Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-06-15
Senate RECEIVES
SM00T REPORTS
UTAH MAN HELD AS MORMON
CHURCH TOOL BY MAJORITY
OF COMMITTEE.
Is DECLARED NOT
ENTITLED TO SEAT
said to Represent Hierarchy Which
Has Usurped States Functions.
Minority Finds Him Eligible to
Upper House os Cong3ess.

mlttee on privileges and elections
In the case of Senator Reed Smoot,
of Utah, were Monday presented in
the senate. the former by Senator Bur.
rows. declaring that Mr.. Smoot is
not entitled to his seat, and the lat.
ter by Senator Foraker, taking the
opposite view. At the same time
Senator Bailey. who is member Of
the committee, stated that while he
concurred in the views OF the ma
5ority. that Mr.. Smoot is not entitled
to his seat he was OF the opinion
that Mr.. Smoot could not be de-
prived OF his seat and the constttu-
ton except by resolution of expul-
sion"
In accordance with Senator Bur-
rows request an extra number of
copies OF the reports and OF the hear
tngs in the case was ordered printed.
Mr.. Burrows also gave notice that
he would call up the case at the
earliest possible moment consistent
with the public business" and SEN
ator Foraker expressed his approval
Of this announcement.
folygamy Charges Upheld.
The majority report is signed by
Senators Burrows, Dolliver, Dubois,
Pettus. Bailey, overman and Frazier,
and is in part as follows:
The more deliberately and carefully
the testimony taken on the investiga-
ton Is considered the more irresistibly
1t leads to the conclusion that the facts
stated in the protest are true-that
6moot is one of self-perpetuating
body OF men, known as the first presi-
dency and IL apostles of the Church
OF Jesus Christ OF the Latter Day
Saints, commonly known as the Nor
mon church; that these men claim di-
vine authority to control the members
OF said church in all things. temporal
as We'll as spiritual; that this author
tty is and has been for several years
past SO exercised as 70 encourage the
practice OF polygamy and polygamous
cohabitation in the state Of Utah and
elsewhere, contrary to the constitution
and laws OF Utah and the law OF the
land; that the first presidency and IL
apostles do now control and for q long
time past have controlled the political
affairs OF Utah and have thus brought
about in that state union OF church
and State contrary to the constitution
of the United States, and that Smoot
comes here not as an accredited rep
resentative of Utah in the senate, but
as the choice of the hierarchy which
controls the church, and has usurped
the functions Of the state In Utah.
Not Entitled to Seat.
ut follows. as necessary conclu-
sion from these facts. that smoot is
not entitled to q seat IN the senate
as senator from the state OF Utah. ."
The report says 1t Is shown beyond
reasonable doubt that the authority of
the first presidency and IL apostles is
30 exercised over the members Of the
Mormon church as to inculcate q be-
lief in the divine origin Of polygamy
and polygamous cohabitation.
Quotations from the, Book Of Nor
mon and other publications are cited
70 prove the alleged Mormon belief
that the revelation on the subject of
polygamy IS Of higher authority than
the manifesto forbidding the prac-
tice.
1T is very evident" the report says.
that If polygamy were discounten-
anced by the leaders Of that church 1t
would very soon be thing Of the past
among the members OF that church.
On the contrary. 1t appears that since
the admission of Utah into the union
as a state the authorities Of the Nor
mon church have countenancsd and
encouraged the commission Of the
crime OF polygamy instead Of prevent
ing 1t, as they could easily have Done"
Testimony Suppressed by Church.
One intensely interesting chapter Of
the report Is devoted to the charge
that testimony was suppressed by Nor
mon leaders, through the sending out
OF the country Of apostles and other
officials who were charged with TAX
ing plural wives since the manifesto.
The rapport says:
1T would be nothing short Of self
qualification for one to believe that all
these most important witnesses
CHANGED to leave the United States at
about the same time and without ref
erence to ths investigation. All the
facts and circumstances surrounding
the transaction point to the conclusion
that every one of the witnesses named
let the country at the instances of the
rulers of the Mormon church, and to
avoid tcstifying before the committee"
Untitled to Seat Say Minority.
Tint Rced smoot possesses all the
QUALIFICATIONS prescribed by the consti-
t..ti9n to make him eligible to a seat
In The senate, and that the regularity
ct his election by the legislature of
the state OF .rah is not questioned III
an. minnc., is the conclusion reached
H.. he minority of the committee
This report Is signed by Senator's For
e., Reverilse. Dillingham;. Hopkins
and Knox.
Gunls,as Geld Tor Junk.
Manila, jane s. The gunboats Alba,
Mindanao ami Maileno, which were
captured by Admiral Dewey when he
destroyed the Spanish feeet, have been
sold as junk for $4,000 at olongapo.
The boats participated in the battle
Of Manila bay.
Wouldn't Call.
mo, don't care to call on her, she
gossips So"