Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1906-06-14
SENATOR SHOOTS
TWO CHARACTERS
WHY SMooT is NOT ENTITLED
TO A SEAT IN THE
SENATE.
THE OATH OF VENGEANCE
Majority Report Declares Him Not
Fit for Service in Senate, But the
Minority Says He Is.
Senator Burrows Renorts.

The reasons for the action Of the
senate committee on privileges and
elections in declaring, by a majority
vote. that Reed Smoot is not entitled
to a seat in the senate as senator
from Utah are stared in report sub
mitted TO the senate today by Chair
man Burrows. and signed by Senators
Burrows. Dolliver. Dubois, Pettus,
Bailey, Overman and Frazier, To be as
follows:
THAT Mr.. Smoot is one of self
perpetuating body OF men, known as
the first presidency and II apostles OF
the church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints, commonly known as the
Mormon church; that these men claim
divine authority 10 control the mem
bers of said church in all things, tenn
poral as well as spiritual; that this
authority is, and has been for several
years past. so exercised by the said
first presidency and II apostles as 10
encourage the practice of polygamy in
the state of Utah and elsewhere, con
trary TO the constitution and laws OF
the state of Utah and The law of the
land
A sufficient number of specific in
among officials OF the Mormon church
since the manifesto of 1890 have been
shown by the testimony, says the ma
jority, ito demonstrate that the lead
ers, the first presidency and the -
apostles connive at the practice of
taking plural wives. and have done so
ever since the manifesto was issued
which purported TO put an end 10 the
practice"
The majority report characterizes as
wholly untenable" the position that
because Smoot himself does not prac-
tice polygamy, and there is no evil
dence TO show that he has personally
and individually encouraged the prac
tice in others. he ought not TO be con
demned because OF the action of his
associates. 1t is charged that Smoot
is an inseparable part of the govern
ing body of the Mormon church. The
report continues; In the Judgment
of the committee Mr.. Smoot is no more
entitled TO Il seat in the senate than
he would be if he were associating
with a plurality of wives"
The final chapter of The report is
devoted 10 the oath of vengeance ad.
ministered 10 those who go through
the ceremony known as taking the
endowments. The committee says il
was proven thar an oath was admin
istered expressed substantially in this
form.
You and each of You do covenant
and promise that you will pray and
never cease 10 pray, Almighty God to
avenge the blood of the prophets upon
this nation. and that you will teach
the same TO your children and TO your
children's children unto the third and
fourth generation"
There can be no question" de-
clares the committee, lin regard 10 the
taking of the cath of vengeance by
MIR. Smoot"
The minority OF the committee re-
ports favoring the retention of Smoot
On the grounds that he possesses all
the qualifications prescribed by the
constitution to make him eligible 10 a
seat in the senate. and that the regr-
larity OF his election by the legislature
o. the state OF Utah is not question
III any manner This report is signed
by Senators Foraker, Beveridge. Dill.
l.ngham Hopkins and Knox Concern
ing the character of Smoot the min
GRITTY says.
Aside from his connection with the
Mormon church so far as his private
character is concerned, il is according
To all the witnesses. irreproachable.