Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-16
STATEMENT.

~ - iibE @NANht
7. c. KNOX.
STATEMENT.
The minority respectfully submit the
following statement as q part Of their
foregoing report
Jan. 27 1908. the senate adopted the
following senate resolution No 200:
Resolved. That the committee On
privileges and elections al the senate,
or any subcommittee thereof, be auth
orized aud directed 20 investigate the
right and title OF Reed Smoot To a seat
I'm the senate as senator from the
State of Utah. and said committee, or
any subcommittee thereof Is author
led 20 sit during the sessions OF the
senate, to employ a stenographer. TO
send for persons and papers, and 20
administer oaths. and that the ex-
pense Of the inquiry shall be paid from
the contingent fund OF the senate upon
vouchers 10 be approved by the chair
man OF the committee
At the time OF the adoption OF this
resolution there were pending In the
Senate two formal protests against the
admission Of Reed Smoot "a the sen
ate. both having been filed before he
took his seat. One Of these protests
is signed by NJ W. Paden and II
others and the other by John l..
Leilich alone-Mr. Leillch being also
one Of the II who signed the principal
protest
Shortly before the adoption ~ the
foregoing resolution al a preliminary
hearing on the 18th 81 January, 1908,
81 which notice was duly given. coun-
sci appeared before the committee
representing Mr. Paden and others
who signed the principal protest. and
Mr. Smoot also appeared I'm person
and by counsel Al that time state
ments were made by counsel for the
respective parties, stating IN a general
way what they expected 20 prove and
what their claims we're as TO the legal
aspects Of the case. Later the taking
~ testimony com menced.
Numerous Witnesses were produced
and examined before the committee.
both on behalf Of the protestants a1d
on behalf of Mr.. Smoot. The taking
Of this evidence was continued from
time 10 time until the 2bth day Of jan
uary, 1905. when the further taking
OF testimony was closed and counsel
were heard I'm argument. The COM
mittee took the case under consider
alton with a view 10 making a report
al the present session the
case was reopened for the further TAX
ing Of testimony, after which the case
vase again argued by counsel.
in the protest signed by Mr. Leilich
alone II was charged that Reed Smoot
Is a polygamist, and that. as an apostle
Of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of Lat
ter-day Saints-commonly called the
Mormon Church--he had taken an
oath "of such a nature and character
as that he is thereby disqualified from
taking the oath Of Office required Of
United States senator" No one APP
poared, however 10 sustain either Of
these charges No evidence has been
offered I'm support Of either OF them,
but on the contrary both charges were
refuted by a mum Der Of witnesses.
The investigation made by the
committee has been based chiefly
upon the charges made in the pro-
test signed by Mr. Paden and others.
st the preliminary hearing already re-
ferred 10 counsel for the protestants
In a more formal way than
had been done In the protest itself. the
charges supposed TO be embodied IN
that protest.
The charges thus presented are as
follows.
First The Mormon priesthood. ac-
cordlng 10 the doctrine Of that Church
and the belief and practise Of its mem
bership. Is vested with. and assumes
la IL all
things temporal and spiritual, civil and
political The head Of the Church
claims to receive divine revelations,
and these Reed Smoot, by his covenants
and obligations Il bound to accept and
obey, whether they affect things spirit.
lal or things temporal.
Second, The first presidency and
twelve apostles. Of whom Reed smoot IL
one. are supreme In the exercise OF this
authority OF the Church and in the
~ that authority TO their
successors. Each Of them Is called
prophet. seer and reyelator.
Third. As shown by their teaching
and by their own lives. this body o,
men has not abandoned belief In polyg-
amy and polygamouS cOhabitation. on
The contrary
ta) As the ruling authorities OF the
church they promulgate in the most
solemn manner the doctrine OF polyg.
amy without reservation.
On The president Of the Mormon
Church and a majority OF the twelve
apostles now practise polygamy and
polygamous cohabitation and some Of
Them have taken polygamous wives
since the manifesto OF 1880 These
things have been done with the knowl.
EDGE and countenance Of Reed Smoot.
Plural-merrlage ceremonies have been
performed by apostles since the mani
'esto 81 1891. and many bishops and
other high officials Of the Church have
aiken plural wives since that time. An
VI the first presidency and twelve apos-
les encourage countenance. conceal
and connive al polygamy and polvRa-
nous cohebitation. and honor and re-
ward by high Office and distinguished
preferment those who most persistent
y and denanty violate the law OF the
and
Fourth. Though pledged BY the COM
pact and bound by the law Of their
commonwealth. this supNme body.
whose voice Ia law 10 It's people and
whose members were individually a.
'ecily responsible for good faith 70 tha
American people. permitted. without
protest or objection, their Legislators 10
pass a law nullfylng the statute
against polygamous cohahitatinn.
in substance these charges 20 far
rs they seem 10 be a proper subject OF
INQUIRY here are:
]. That the Mormon Church exacts
md receives from its members. includ-
ng Reed Smoot absolute obedience IN
M political matters.
?. That the Mormon Church is nro-
Mitigating the doctrine of polygamy
md that the first presidency and ali
he twelve apostles. including Bsed
'mcot, encourage, countenance. con
cal. and connlye al polyFamy ana 90.
ygamous cohahitailon. and reward
hose who practise H."
No evidence has been submitted 70
no committee or has come 10 Us
knowledge IN snyBise affecting iniuri.
'usly the general character ~ Ree5
'moot on the contrary. II has been /
Omitted by the protestants. through l
j.