The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-09
.SMOOI ANSWERS
BIS ASSAILANTS
These two
Continued from First Page.

his seat in the senate. These two
charges are:
.First-That the respondent is
polygamist.
oath or obligation which is incon-
sistent with the oath required by the
constitution, which was administered
to him before he took his seat as a
senator.
.'Both these charges respondent de-
MES.
'"The respondent says he was mar
ried on the 18th day of September.
1884, to Alpha May Eldridge, who is
still his wife, and the mother of al,
his children. He has never had any
other wife, and has never cohabited
with any other woman.
Bound by No Oath.
GAS to the charge that the respond
ent is bound by some oath or obliga-
ton controlling his duty under his
oath as senator, the respondent says
that he has never taken any such oath.
Not One of Fifteen
"The respondent denies that he is
one of a self perpetuating body Of fif-
teen men or that there is any such
body of men to whom the members
ter Day Saints accord the right to
shape the belief or control the con-
duct of those under them.
He denies that the church or said
alleged body either inculcates belief
in the practice of polygamy or con-
hives at any violation Of the laws Of
the state Of Utah or of the United
States; or that the church either pro-
tects or hOnors persons who may be
guilty of said alleged practices or any
practice destructive of the family or
| the home.
Honors Laws of Nation.
'tf;e alleges he honors and respects
and obeys all of the laws of the state
Of Utah and of the United States. and
has never been guilty of any offense
aga INST either.
"Moreover, he says that since The
manifesto Of President WilfcSd Wood
ruff, issued in 1890, polygamy has
not been taught or encouraged
Mr.. Smoot admits he is director
of Brigham Young's academy, but
says he is not familiar with details.
He agrees that the home is the
| basic institution upon whose purity
| and perpetuity rests the very govern
ment itself, and alleges that he has a
sacred regard for the station Of sena-
| tor and for it's duties.
| Concerning the political significance
of his election Mr.. Smoot says he an
nounced he would be candidate be-
fore on his own judgment.
| THE democratic papers opposing
his candidacy stated that a vote for
the republican ticket meant just th5t
much toward his selection as repub-
lic&n United States senator. Mem
bers of the legislature were nominated
| and elected on this issue, and he was
chosen by a large majority as a re-
publican. Most of the Gentle repub-
lican Legislators voted for him, and
all of the democratic Mormon legisla-
tors opposed his nomination.
~ Books of the Church.
He denies that the first presidency
or twelve apostles are supreme in the
exercise of the alleged mandates. He
says the only accepted standard works
of the church are the Bible, the Book
Of Mormon, the "Pearl Of Great
Price and the Doctrine and Cove
nants,' together with the manifesto
of President MILFORD Woodruff, dated
1890. So far as quotations are made
from any Of the foregoing and cor
! rectly quoted; the respondent makes
no complaint, but he denies the con-
struction placed on them by the
Protestants.
It is admitted that the Mormon
church made a rule in regard to its
leading officials taking part in poll
tics, but denied that this rule Is fully
or correctly set forth in the protest.
In reference to the deposing Of Moses
Thacher from the twelve apostles and
his defeat by the church in his con-
test for the senatorship in the legis-
lature, the respondent denies that the
defeat was due to his opposition to
the rule of the church.
He admits that remarks were made
by George @. Cannon, MILFORD Wood
ruff. Lorenzo Snow, John Henry
Smith, Brigham Young and Joseph
Smith on the subject Of such deposi-
ton, but denies that such remarks are
correctly quoted in the protest.