Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-09
SHOOTS RESPONSE
Utah Senator Denies the
Charges Against Him.
Is NOT A POLYGAMIST
DECLARES THAT HE HAS vIo-
LATED NO LAWS.
Asserts That He Has Taken No Oath
Controlling His Duty or As
sumed Any Obligation.
rs NOT A POLYGAMIST

NOntXOlAAu& lib Dusy "a 49,
sumed ANY Obligation.
The response of Senator Reed Smoot
Of Utah to the charges made against MIN
was presented to the Senate committee
On privileges and elections today by SEN
ator Burrows, chairman of that commit
tee The document was in printed form.
and the members of the committee did
not 60 through the formality OF reading
it during the session. 1t was agreed
that at the regular meeting of the COM
mittee, to be held next Saturday, the at
torneys for Mr.. Smoot and also for the
petitioners should be heard. John G.
Carlisle of New York, formerly Secretary
of the Treasury, and R. w. Taylor, for
merly a representative in Congress from
Ohio, will appear for the prosecution,
while Mr.. Smoot will be represented by
Messrs. A. 9. Worthington of this city
Waldemar Van Colt OF Utah and w. E.
Borah of Idaho The attorneys will be
heard as to the merits of the case as al
ready presented. They will be expected
to show precedents and authorities. and
after they shall have made their preSen-
tation the committee will decide whether
to go farther into the matter by calling
witnesses or dispose of 1t on the showing
which will then have been made.
Senator Shoots statement.
Mr. Shoots statement follows:
This respondent is advised and AYERS
that but two of the charges made against
him in said protests. either directly or by
Implication are such as. If true, could
legally affect his right to hold his seat
in the Senate. These two charges are:
81. That the respondent Is poiyga-
mist.
a. That he Is bound by some oath or
obligation which is inconsistent with the
oath required by the Constitution, which
his seat as senator.
Both these charges respondent denies.
Not Polygamist.
"As to the charge that he is polygamist.
the respondent says that he was married
on the 18th day of September. 1884, to
Alpha May Eldridge. She Is still his wife
and is the mother of all his children. He
has never had any other wife and has
rever cohabited with any other woman.
''As to the charge that the respondent Is
bound by some oath or obligation contron-
ing his duty under his oath as senator,
the respondent says that he has never
taken any such oath, or In any way as
sumed any such obligation. He holds MIN
self bound to obey and uphold the Consul
tuition and laws Of the United States, IN
Guiding the condition In reference 10 poiys-
amy upon which the state Of Utah was ad-
mitted into the Union.
1.-THE respondent now moves to strike
out and eliminate, separately, from SAID
protest, each and every matter and thlns
therein contained, except the two charges
above mentioned.
''While the respondent Is advised and
AYERS that the other matters referred to
In said protests are such as cannot legaiiy
or properly be considered as affecting the
right OF the respondent to retain nus sea- IA
the Senate, nevertheless the respondent
now proceeds to answer the same, submit
ting the question Of the relevancy OF the
"a me not waving his said motion, but IN
s1sung thereon
Other Allegations Denied.
1.-THE respondent denies that he Is one OF
said alleged self perpetuating body OF M
teen men, or that there Is any such BODY OF
men; or that the followers or members OF
the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day
Saints. or any Of them, accord the right 70
said alleged body to claim supreme author1-
ty, either divinely sanctioned or otherwise.
to shape the belief or control the conduct OF
those under them in all or any matters, civil
or temporal, or that said church or sucn
alleged body claims or otherwise exercises
any such alleged rights: or that SAID
church, or said alleged body OF men, or
either of them, unite. either in one body or
in all of them. the authority OF church ana
state. or Of the state; or that said church,
or said alleged body. or any person or BODY.
so or at all as to inculcate or encourage
belief in the practice OF polygamy or belief
in or practice OF polygamous cohabitation,
or that either countenances or connlves az
any violation Of the laws of the state or
Utah or Of the United States. either re-
CARELESS of pledges, or pledge. or otherwise
at all. either made for the said al
legged purpose. or otherwise. or at all,
or of any covenants. or covenant, or
otherwise, either made with the people OF
the United States or any other person or
body; or that said church. Or any person or
body, by all or any means whatsoever.
either protects or honOrs persons, or any
person. who Is or may be guilty of said al
legged practices. or any practice. either de-
structivs OF the family or the home or
otherwise; or that said alleged body, or any
guilty Of any OF said alleged practices: and
this respondent for himself In particular
denies that he is one Of said alleged self
perpetuating body of fifteen men, or that
there Is any such body; or that said church,
or any part thereof. or any person therein,
inculcates or encourages a belief in the
practice OF polygamy or belief In or practice
of polygamous cohabitation; and this re-
spondent denies that he is guilty of polyg-
amous cohabitation: or that he is a polyga-
mist, or that he ever has been polygamlst,
or that he has ever practiced polygamous
cohabitation.
"This respondent further denies that he
has ever countenanced or connived at any
violation of any law, either of the state
+ of Utah or Of the United States; or that
he has ever protected or honored any per-
son or persons who may have violated the
laws of the land. And this respondent de-
MES that he Is guilty of any practices, or
any practice. destructive either of the fam
fly or the home.
obeys All the Laws.
ION the contrary. this respondent alleges
that 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 against either And
this respondent further alleges that the
president Of said church and his two coun-