The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-10
Il am Not a PoIygamist, I"
He Ayers.
NO OATH BINDS NE
He Declares That His Church Has
Not ShackIed His Mind With
Promises That Would Pre-
vent His 0beying Our
Constitution.
(By the Associated Press.l

|
Washington. D. c. Jan. 9.-The response
OF Senator Reed Smooth, of Utah, to the
charges made against him was presented
| to the Senate Committee on PRIVILEGES
and Elections today b. Senator Burrows.
chairman of that committee. 1t was
agreed that at the regular meeting OF
the committee, to be held next Saturday,
the attorneys for Mr.. Smoot and also for
the petitioners should be heard. They
will be expected to show precedents and
authorities and after they shall have made
their presentation the committee will de
eide whether to go farther into the mat
ter by calling witnesses or dispose of it
on the showing which will then have
! been made.
| Mr.. Smoot submits in answer to charges
against him the following:
This respondent iB 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:
| Il. That the respondent is a polygam-
| ist.
''2. That he is bound by some oath or
obligation which is inconsistent with the
oath required by the Constitution, which
was administered to him before he took
| his seat as Senator.
Both these charges respondent denies.
GAS to the charge that lie is polyg
amist, the respondent says that he was
married on the 18th day of September
1854, to Alpha May Eldridge. Sha is sui
his wife, and is the mother of all mis- cnl.
dren, He has never had any other wife,
and has never cohabited with any other
| woman.
las to the charge that the respondent
/ is bound by some oath or obligation con
/ trolling his duty under his oath as q
Senator, the respondent says that he mas
never taken any such oath, or in anyway
assumed any such obligation. He holds
himself bound to obey and uphold the
Constitution and laws of the United
States, including the condition in refer
ence to polygamy upon which the State
of Utah was admitted to the Union.
| 1.-The respondent denies that he is one
OF said alleged self-nnr',o+.-- ting body OF
| fifteen 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 to said alleged body to
GLAZING supreme authority, either divinely
| sanctioned or otherwise; TO shape the )e
| lief or control the conduct of those nm
der them in all or any matters, civil or
| temporal or that said church or such
alleged body claims or otherwise exercises
any such alleged rights or that said
church or said alleged body, or any per-
son or body exercises any authority or
power to inculcatc or encourage a be
lief in the practice of polygamy or be-
lief in or practice of polygamous cohabi-
atom, or that either countenancec or
connives at any violation of the laws
Of the State of Utah or of the United
States, and this respondent for himself
in particular denies that he is one of
said self-perpetuating body of fifteen men,
or that there is any such body; or that
said church or any part thereon, or any
person therein, inculcatcs or encourages
belief in the practice or polygamy or
belief in or practice of polygamous CO.
habitation and this respondent denies
that he is guilty of polygamous cohabita-
ton; or that he is a polygamist or that
he ever has been a polygamist, or that
he has ever practiced polygamous cohabi-
tation.
Mr. Smoot denies that he has ever con-
nived at any violation of any law OF
Utah or the United States, and declares
that 'since the manifesto of President
MILFORD Woodruff was issued in 1890,
neither belief in nor practice of, poly
gamy or polygamous cohabitetion has
either been taught or encouraged
Mr.. Smoot admits that the first presi-
dency of the Mormon church is vested
with supreme authority In all things
spiritual and in all things temporal SO
far as temporal things pertain to the at
fairs of the church. He denies that the
first presidency or twelve apostles are
supreme in the exercise of the alleged
mandates.
It is admitted that the Mormon church
made a rule in regard to its leading off
Gals taking part in politics, but denied
that this rule is fully or correctly SET
forth in the protest.
| Mr.. Smoot alleges that since the mani
| festo of President MILFORD Woodruff OF
| the practice of polygamous cohabitation
| by those who were polygamists therefore
has been abandoned by many, but con
| tirued by some for a time. and where
continued it is ON the sole responsibility
J OF such persons and is subject to tie
penalties of the law.
| 1t is denied that anybody of officials
either practices or connives at polygamy
or that Mr.. Smoot or any body of Off
| Gals sought to pass law multiplying en-
actments against polygamous cohabita-
ton 1t is admitted that such a law
did pass the Legislature in 1901 but that
many of the Mormon members voted
against the bill and that it was vetoed
by the governor.
The charge that Mr.. Smoot from the
high station OF United States Senator
would wage war upon the home is DO
ned in strong terms. He agrees tha.
the home is the basic institution unon
whose purity and perpetuity rests the
very government itself, and he ALLEGES
that ne has as sacred a regard for fbe
station of Senator and for its duties as
has any OF the Protestants or the most
loyal citizen.