Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-28
MI. Worthington Closes.


held today. Mr.. Worthington, counsel for
Judge Tayler closed the case for the prot
estantS, instead of eX-Secretary Carlisle
as expected.
Mr. Worthington discussed the political
rule of the church, which, he declared
meant nothing beyond the fact that Nor
mon shall not remain high officer of the
church, under certain circumstances, with
out the consent of the church, Or. in other
words. he must resign his ch6rch position
to run for political Office if the church
thinks he cannot perform the duties of
both offices.
He took Judge Tayler to task for his
statement that a man who prays for the
counsel of his Creator is untitled to hold a
seat in the Senate.
The decrease in the number of polyga-
mists was discussed at length. and Mr.
Worthington reviewed great deal of testi-
meny on that subject to show that it is the
concensus of opinion among Mormons and
Gentiles that within a>few years the prac-
tice will entirely disappear. He declared
that in all the mass of testimony offered
only one plural marriage had been proved
since the manifesto, and that case In
Mexico, where it was not shown that the
man performing the ceremony had been in
formed that the contracting husband had
another wife. +"
1T appeared" said Mr. Worthington
that Apostle Taylor has taken plural
wives since the manifesto. though no proof
Is offered, and l will say that Senator
Smoot and his counsel went to the Dresid ant
of the church and told him Taylor should
be produced Witness
Mr.. WOrthington closed with the state
ment that great deal has been said about
the matter of the protection of the home,
which was said to be the real reason for
the prosecution of Senator Smoot IF this
is true, l contend" said Mr.. Worthington
that Mr.. Smoot should retain his seat, be-
90 hney hanr ~l,n {l,x
seled nothing but good and Gentiles who
voted for him did SO because they knew he
believed in upholding the laws of the land
and that he led pure lffe.'
Judge Tayler Replies.
Judge Tayler. in closing the arguments
made no effort to follow any particular line
of argument, but he declared that Mr..
Worthington had misinterpreted his re-
marks on the subject of revelations. He
stated his position anew, but followed
practically the same line in his opening
statement of the case. Mr.. Worthington
had talked at length of the effect of the
divine order to have been the result of the
"policeman's club the manifesto having
been issued at time when the country was
stirred by the Roberts investigation.
He devoted nearly his entire time to an
swering Mr.. Worthington. No new argu-
ments were advanced.
Alleged Inconsistency.
At the afternoon session yesterday Mr..
Van Coot discussed the Inconsistency of the
ator Smoot. He said that E. B. Critchlow
was in the convention that nominated the
candidates for the legislature, which elect
ed Smoot and sthat Critchlow opposed
Smoot at that time, but afterward took the
stump in behalf of the candidates he had
opposed in the convention. Later, said
Mr.. Van Cott, Mr.. Critchow drew the pro-
test against Smoot and has fought him
since.
The question of religion classes was dis
cussed by Mr.. Van Cott, and he showed
that the state superintendent, Mormon,
had objected to the school houses being
used for that purpose, and that a Gentle
attorney general had given an opinion that
their use was in accordance with law, but
that recently the church officials had ls-
sued an order that classes taught in the
public school buildings should be abon-
doned.
Justification for the Mormon Church en-
gaging in business was offered by Mr.. Van
Cott by a citation of the case of Trinity
Church in New York, one that owns a
vast amount of property.
Reasons why Mr.. Smoot should retain his
seat were given by Mr. VanCott, including
the following:
That Smoot could not have secured the
legislature without the aid of the Gentle
voters; that he opposed the Evans bill.
which was vetoed by the governor; that he
encouraged the state superintendent in
driving religion classes out of the public
schools and that he was not polygamist.
He then made the declaration that If Mr..
Smoot should be unseated it would solidify
the Mormons more than ever
Mr. Worthington Opens.
Mr.. Worthington followed for Senator
Smoot discussing particularly the ques-
ton of the endowment ceremonies, and the
oaths taken. He combated the charge
that there was an oath taken evidencing
disloyalty to the government He spoke
for nearly two hours.
After taking up the endowment question
Mr.. Worthington reviewed the testimony
on that subject and protested against a
rule of the committee which denied to
witnesses the privilege Of stating that
they had not taken oaths of disloyalty un-
less they proceeded to give the entire cere-
mony.
On the subject of polygamy Mr.. Worth
ington said that the manifesto prohibited
only new plural marriages, and that lawyers
would so interpret it. Two years later
when President Woodruff interpreted the
manifesto as applying to poIygamous CO.
habitation. said Mr.. Worthington, all per-
sons in Utah were Of the sentiment that
that when Utah was admitted to statehood
1t was agreed that there should be no new
plural marriages without the consent OF
Congress, but that Congress left the SUBJ
ject of polygamous cohabitation to be regu-
Ia fad ha haa lof fr,t 4 th,