The San Francisco call., 1906-06-12

ON CASE
OF S|NOOT
Views Of Both Sides Are
Placed Before the
Senate.
Majority Opinion Based
on Vengeance Oath
and Polygamy.
Minority Holds That the
Utah Man Has Stood
for the Law.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE major
ity and minority reports of the COM
mittce on privileges and elections in
the case of Senator Reed Smoot of Utah
were today presented in the Senate,
the former by Senator Burrows. declar-
ing that Smoot is not entitled to his
seat, and the latter by Senator Fora
ker. taking the opposite view At the
same, time Senator Bailey. who is a
member of the committee. stated that
while he concurred in the views of the
! majority that Sfnoot tg not entitled to
his seat. he was IF the opinion that
Mr. Smoot could nor be deprived OF his
seat under the constitution. except BY q
resolution OF expnision''
In accordance with Senator Burrows,
report, a number Of copies Of the re-
/ ports and OF the hcanings fnethe case
were ordered printed. Burrows also
/ gave notice that he would call UP the
! case at the earliest possible moment
| consistent with public business and
Senator Foraker expressed his approval
OF this announcement
Senator Smoot was present in the
Senate chamber when the reports were
presented. He smiled broadly when
Senator Bailey made hist statement Tn
der the plan suggested by the Texas
Senator, vote of two-thirds would be
necessary to vacate the seat OF the
The report submitted to the Senate
today by Chairman Burrows and signed
by Senators Burrows. DoIliver. Dubois,
.Pettus. Bailey Overman and Frazer js
in part as follows:
+ Mr.. Smoot is one Of a self-peruetunt-
ing body of men known as the frat
presidency and twelve apostles Of the
church of Jesus Christ OF Latter Dav
Saints, commonly known as the Nor.
mon church; that these men claim di-
vine authority to control the members
as well as spiritual; that this authority
is and has been for several years
courage the practice of poIygamy and
polygamous cohabitation in the State
or Utah and elsewhere, contrary to the
constitution and laws of the State Of
Utah and the law of the land; that the
said first presidency and twelve apos-
ties do now control and for a long time
fairs of the State of Utah and have
thus brought about in said State a
union of church and state. contrary to
the constitution of said State OF Utah
and contrary to the constitution Of the
United States. and the said Reed Smoot
comes here not as the accredited repre-
Senate of the United states hut as the
choice of the hierarchy which controls
the church and has usurped the func-
tfons of the State in said State OF Utah
L.
The report says 1t is shown beyond
reasonable doubt that the authority
of the first presidency and twelve
apostles is so exercised over the mem
bers of the Mormon church as to incuI-
cate a belief in the divine origin Of po-
lygamy and polygamous rehabilitation.
Quotations from the Book of Mormon
ard other publications are cited TO
prove the alleged Mormon belief that
the revelation on the subject OF polyr
amy is of higher authority than fhe
monifesto forbidding the practice.
One intensely interesting chapter Of
the report is devoted to the charge that
testimony was suppressed by Mormon
leaders through the sending out OF the
country of the apostles and other ON
cials who were charged with takinr
plural wives since the manifesto. The
report says:
1t would be nothing short Of .e1t5
stultihcation for one TO believe that all
to leave the United States 1T about fhe
same time and without reference e, the
Investigation. All the facts and fir-
point to the conclusion that everv one
of the witnesses left the country a. the
ebursS s sf she,d the ,sr1 e the
committee. 1t is furthermere fscf
which cannot be questioned that every
one on! Of the witnesses + under the dircc-
and the twelve apostles Of the Morn,o,
church. Had those omcials seen At to
direct the witnesses named to return to
the United States and give their testi-
mony before the committee they would
have been obliged to do so. =
ENDOWMENT CEREMONY.
Smoot is an inseparable parf of tne
governing body. OF the Mormon church
and those who compose that orrar1i.a,
ton form unit. an entirety and
whatever is done BY that orKanizsfion
Is the act OF each and every member
and pursued by the body which co, :
trolls the Aiormon church Mr sr,onff
must be held to be responsible for -
member of that body.
In the Judgment of the COMMITTEES Mr.
Smoot is no more entitled to a seat IN
the Senate than he would be IL he were
associatfng In polygamous cohabitation
with a plurality of wives.
There can be no question in regard