The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-24
DRAWING TO A CLOSE
SHOOT INQUIRY WILL BE ENDED
 THIS WEEK.
The Senator and Other Witnesses De- cline to Reveal the Secrets of the Endowment House
 Ceremony.

l ~-e Washington, Jan. 23.---The Senate investigation into the protests against l Senator Reed Shoot will be closed this week The oross-examination of the respondent terminated earlier than ex- pected and several other witnesses for l the defense were examined. It was an nounced just before adjournment of | the Committee on Privileges and Elec- tions today that only a few more wit nesses would be put on the stand. Ex- cept for some documentary evidence the investigation may conclude tomor- row. Chairman Burrows remarked that 1t was necessary to get through with the arguments this week as MT Tayler, counsel for the protcstants will assume his duties as Federal Judge In Ohio Tuesday next. The ss-examination of Senator Shoot resulted in an absolute refusal to testify in regard to the endowment ceremonies. He also asserted that it was not his business to call to account President Smith of the Mormon Church because Mir. Smith had admitted to the Committee that he was living in vlo- lation of the laws of the land. Three other witnesses refused to divulge the character of the endowment ceremo- ntes.
 Chairman Burrows inquired of Sem ator Shoot:
 If there Is any method by which the President of the Church may be deposed?"
 If he should engage in any unchris- tian like act that would unfit him for his place he could be tried the same as any other member of the church and if found guilty he may be removed"
 nr1 hD ,H paA dent Smith that he Is living In de- fiance of the laws of the landT
 "Yes, sir."
 And that he Is also living In de- hance of the divine lawr
 ''Yes, sir; and I heard the qualifica- tions he made."
 ..Has the church proceeded against him because of his violations of the laws?"
 Tt has not"
 Has there been any attempt to try him because he Is living in polygamous co-habitation?'
 There has not.''
 Did you see him after he testified before this CommitteeG"
 The Senator said he had seen the President of the Church both in Wash ington and in Utah after this testi- mony and had made no protest to him concerning his manner of living
 You have not sought to bring him to trial in any manner?' asked the Chairman.
 T have not"
 'Do you intend tor
 T do not"
 How many children do you under stand President Smith has had since the manifesto?"
 Eleven, I believe"
 With full knowledge of his testi- mony you voted to sustain him at the conference last October?'
 "I did,
 As the Chairman started to take up another line of inquiry Senator Smoot said:
 If that Is all you desire to ask me on that subject I want to say that the manifesto as voted on by the people had no reference to unlawful co-habi- tation. Two years later President Woodruff interpreted 1t as prohibiting polygamous co-habitation and an- nounced that he intended to obey that interpretation and at the same time he advised the people to obey 1t but the prohibition of unlawful co-habitatiop has never been presented to the people. It has never been sustained at con- ference. There may have been some, NhVAOAOASg WhO, AOt ludN TdSOh HdNO IlOL regarded 1t as binding. After the manifesto was issued there was dlspo- sition among all classes to tolerate the old conditioiN as the easiest and quick est way to put n stop to the practice of polygamy. I believe the question will be solved by the people of Utah just as soon as death removes these polygamists.
 Senator Smoot said that he was not sustaining Smith. except as president of the church and that 1t was not his duty as an officer of the law or as | citizen of Provo to bring action against Smith, a citizen ow Salt Lake City.
 Senator Shoot stated that some of the Democrats In the Utah legislature were Mormons but no Democrat voted | for him.
 Senator Burrows began the after noon session by asking Senator Shoot if he was at liberty to resign his apos- | tleship at any time. to which an af- | firmative answer was given. He also said he had not seen nor participated in the endowment ceremony since 1t was administered to him when he was eighteen years old
 Pursuing his inquiry Chairman Bur rows asked if Senator Shoot taught and preached his faith. He did occa- | sionally.
 "Dou you teach polygamyT T do not"
 Do you preach against polygamy or unlawful co-habitationr T never have. l do not know why I should. It is not tenet of the faith. It has been suspended and I think 1t would not be proper for mo to bring it up"
 The chairman inquired concerning the understanding of the interpreta- tion of the manifesto as to whether 1t applied to both plural marriages and polygamOus co-habitation. Sena- tor Smoot said the people were uncer- tain but that President Woodfuff had interpreted 1t as prohibiting polyga- nous co-habitation. He said he un- derstood that the revelation command ing the promulgation of the manifes- to against polygamy was the result of pleadings by President Woodrufr for the command of God concerning His wishes on that subject
 On redirect examination Senator Shoot said he believed the church rule requires officials to obtain leave of absence to engage In business. pol itics or anything else, which might take them away from their church work and is not confined to politics.
 This concluded the examination of Senator Shoot and he resumed his seat back of his counsel which he has oc- cupied throughout the investigation.
 Maroni Gillespie, a patrolman in Salt Lake, testified that Angus NJ. Cam non. who testified in relation te the alleged marriage of Abram Cannon and r