Aat the church is above the state
thsrO should be q conflict between
- two could Reed smoot, az a sena-
.. Be guided by his oath Of oficef
Joseph +. Smith, head Of the church
'ade . most damaging admission when
. testified that he knew he had vio-
Itsd the laws Of bis state BY retaining
d polysamous relations, but he pre-
irred to risk the consequences rather
an abandon his plural wives and
'eir children. A liberal public senti-
Ient had not demanded that polyEa-
lists abandon their children or refuse
support their wives. but the rela-
'ns which smoot % earnestly de
nded have shocked the moral senti.
ent Of the country.
The relations Of the II apostles to
. church and 10 each other become a
subject Of congressional inquiry IN
~ Of the disclosures uhich have
"a made The order IN which he
. :. yin b Introduced has no,