Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-12-11
Declares Senator Burrows
in Speech on Reso!u-
ton to ExpeI.
NAMED BY HIS CHURCH
PoIygamous Marriages Still
Sanctioned and Secretly
Performed.

Washington. Dec. 11.-At the cOnclu-
sion of the morning business in the
senate today, Senator Burrows, chair
man of the senate committee on privi-
leges and elections, called up the
resolution from that committee de
cIaring that Reed Smoot is not entitled
to- a seat as senator from the state OF
Utah. and addressed the senate on that
subject.
POIygnmy Not the Issue.
Burrows said there had been no
proof submitted to sustain the allega-
tion that Smoot is a polygamist add
ing the recommendation of the commit
tee on privileges and elections in IA
vOr of declaring vacant the seat of the
Utah senator is not based on such
charge. Burrows said the impeach-
ment is based entirely upon the con-
nectiOn of Smoot with the governing
body OF the church. consisting of the
president and IL apostles.
Controls Every Office.
He referred to this body as the |
hierarchy" and said it possesses prac-
LEGALLY every lFOilliCsil pOSlliOn III tliC
state government He cited many in |
stances of political interference notf
only in Utah, but adjoining states. He |
quoted at length the church manifesto |
of 1896 requiring members to obtain
consent of the hierarchy before becOm- |
ing candidates for Office. SmOot had
been compelled to obtain this permis-
sion.
He was nominated by the hier
archy," said Burrows, "and the selec-
tion was ratified by the legislature"
COncede Membership.
He said Shoots membership in the
church governing body, which incul- |
Gates belief in polygamy, is conceded. |
that proof is indubitable, that in spite |
of the manifesto OF 1890, issued by the |
head of the church. counseling the |
suspension of polygamy, the majority |
members of the hierarchy is today |
openly and confessedly defying the
laws of the land prohibiting such
crimes.
Married I'm Secret.
The record is so shocking as to |
challenge credulity. He declared that
'It is shown by testimony majority |
of the apostles are living in polyga-
nous cohabitation. including President |
Smith Plural marriages are perform |
ed in secret in darkened rooms, on |
highways remote from habitation."
Coming to the connection of Smoot |
with the hierarchy, Burrows said prac-
tically all the members were polyga-
mists when he became a member.
Influenced by Associations.
"The vital question. therefore, is he !
said, "can one become a member and
identify himself with a band of law
breakers, knowing them to be such. |
participate in their counsels, sustain
them in their conferences. and yet es-
cape all responsibility for their unlaw
full acts? Such contention will not
stand the test of either law or reason.
Has Aided Hierarchy.
"The senator's completely in encour-
aging polygamy and polygamOus CO.
habitation does not consist wholly in |
<the fact that he is one of the govern /
ing bodies of that church. By repeat
ed acts he has, as a member of a
quorum of II apostles, given active
aid and support to the hierarchy and
its defiance of the statutes of his state
and the laws of common decency, and
in it's encouragement of polygamous
practices by both precept and exam
ple.''
Not Entitled 10 Representation.
Burrows concluded by saying: 81
submit that an organization that fos-l
ters and encourages crime; practices
polygamy and polygamous cohabita-
tion. desecrates the home. undermines
and shakes the foundations of human
society and government, and defies the
authority of the state and national gov
ernment, is not entitled to have its |
representative in the senate of the |
United States, and | therefore ask the
adoption of the resolution"