Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-11
Reason for Vote in Sen.
ate Committee to
Gust Him.
GIVEN IN A REPORT
Minority Airs Opinion 80 May
Require a Two-Thirds
Majority.

Washington, June 1.-THE majority
and minority reports of the committee
of Senator Reed Smoot of Utah were
today presented in the senate. Bailey
member of the committee, stated while
he concurred in the view of the ma
Iority that Smoot was not entitled 70
his seat. he was of the opinion "Smoot
could not be deprived of his seat under
the constitution except by resolution
of expulsion
SmOOt Smiles.
SmOOt was present in the chamber
when the reports were presented. He
smiled broadly when Bailey made his
statement. Under the plan suggested
by the Texas senator. a vote of two
thirds would be necessary TO vacate the
seat OF the Utah senator Chairman
Burrows gave notice he would call un
the case at the earliest possible mo-
ment
Reasons Given.
The reasons for the action of the sen.
ate committee on privileges and cleo
tlons in declaring by majority vote.
mat Reed Smoot is not entitled TO a
seat in the senate as senator from
Utah are stated in a report submitted
10 the senate today by Chairman Bur
rows and signed by Senators Burrows.
Dolliver. Dubois. Pettus. Bailey. Over
man, and Frazier. to be as follows.
Union of Church and state.
That Smoot is in self perpetual
ing body of men. known as the first
presidency. and twelve apostles of the
Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter
Day Saints. commonly known as the
Mormon church; that these men claim
divine authority TO control members
of said church in all things. temporal
as well as spiritual; that this author
ity is. has been for several years past.
so exercised by the said first presi-
dcncy of this twelve apostles as to
encourage the practice of polygamy
and polygamous cohabitation in the
state of Utah and elsewhere. contrary
to the constitution and laws of the
state of Utah and the law of the land;
that said first presidency do now con-
troll and for long time past have con-
trolled the political affairs of the state
of Utah. have thus brought about in
said state a union of church and state,
contrary to the constitution of Utah
and the United States and SmOO,
comes here not as the accredited repre-
sentative of the state of Utah. in the
senate of the United States, but as
chief of hierarchy which controls the
church and has usurped the functions
~f1 20,
OverruIes Defense.
After reviewing the testimony taken
at the hearings the report characteriZ-
es as wholly untentabIe' the position
that because Smoot himself does not
practice polygamy and there is no evi-
dence to show he has personally and
individually encouraged the practice in
others. he ought not to be condemned
because of acts of his associates.
Part of Church.
1t is charged. "SmoCt is an INSOFAR
able part of the governing body of the
Mormon church" In the judgment of
the committee. SmOot is no more en-
titled to a seat in the senate than he
would be if he were associated i'll poly
Eamous cohabitation with plurality
wives.
Minority Takes Other View.
The minority report. signed by For
aker, Beveridge, Dillingham;. Hopkins.
and Knox. says SmOot possesses all
the qualifications prescribed by the
constitution to make him eligible to
seat in the senate, that the regularity
of his election by the legislature of
Utah is not questioned in any manner.
and that Smoot's private character is
irreproachable. so far as the mere be-
lief of the membership in the Mormon
church are concerned" says the minor
ity. "Smoot is within his rights and
privileges under the guaranty OF rell-
gious freedom given by the constltu-
ton of the United States, for there is
no statutory provision and could not
be. prohibiting either such belief or
such membership
No Proof of Part.
According to the report there is no
trustworthy proof that SmOot ever took
the endowment oath or that he is re-
sponsible for polygamOus cohabltatlon
existing among the MOrmOns.
wbyte I'm Seat.
Washington. June 11.-Hou- William
Pinckney Whyte of Maryland today