The Minneapolis journal., 1906-06-11
REPORTS TO SENATE
AT WIDE VARIANCE
Continued From First Page.

Continued From First Page.
and has usurped the functions Of the
state in said state of Utah. =
The report names a dozen apostles,
former apostles and other. prominent
have taken plural wives since the mani
festo of 1890, an act impossible Tex
| cept by consent of the president Of the.
church -; says it is shown by incon-
trovertible testimony that a majority.
of those who give the law to the Nor
for years, living in open, notorious and
shameless cohabitation, the list be-
| ing headed by President Joseph +.
Smith. The report continues:
"These facts abundantly Justify the
assertion made in the protest that the
supreme authorities in the church, Of
whom Senator-elect Reed Smoot is one,
to-wit: the first presidency Of twelve
apostles, not only 2eennive at violation
Of, but protect and honor the violators
of the laws against polygamy and
polygamous cohabitation.' -
Took Oath of Vengeance.
The, report 4eharacterizes as wholly
Smoot himself does not practice polyga-
my, and there is no evidence to show
that he has personally and individually
encouraged the practice in others, he
ought not to be condemned because of
the acts Of his associates. It is charged
that, "Smoot is an inseparable part of
the governing body Of the Mormon
"In the judgement Of the committee
Mr.. smoot is no more entitled to a seat
in the senate than he would be if he
We're associating in polygamous cohabi7
tation with plurality Of wives.
The final chapter Of the report is de-
voted to the oath of vengeance. The
report says there can be, no question
in regard to the taking Of the oath Of
fFIt is difficult to conceive how one
could discharge the obligation which
rests upon every senator to so perform
his official duties as to promote the well
fare of the people Of the United States,
and at the same time be calling down
because of the killing Of the founders Of
the Mormon church sixty years ago.
Minority for smoot.
That Reed Smoot possesses all the
qualifications prescribed by the const1-
tuition to make him eligible to a seat
in the senate, and that the regularity OF
his election by the Legislature Of the
state Of Utah is not questioned in any
the minority Of the senate committee on
privileges and elections. which SUBJ
mitted its views today. This report is
signed by Senators Foraker, Beveridge
Dillingham;, Hopkins and Knox. The
mi nor1ty say US that Senator Smoot IS pri
:. vate character is irneproac liable.
. $50 far as mere belief and member
! $ ~ r..
cerned," says, the minority, "Reed
Smoot is within his rights and jprivi
leges under the guaranty Of religious
}reedem given BY the constitution Of
The minority says. there remain but
two grounds on which the right Of
title Of Reed Smoot to his seat is con
oath, and that, by reason Of his off
eial. relation to the church he is respon
sible :. for polygamous cohabitation
: which yet continues among the Nor
, mons. ~ &, IL -3& ~.
witnessessHeld Enthusiastically.
AS to the endowment oath, the mi
nority. says the testimony Is utterly
unreliable because of the 2disreputabl
and untrustworthy character Of tn
, Witnesses and that emo ground ha
been established on which to predicat
Ia finding or belief that Mr.. .Smoot eve
took any obligation involving hostili
ty to the United. States or requirilnI
him to regard his allegiance to tn
r Mormon church as paramount to hi
8 allegiance and duty to the Unite
/ States.'' <. t~
l. AS to the second ground the repo1
e says: - ,......o -
o Wasred on Polygamy?
a HHe has never at any time, and pal
4 ticularly he has not since the manifest
of 1890, countenanced or encourage
- plural marriages; but that, Ion the col
9 trary, he has uniformly upheld the po
Icy Of the church as announced by ths
proclamation, by actively exerting h!
II influence to effect a complete, disco!
. tinuance Of such marriages, and that
the few instances established by tn
. testimony where plural marriages an
y polygamous cohabitation as q result {
< them, have occurred since 1890, the
d have been without any encouragement
;s counteneppce OF approval whatever c
- - his part
says: 49,,
"We are Of the opinion that there
no Just ground for expeHing Senat
i Smoot or for finding him .disqualife
to hold the seat he occupies becau!
NJ of the fact that he, In common with 9
~ the people Of his state. has not mac
. war upon, but has acquiesced in, co
" responsibility.
a. "1n doing so he has only conforme
IF to what non -Mormons, hostile to. h
G. church. as well as Mormons, have co
re cluded is, under all the circumstance
n not only the wisest course to; pursu
but probably the only course that pro1
e. ises effective and satisfactory results.