Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-11

1 the United States at about the same time
and without reference to the investigation
| All the facts and circumstances surround
Ing the transaction point to the conclusion
that every one of the witnesses named LETT
/ the country at the instance OF the rulers
OF the Mormon Church, and to avoid testi-
| Tying before the committee. 1t lie. further
| more. a fact which cannot be questioned
that every one Of these witnesses Is un-
der the direction and control of the first
presidency and twelve apostles of the Nor
mon Church. Had those officials seen ut
to direct the witnesses named to return to
the United States and give their testimony
before the committee. they would have been
obliged to do so. The reason why the said
witnesses left the country and have re-
fused to come before the committee Is easy
TO understand. IN view Of the testimony
showing the contracting Of plural marriages
by prominent officials of the Mormon
Church within the past few years
Aside from this. it was shown by the
testimony. and tn such way that the
that majority of those who give the law
to the Mormon Church. are now and have
been for years. living in open. notorious
and shameless polygamous Capitalization.
The list of those who are thus guilty Of
violating the laws of the state and the
rules OF public decency is headed by Jo-
seph f. Smith, the arst president. prophet.
seer and revelator OF the Mormon Church.
Living in Polygamous Cohabitation.
The list also includes George Teasdaie.
an apostle: John w. Taylor. an apostle:
John Henry Smith. an apostle, Marnner w.
Merrill. an apostle: Heber J. Grant, an
apostie;- III. F. Cowiey. an apostle; Charles
". Penrose. an apostle. and Francis N.
Lyman. who Is not only an apostle but the
probable successor of Joseph F. Smith as
president OF the church: Brigham III.
Roberts. one of the presidents Of the sew
entities and leading official of the church;
j. M. Tanner. superintendent Of the church
schools. Andrew assistant his.
torian of the church; Thomas H. Merrill.
bishop OF the church: Alma Merrill. one of
the presidency of church stake: Angus
NJ cannon. patriarch OF the Mormon
Church; man named Greenwald who is
at the head Of church school: George
Reynolds. one Of the first seven presidents
Of the seventies and first assistant superin-
tendent of Sunday schools of the world:
George H. Brimhall president Of Brigham
Young University. and Joseph Hickman.
teacher in Brigham Young University. All
the officials named were appointed. either
directly or indirectly, by the first presi-
dency and twelve apostles, and in the case
OF ]. M. Turner. his appointment to his
present office was made after he had been
compelled to resign his position presi-
dent of the Agricultural College because
of the fact that ne was polygamist
These facts abundantly justify the asser-
tion made in the protest that the supreme
authorities. in the church, of whom Senat tor
elect Reed Smoot Is one. towit the first
presidency and the twelve apostles, not only
connive at violation Of but protect and
honor the yiolators of the laws against
polygamy and polygamous cohabitation' Z"
Another chapter is devoted to the mani
festo, and the statement of one witness
set forth that the manifesto is only a
trick to beat the devil at his own game"
Shoots Responsibility.
The majority report characterizes las
wholly untenable" the position that be-
cause Smoot himself does not practice
polygamy and there is no evidence to show
that he has personally and individually
encouraged the practice in Others he ought
not to be condemned because of the acts
of his associates. 1t Is charged that
Snoot is an inseparable part of the govern
ing body of the Mormon Church-the first
presidency and twelve apostles-and those
who compose that organization form
unit. an entirety, and whatever Is done by
that organization Is the act of each and
every member thereof, and whatever policy
rs adopted and pursued by the body which
controls the Mormon Church, Mr.. Smoot
must be held to be responsible for as a
member of that body
The report declares that Smoot knew the
polygamous practices Of President Smith
and other church officials he has sustained
by his vote as an apostle. and at no time
uttered word of protest against the con-
duct OF his associates. but. on the contrary.
sustained them by his silence.
In the judgment OF the committee" the
report says. Mr.. Smoot Is no more entitled
to a seat In the Senate than he would be
II he we're associating in polygamous CO.
habitation with plurality Of wives.'
Political Domination Of the Church.
The report discusses political domination
Of the first presidency and twelve apostles
of the church. which it described as most
injurious to the interests of the state.
Not only is Mr.. Smoot one Of those by
and through whom the political affairs Of
Utah are dominated" says the report. but
his election to the Senate was. 1t is be-
lieved, the result Of such domination. When
Mr.. smoot concluded to become candi-
date for the Senate he was careful to OBJ
tain the consent of the first presidency
and twelve apostles to his candidacy But
church was naturally regarded by the peo-
pie of Utah, who were familiar with the
ways Of the Mormon high-priesthood, as
being, under the circumstances equivalent
to an Endorsement. and made 1t impossible
for any one else to become an aspirant for
the same position with any hope of sue
cess.
The Oath Of Vengeance.
The final chapter OF the report, just pre-
ceding the conclusions of the committee
quoted at the beginning Of this abstract,
is devoted to the oath of vengeance, admin
istered to those who go through the cere-
mony known as taking the endowments
The committee says 1t was proven that an
oath was administered expressed substan-
TALLY In this form:
You and each of you do covenant and
promise that you win pray. and never cease
to 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:" declares the
committee. I'm regard to the taking of the
oath of vengeance by Mr.. Smoot. He
testified that he went through the ceremony
of taking the endowments in the year 1880
and the head OF the Mormon Church stated
In his testimony that the ceremony is now
the same that it has always been.
AN obligation OF the nature of the one
before mentioned would seem to be wholly
incompatible with the duty which Mr.
Smoot as q member Of the United States
Senate would owe to the nation. 1t Is
diff1cult to conceive how one could dis
charge the obligation which rests upon
every senator to so perform his official
duties as to promote the welfare OF the
people Of the United States. and at the
same time be calling down the vengeance
of heaven on this nation because of the
killing OF the founders Of the Mormon
Church sixty years ago."