The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1906-06-12
MAJORITY or SENATE COMMIT
TEE STATES REGIONS FOR
FAvoRiNe EXPULSION.
SOMEONE'S VIOLATION Of THE LAW
WHILE NOT A PoLYcAMisr HIM
self He uPHoLDs CHURCH
TEACHING PRACTICE.

Washington, June 1.-THE reasons
for the action OF the senate committee
on privileges and elections In declar-
ing. by majority vote, that Reed
Smoot is not entitled to seat In the
senate az senator from Utah, are
stated In q report submitted to the
senate by Chairman Burrows and
signed by Burrows. Dolliver. Dubois.
Pettus. Bailey, Overman and Frazier,
70 ~ as follows:
THAT Mr.. Emoot is one of self
pSFpetuattng body OF men, known as
the first presidency ami twelve apos-
ties of the Church Of Jesus Christ Of
Latter Day Saints, commonly known
rs the Mormon church: that these
men claim divine authority to control
the members OF said church In all
things, temporal as well as spiritual;
that this authority is. and has been
Tor several years past, SO exercised
by the said first presidency and twelve
apostles as to encourage the practice
Of polygamy and polygamous cohabi-
tation In the state of Utah and else
where, contrary to the constitution
and laws OF the state Of Utah and the
law OF the land: that the said
hrat presidency and twelve apostles
do now control. and for q long time
past have controlled, the political af.
fairs Of the state Of Utah and have
thus brought about In said state a
union Of church and state, contrary to
the constitution Of said state OF Utah
and contrary to the constitution Of
the United States, and the said Reed
SmOOt comes here. not as the accred-
tied representative OF the state OF
Utah In the senate OF the United
States. but as the chief hierarchy
which controls the church and has
usurpad the functions of the state In
said state OF Utah"
Names Prominent Polyoamists.
The report names dozen apostles,
former apostles and other prominent
MOrmons. who, according to testi-
mony, have taken plural wives since
the manifesto OF 1890. an act impos-
sible Except by consent of the pres
ident of the church," says 1t is shown
by incontrovertlble testimony that a
majority of those who gave the law
to the Mormon church "are now and
have been for years living In open.
Oh al q hi n
the list being headed by President
Joseph r. Smith. The report con-
tinues:
These facts abundantly justify the
assertion made In the protest that
the supreme authorities In the
church, OF whom Senator-elect Reed
Smoot Is one, to-wit: the first pres
idency Of twelve apostles. not only
oonnive at violation Of. but protect
and honor the violators OF the laws
against polygazny and polygamous CO.
habitation'
The majority report characterizes
a. wholly untenable" the position
that because Em0ot himself does not
practice poiygamy. and there is ho
evidence to show that he has person
ally and individually encouraged the
practice In others. he ought not be
condemned because Of the acts Of his
associates. It Il charged that Reed
Smoot u an inseparable part OF the
governing body Of the Mormon church
and In the Judgment Of the committee
II no more entitled to seat In the
senate than he would be II he were
associating In p0lygannOus cohabitar
ton with q plurality OF wives"
The minority report, signed by Ave
members Of the committee. declares
that Reed SmoOt possesses all the
qualifications prescribed by the con-
stitution to make him eligible to .
sent In the senate and that his pri-
vate character Il irrepr0achable.