The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-21
SHOOT SWEARS
 FOR HIMSELF He Impresses the Com
 mittec FavOrably. HE OPPOSES P0LYGAMY Has Done Nothing to Endorse
 Plural Marriages. Recollection of Endowment House ce&- emeny not Distinct, But is Sure M That 10 oaths of Vengeance
 Were Taken.


 Senate committee on privileges and elections was stirred today by the un- expected determination to put Senator Shoot on the stand in his own behalf without waiting for other witnesses now enroute from Utah. The Senator was unoer direct and cross examina- ton all day and frankly answered all questions. He acquitted himself ex- cellentiy and appeared to make fav- orable impression on the members of the committee. At 4:40 p. m., and ad- 5ournment was taken out of consider alton for the witness who has been suffering with indigestion for several weeks.
 The examination of Senator Shoot related to matters intimately connected with church policy and his duty tow ard the church as compared with his duties as a Senator. He said he mad not taken any ,oaths that would in fsrfere with his loyalty to his gov ernment. His recoilections of the en- dowuient house ceremony was indis- tlnct. he said, but he was sure there were no obligations taken to avenge the blood of the prophets upon either this nation" or "tnis generation" as had been testified to by witnesses for the prosecution.
 Absentees Sent For.
 Senator Reed Shoot was put on the stand in his own defense today in the investigation of protests against the senator retaining his seat In the senate. A minority of the committee on privi- leKes and elections have been attending the hearings. but when it was amour chd that Senator Shoot would testify the MbHemtees were sent for. No pro- vious announcement had been made. but the senator had not long been un~ der examination before the doors of the committee room were filled and passage ways were kept open with great difficulty.
 A, s. wArthington counsel for the defense was clpaeted with the senator fhxouazout tho morning. He was late in arrfSing AtTtfae capitot. but stated that tho expected. witnesses having failed to appear he had decided to ex- anime the senator at once in order not to lose a day. He conducted the direct examination.
 Senator Shoot was at his ease as every eye in the room was directed to him. The first question, was as to the senator's nativity. He said he was born in Salt Lake City in 1882. His father and mother were both dead. His mother was a plural wife. Con- corning his own. family, he said he was married September 17, 1884. and had but one wife. They have six children.
 He said that at the time of his mar, riage he did not take the endowments, but that In 1880 he had gone through the endowment house lat the re- quest of his father before taking trip to the Sandwich Islands with his father for the benefit of his fathers health. He said he told his father at that time that he did not care much. about the ceremony. ,'
 Senator Shoot said he had been en- gagged fin the mercantile business most of his life. The only office in the church he has held other than apostle was counsellor to the President of tho Utah Stake of Zion, and he declared that he had taken no oaths of any character when he became counsellor nor had he taken any oath when he be- came an apostle.
 Mir worthington asked Senator Shoot about the endowment and he re- piled: 'I could not give 1t If wanted to-"
 why not?'
 Because have no distinct recollec- tion of the ceremony"
 No ''vengennce'' Oath.
 Mir. worthington read what wit nesses have alleged to be the oath of Vengeance" and asked Senator Shoot If there was anything of that character in the ceremony.
 There was not"
 Was there. anything of vengeance upon the regeneration?'
 No sir.''
 "Was there anything about averaging the blood of Joseph Snlith?'
 There was not. and 1t would have been very strange if there had been. Joseph Smith was the instigator of the endowment ceremony. and it would have been very strange if he asked his people to avenge his blood when he was alive"
 Was there anything in the cere- mony which would affect your loyalty to your country?'
 "There was not"
 How came you to be a candidate for senatory"
 well, I had been rather active in politics before the division was made on party lines. I took tho leading pa- pers of both national parties and at first believed myself to be q Democrat. but as studied politics found my self drifting to the principles of the Republican party and joined that party when division came.
 The Senator explained his interest in political affairs.
 MT. Worthington asked him to ex- plain the rule which requires the con- sent of the church. Senator Shoot re- piled that it referred only to officials of the church and amounted to simply q leave of absence from church duties
 That consent was given me some- time early in May. and 1 announced my candidacy May 1s. 1902" continued the Senator. and immediately began to or ganize my forces for a campaign"
 Shoots Organization.
 DO you mean to organize Republi- can forces, or your church friends2' asked MT. Warrington.
 'The Republicans, most assuredly," was the reply.
 Was the Mormon Church a factor in politics In your candidacy for the Senate?" asked MT. worthington.
 Not in the least. No iaore than the Presbyterian or the Methodist Churches. No man or woman can say that I ever asked them to vote the Re- publican ticket because was an apos- Ala Whatever I did to promote my