Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-13
IN BEHALF OF SM0OT
ARGUMENT MADE BY A. s.
WoRTHINGToN.

The final argument in the investigation
of protests against Senator Reed Smoot
being permitted to retain his seat was
made today before the committee on privi-
leges and elections by A. S. Worthington,
counsel for the Utah senator. For the first
time since the proceedings were begun
three years ago Mrs. Smoot attended the
session of the committee The number of
spectators was much less than during the
Utah senator's arragnment
In opening Mr.. Worthington took up the
subject of Mr.. Smoot's qualifications to
serve as a senator and followed this oy
citing authorities in support of his conten-
ton that it requires two-thirds vote OF
the Senate to oust Mr.. Smoot
A Hypothetical Case.
Answering Mr.. Carlisle's argument that
Utah might go SO far as to send President
Joseph F.. Smith to the Senate, Mr.. Worth
ington said that IL such should be the case
he should be permitted to serve If he gave
up his plural wife and lived only with his
legal wife In the event that Smith should
fail to live in obedience to the laws, said
Mr.. Worthington, then he should be ex-
PEELED. Mr.. Worthington pointed out tnat
Mr.. Smoots life had been blameless, ana
that he has been a lawabider IN every
sense of the word
II was contended by Mr. Worthington
that plural marriages are no longer per
formed with the sanction or the mormon
Church He said that Utah had peen
"raked and scraped' and the plural mar
riages brought to light since the manifesto
would not amount to one year ana tnat
these offenders are now virtually Iuetises
from justice. A.. ,o
believed in divine revelations, Mr.. Worth
fngton compared this belief with services III
other churches where Divine guidance ls
sought, and argued that Mr. omoot oetioa
is the same as that of followers OF other
creeds.
Church Domination in Politics.
Senator Knox and some other members OF
the committee interrogated Mr.. Worthing-
ton concerning the alleged necessity Oh
members of the Mormon Church obtaining
church consent to become candidates for
public office
Mr. Worthington read from the church
rule as laid down in the Moses Thatcher
case and construed this to mean that II
high church official desires to become
candidate for public office IT is necessary
for him to resign his church office or be ex-
cused from duties in connection with the
church position if it conflicts with duties 10
the public.
1t was argued by Mr. Worthington that
everything that has been charged against
the Mormon Church in the way of activity
in politics and business was known when
Utah was admitted as state ana that one
of the first senators from Utah was Frank
j. Cannon. who was Mormon, and more
subject to criticism than Mr.. Smoot can be-
and vet no protest was made against him.
Witnesses who attempted to testify against
the endowment house ceremonies were char
acterized by Mr.. Worthington as disrepu-
table He closed at /: :05 o'clock.
Chairman Burrows inquired when coun-
sci would be ready with their printed argu-
ments 1t was disclosed that both Messrs
Worthington and Carlisle were going out
of the city. and that the printed arguments
could not be furnished before the middle Of
next week. 1t is expected date for a vote
on the case will be fixed by the committee
soon afterward.