Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-11
Interesting Debate Relative to
the Adoption of the Report
of Committee
BURROWS RoAsrs UTAH MAN
Declares the Methods of His Election
to the Senate Should Bar Him From
Sitting in consress-Terms Church
and PoIitie. of State Are Virtual
Hierarchy.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE special
order in the senate today was the
hearing on the report Of the commit
tee on elections relative to the case
Of Senator Smoot, of Utah. The first
address was made by Senator Burrows,
Of Michigan, who favored the unseat-
ing Of Smoot.
Burrows said that there has been mo-
proof submitted to sustain the alIega-
ton that Smoot is polygamist, add
| ing that the recomme mendation Of the
committee on privileges and elections,
in favor of declaring vacant the seat
of the Utah senator, is not based on
such charge. Burrows impeachment
was based entirely upon the connec-
ton of Smoot with the governing body
of the church, consisting Of the preS-
idency and twelve apostles. He res
ferred to this body as hierarchy"
and said it possesses practically every
political position in the state govern
ment. He cited many instances of po-
litical interference not only in Utah,
but adjoining states, and quoted at
length the church manifesto Of 1896,
requiring members to obtain consent
Of the hierarchy before becoming can-
didates for Office. Smoot has been
compelled to obtain this permission.
HE was nominated by the hierar-
chy," said Burrows, land the selection
was ratified by the legislature" He
said that S1noot's membership In the
church governing body which incul-
Gates the belief in polygamy, 10 con-
ceded; that proof is indubitable that
in spite of the manifesto OF 1890. Is
sued by the head of the church, caun-5s
selling suspension of polygamy, the ma
jority of the members Of the hierarchy
are today openly and confessedly de-
flying the laws Of the land prohibiting
such crimes. The record is 50 shock
ing as to challenge credulity"
He declared that ut is shown by tes-
timony that majority Of the apostles
are living in polygamous cohabita-s
ton, including President Smith. Plural
marriages are performed in secret In
the darkened rooms Of highways re-
mote from habitation." Coming to the
connection of Smoot with the hierarchy
Burrows said that practically all the
members were polygamists when he
became a member. "The vital question
therefore is" he said "can one be-s
come member and identify himself
with band Of law breakers, knowing
them to be such, participate In their
counsels, sustain them in their confer
ences and yet escape all responsibility
for their unlawful acts? Such con-
tention will not stand the test of either
law or reason"
"The senator's completely in encour-
aging polygamy and polygamous Cos
habitation does not consist wholly in
the fact that he is one Of the governing
body cf that church. BY repeated acts
he has, as member of the quorum Of
twelve apostles, given active aid and
support to the hierarchy and its def
ance to the statutes Of this state and
the laws Of common decency. and in its
encouragement of polygamous prac-sa
tices by both precept and example"
Burrows concluded by saying:
'T submit that an organization that
fosters and encourages crime, practices
polygamy and polygamous cohabita-
ton, desecrates the home, undermines
and shakes the foundation Of human
society and government, defes the au-
thority of state and national govern
ment, Is not entitled to have its rep
resentatives in the senate of the United
States, and I therefore ask the adop-
ton of the resolution"