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

Resolved. That the committee on
privileges and elections Of the senate,
or any subcommittee thereof be auth
orized aud directed TO investigate the
right and title ~ Reed Smoot 10 seat
I'm the senate as senator from the state
Of Utah. and said committee. or any
subcommittee thereof, Is authorized TO
slt during the sessions ~ the renAle,
10 employ stenographer, 20 send
for persons and papers, and 10 admin
lister oaths: and that the expense OF
the inquiry shall be paid from the
contingent fund OF the senate upon
vouchers 10 be- approved 10y the chair
man Of the committee.
The Protest Against the Seating Of Mr.
SnoOt.
The protest before referred 10
against the seating ~ Mr.. Smoot a.
n senator from the State OF Titan IS
stated I'm such protest 20 be upon inc
ground and for the reason that he Is
one ~ self-perpetuating body of
Is men. who. constituting the fullns
authorities of the Church ~ Jesus
Christ ~ Iatter-day Saints or NOR
mon Church. claim and 10y their Toll
lowers arc accorded the right Ia claim,
stiprene authority. divinely sane
TONED 10 shape the belief ana con-
troll tho conduct ~ those under them
I'm all matters whatsoever. civil ana
religious. temporal and spiritual. and
whf thus uniting in themselves auth
GRITTY In church and state do so eKer-
else the same as 10 inculcate and en-
courage a belief IN polygamy and po-
Naln al a "a
ance and connive at violations Of the
state law prohibiting the same. regard
less Of pledges mace for the purpose
Of obtaining statehood. and ~ COW
enants made with the people Of the
limited states. and who by all the
means IN their power protett and HON
or those who, with themselves. violate
the laws ~ the land and are guilty
81 practices destructive Of the family
and az the home
In support ~ this protest the pro-
testants make certain charges and as
sertions. the substance OF which Is as
follows.
I. The Mormon priesthood, accord
ing 90 the doctrines Of that church Is
vested with supreme authority IN All
things spiritual and temporal
2. The first presidency and twelve
APOSTLES (said Reed SmOot being one
81 said twelve apostlesl are supreme
In the exercise Of the authority Of ihe
Mormon Church IN all things temper
al and spiritual In support of this
second proposition instances are xiv
en- Of the interference Of the first pres
idoncy and twelve apostles In the po-
liticai Affairs Of the State Of Utah AMI
quotations al length are given from the
declarations Of officials IN the Mormon
Church regarding the authority Of the
leaders in said Church 10 dictate 10 the
membership thereof concerning the
political action Of said members.
3 and 4. That the first presidency
and twelve apostles Of the Mormon
Church have not abandoned the prin-
ciples and practise OF political dicta-
ton; neither have they abandoned
their belief in polygamy and pOlyga-
nous cohabitatlon.
8. That the first presidency and
twelve apostles (of whom Reed Smoot
"a one) also practise or connive at and
encourage the practise 81 polygamY
and have without protest or obiec-
tion permitted those who held legls-
lative Offices by their will and con-
sent 20 attempt TO nullify enactments
against polygamous cohabitauon
6. That the supreme authorities Of
the Mormon Church, namely the flrst
presidency and twelve apostles tof
whom Mr. Smoot Is one), not only con-
hive at violations Of the law against
polygamy and polygamous cohabita-
ton. but protect and honor the vio-
lators Of such laws.
The protest further asserts that the
leaders Of the Mormon Church (of
whom Mr.. Smoot 81 ouel are solemnly
banded together against the people ~
the United states IN the endeavor ~
said leaders Co battle the designs ami
Illustrate the attempts 81 the govern
ment 20 eradicate polygamy and po-
lygamous cohabitation.
The protest further charges that
the conduct and pTaCtisos " the
first presidency and twelve apostles
tof whom Mr Smoot Is onc) are
well known 90 De. first, contrary 90 the
public sentiment 81 the civilized world;
second. contrary 90 express pledges
which were given by the leaders ~ the
Mormon Church In procuring amnesty;
third. contrary 90 the express condi-
tons upon which the escheated prop
erty az tho Mormon church was re-
turned: fourth. contrary 20 the pledges
given by the representatives ~ that
Church iu their plea for statehood,
ffth contrary 90 the pledges required
iu the enabling act and given IN the
State Constitution ~ Utah; sixth, con-
trary Co a provision in the Consiitu-
tion ~ Utah providing that"there shall
he no union ~ church and state. nor
shall any church dominate the state or
interfere With IT'S functions and sew
onth. contrary TO law. The protest con-
cludcs by asking that the senate make
inquiry touching the matters stated in
faid protest
This protest Is followed by certain
charges made by one John l.. Leillch
under oath. which are In the main ~
she same tenor and effect as The
charges made IN the protest with the
additional charge that Mr. Smoot Is a
uoiygamist. having a legal and a plural
wife. and the further charge that Mr.
Smoot has. as an apostle ~ the Nor
mon church. taken an oath "of such a
nature and character as that he 81
thereby disqualified from taking the
cath ~ office required u a United
States senator"
Answer Of Mr.. Smoot.
To the statements made IN the proc
test and the charges by Mr Ltilich
Mr. Sm0ot made answer. which answer
s. On the nature ~ a demurrer o. an
The charges contained IN the protest
and 90 the charges made by Mr. Lei
lich. except two. namely. that Mr.
Smoot s. a polygamisi and that he is
bound by some oath or obligation
which Il Inconsistent with the oath
taken by him a. a senator. Both these
charges he denies and further denies.