The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-12
SMOOTS BELIEF IN
POLYGAMY CONCEDED
Hirh Officers of Mormon Church
Teach Plural Marriage by
Precept and Example.
HIERARCHY HAS OPENLY
VIOLATED NATIONS LAWS
IndisputabIe Proof That the
Manifesto of 1890 Has Been
Utterly Disregarded.

represent said State IN the Senate of
the United States for term of SIX
years from March 4, 1908,
1t is concerning this election that
protest was made and the Committee
on Privileges and Elections ordered to
Investigate the right and title of Reed
Smoot to a seat in the Senate as a Sena-
tor from the State of Utah Such
investigation your committee, after pa
tient and protracJed hearings, has con
cluded, and submits the result of its
deliberations to the judgment of the
Senate.
Set Forth in Protest.
The issues involved in the contro-
versy are fully set forth In the protest
submitted 10 the Senate and referred
to your committee, constituting the
basis of the committee s inquiries. The
gravamen of the charge in the protest
against the senior Senator from Utah is
not simply that he is an adherent of
the Mormon church (for church aifilia-
ton is a matter of free individual
choice), but
That he is one of n -perpetualing
body OF fifteen men, who. constituting
the ruling authorities OF the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or
their
followers are accorded the right TO claim.
supreme authority. divinely sanctioned,
TO shape the belief and control the con
duct OF those under them in all mat
tiers whatsoever civil and religious. tenn
poral and spiritual and who thus, unit
Ing In themselves authority in church
and state, do so exercise the same as to
inculcate and encourage n belief in po-
lygamv and \ polygamous cohabitation
who countenance and conniVe at vio-
lation OF the laws of the State prohib-
made for the purpose OF obtaining State
hood and OF covenants made with the
people Of the United States, and who by
all means in their power protect and
late the laws OF the land and are guilty
OF practices destructive ofN the family
and the home.
These charges may he epitomized az
follows: That Senator Smoot is dis
qualified from holding a seat in the
Senate of the United States for the
First-That at the time of his cleo
tion the Stale of Utah and the Legis-
latnre thereof were under the complete
domination of the Mormon hierarchy,
OF which he is a member, and that such
hierarchy so far inuerfered with the
functions OF the State as TO secure
the election of one of its own mem
bers and an apostle, and that his Ger
was only the recorded cdict of the hie-
rarchy in defiance of the constitutional
inhibition that - no church shall dom.
mate the State nor interfere with its
functions
Second-That this Mormon hierarchy
OF which tho Senator is q conspicuous
member. lrculcats and encourages be
lief in and the practice of polygamy
and polygamous cohabitatiou in vio-
nf bn ll,y Of ho
Iting the same and in disregard of
pledges made for its suppression; and
Ihlrd-That the Senator, in connec.
tlon with and as a member of such or
ganization, has taken an oath of hos
tihty to the Government of the United
States incompatible with his obliga.
tlon as Senator.
Discusses the Protest.
These are the main grounds upon
which hls exclusion is sought, each of
which | propose TO discuss in the order
named.
Touching the question of the domi-
nation of this organization through It's
governing body in political affairs and
It's interference with the function of
the State y in spite of the Constitution
81 inhibition, the evidence is most con
vlnclng Before proceeding, however
W iNo anu IN OfIcr I0
measure its full force, il is importa nj
TO bear in mind the dominating power
of the president and the twelve apos-
ties and the influence they exert oveI
their followers. The power exercised
by this governing body. which for brew.
lty is designated "thc hierarchy is
far.reaching and commanding, holding
IN ITS grasp practically the entire mem
bershIp, of the organization and through
1T the domination Of the State by AFRO
eating to itself and inculcating the be
lief In its followers that they are en-
dowed with supernatural powers as
prophets, seers, and revclators, and
specially commissioned by the Almighty
10 dominate the affairs of this world
and that resistance to the will Of this
theocracy is rebellion against God
The testimony taken by your com
mittee fully sustains the allegation in
the protest that the Mormon priest
hood. according to the doctrine Of that
thority in all things, temporal and
spiritual; and that the first presidency
and the twelve apostles are supreme
in the exercise and transmission of tho
mandates of this authority The fol
lowing will serve to substantiatc the
Z truth of this allegation.
Brigham II. Roberts, author of ''Thc
New Witness for God, - declares:
Men who hold the priesthood possess
divine authority TO act for God and b,
possessing part Of Gods power they ar,
in reality part OF God. Men who homo
the priesthood in them honor God, anc
those who reject II reject God
The very day and hour the church wa
organized the Lord constituted the presI
dent OF the church It's prophet. seer. an,
lawglver. strictly commanding the churcl
10 give heed to all his words and com
mandmenis which he shall give unto you
for his words. saith the Lord. We shall
receive as II from mine own mouth. II
nil patience and faith.
By The term oracle is meant the lead
ers OF the church. the pre5idera. and tn
apostL tL-ae The word OF the living oracle