The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-17
WILL SMO01
Be OU S }. | {.
Senate Committee on Privileges.
and Elections Hears Charges
Against Him.
TIME ALLOWED FOR ANSWER MS !, 4: !.
Utal, Senator Counsel Admits Admits
Right Of Senate to Pass on
Qualification Of Members.
TIME ALLOWED FOR ANSWER.
.1I+,,, Senator's Counsel Admits
(By Associa ted Prcss.)


K WASHINGTON. Jan. 1.-THE senatle
Committee OH Privileges and Elections
met to-day for the purpose OF hearing
the representa- ions Of the attorneys on
both sides Of the case Involving the right
Of Senator smoot, of Utah, to occupy his
seat Former Representative Tayler. OF
Ohio appeared for some Of the Fro
testants, and r. r. Stephenson for Ma
tional Reform Association a. S. Worth
ington and Waldemar Van Colt we're
present on behalf OF Senator Smoot. VINO
also was in attendance.
The first presentation was made by ME-.
Tayler. who began his scheme by saying
that he did not know that any proof
would DO presented in support Of the
charge that Mr., smoot was q polya-
camist He took up tho question or the
right of the Senate to expel member,
contendine that the Scnate's authority
in tho matter is limited only by the
question of propriety. On the point OF
testimony Mr.. Tayler said the FRO
testnnts expected to prove the folloW-
ing charges: !.
! The Mormon priesthood, according to
Stho doctrine OF the church and the belief
e and nractice of its membership, Is vested
With and assumes to exercise supreme
authority in all things temporal ana
sn,rtual. civil and political. Tho head OF
tho church claims to receive divine reVc-
lotions, and these Reed Smoot by MS
covenants and obligations Is bound to &C
cept and obey.
. Tho first presidency and twelve
onostles OF whom Reed Smoot Is one,
are supreme In the exercise OF the nv
thority OF the church and III the trans
mission of that authority to their sue
ccssors. Each of them Is called prophct,
seer and revelator. -.
8 AS shown by their teaching ana ~
their own lives, this body or men mas .
at abandoned belief IN polygamy and
6polygamous cohabltation. On inc con-
tray: .,.,.,o e +ho
ohnrch they promulgnte In tho most
so,en,n manner tho doctrine OF polygamy
without reservation.
IN Tho president of the Mormon
Church and majority OF the tweiNu
anostles now practice polygamy ana ,po'
ivrnnou cohabitation, and some OF mem
Snve taken polygamous wives; since me
ynninifesto of 1890 those Things nay pce1l
Innn with tho knowledge and counto-
Vance of Reed Smoot; plural marriage
ceremonies have been performed by apps,
tIes sinco the manifesto of lSSo, ana
MANY bishops and other high officials OF
the church hayc taken plural wives snco
thot time. All OF tho first presidency
md The twelve apostles encourage cotl''
tenance, conceal and conniYe at. polSsh-
my and polygamous cohab,tation uha
honor and reward with high Office and
Distinguished preferment those VINO most
nersistently and deflpntly violate the law
OF the land. a. o. "a
statehood and bound by the lazy OF thelr
Commonwealth, this supreme pody,
whose voice Is law TO Its people and
whose members were individually direct
" responsible for good faith 70 me
American people, permitted, without pro-
test or objection, their legislators to
mass a law multiplying the statute against
tpolygamous Capitalization, For all these
things Reed smoot Is responsible IN law
ana in conscience to this body ana 10
the American people,
II connection with tho third speclflca-
| ton. Mr.. Tayler gave a list Of the docu7
ments recognized by the Mormon
Church as inspired. In this list he dld
not include the manifesto of 1880 sus-
bending the command to take plural
wives. but he contended that this mant-
festo does not prohibit polgamY, lie
also declared trats the doctrines and
4 h,trn % hu