Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-14
sMOOT DEFENDED
BY WORTHINGTON
FINAL ARGUMENT MADE IN
SENATOR'S CASE
Mrs. smoot Present for First Time.
Argued That Cannon's Eligibility
Was Never Cues
toned
Bv Associated Press.

BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, April 13.-The final
argument in the investigation of pro-
tests against Senator Reed Smoot be-
ing permitted to retain his seat was
made today before the committee on
privileges and elections by A. S.
Worthington, counsel for the Utah sem
ator For the first time since the pro-
ceedings were begun three years ago
Mrs. Smoot attended the session of the
committee The number of spectators
was much less than during the Utah
senator's arraignment.
In opening Mr.. Worthington took up
the subject of Mr.. Shoots qualif1ca-
tions to serve as senator and followed
this by citing authorities in support OF
his contention that it requires two
thirds vote of the senate to oust Mr
Smoot. Answering Mr.. Carlisle's ar
gument that Utah might go so far
as to send President Joseph f. Smith
to the senate, Mr.. Worthington said
that If such should be the case he
should be permitted to serve If he gave
up his plural wife and lived only with
his legal wife. In the event that Smith
should fail to live in obedience with
the laws, said Mr.. Worthington, ther
he should be expelled. Mr.. Worthing-
ton pointed out that Smoot's life had
been blameless and that he is law
abider in every sense of the word.
Few Plural Marriages
1t was contended by Mr.. Worthing-
ton that plural marriages are no longer
performed with the sanction of the
Mormon church. He said that Utah
had been "raked and scraped" and
the plural marriages brought to light
since the manifesto would not amount
to one a year, and that these offend
Iyfrt
Justice. Taking up Mr.. Smoot's con-
fession that he believed in divine rev
elations, Mr.. Worthington compared
this belief with services in other
churches where divine guidance Il
sought, and argued that Mr.. Smoot's
belief is the same as that of followers
of other creeds.
Senator Knox and some other mem
bers of the committee interrogated Mr
Worthington concerning the alleged
necessity of members of the Mormon
church obtaining church consent to be-
come candidates for public office. Mr.
Worthington read from the church rule
as laid down in the Moses Thatcher
case, and construed this to mean thai
If high church official desires to be-
come a candidate for public office 1t Il
necessary for him to resign his church
Office or be excused from duties IN
connection with his church position II
it conflicts with duties to the public
Refers to Cannon Case
1t was argued by Mr.. Worthingtor
that everything that has been charged
against the Mormon church in the way
of activity in politics and business wal
known when Utah was admitted as
state, and that one of the first SEN
ators from Utah was Frank ]. Cannon
who was a Mormon and more subject
to criticism than Mr.. Smoot can be
and yet no protest was made against
him.
witnesses who attempted to testify
against the endowment house cere-
monies were characterized by Mr.
Worthington as disreputable.
Chairman Burrows inquired wher
counsel would be ready with Their
printed arguments. 1t was disclosed
that both Messrs. Worthington and
Carlisle were going out of the city anc
that the printed arguments could moi
be furnished before the middle of next
week.
1t is expected date for vote or
the case will be fixed by the committee
eoon afterward.