The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-06-12

respective parties. stating in a general
way what they expected to prove and
what their claims were to the legal as
poets OF the case. Later the taking OF
testimony commenced.
Numerous witnesses were produced and
examined before the committee, both on
behalf of the protestants and on behalf
! If Mr. Smoot The taking of this evil
, lence was continued from time TO time
, until the 25th day of January, 1906 when
I he further taking OF testimony was
closed and counsel were heard In argu-
der consideration with a view to making
a report, Afterwards. at the present ses-
sion the case was reopened for the fur
ther taking OF testimony, after which the
case was again argued by counsel.
In the protest signed by Mr.. Leilich
alone 1t was charged that Reed Smoot is
a polygamist. and that. as an apostle OF
the Church of Jesus Christ OF Latter Day
Saints-commonly called the Mormon
Church-he had taken an oath of such
by disqualified from taking the oath OF
office required OF a United States Sena-
tor" No one appeared however. to sus-
tain either of these charges. No evidence
has been offered In support Of either of
them, but on the contrary both charges
were refuted by number OF witnesses
mittee has been based chiefly
upon the charges made in the pro-
test signed by Mr.. Paden and others.
At the preliminary hearing already re-
ferred to counsel for the protestants pre-
sented in a more formal way than had
been dono in the protest Itself. the
charges supposed TO be embodied in that
protest
The charges thus presented are as fol-
lows:
First. The Mormon priesthood, accord
ing to the doctrine OF that church and
the belief and practice OF Its member
ship, IS vested with, and assumes to ex-
ercise, supreme authority in all things
temporal and spiritual, civil and politi-
cal. Tho head OF the church claims to
receive divine revelations. and these Reed
Smoot- by his covenants and obligations.
they affect things spiritual or things
temporal
Second The fret presidency and twelve
apostles. OF whom Reed Smoot is one are
supreme In the exercise of this authority
OF the church and in the transmission Of
that authority to their successors. Each
Of them Is called prophet seer. and rev.
elator.
Third. AS shown by their teaching and
by their own lives. this body OF men has
not abandoned their belief In polygamy
and polygamous cohahitatioD. On the
(a) As the ruling authorities OF the
church they promulgate In the most SOL
emn manner the doctrine of polygan1y
without reservation.
(b The president OF the Mormon
Church and majority of the twelve
lygamous cohabitation, and somo Of them
have taken polygamous wives since tho
manifesto OF 1890. These things nave
been done with the knowledge and coun-
tenanco Of Reed Smoot, Plural marriage
ceremonies have been performed by
apostles since the manifesto OF 1880. and
many bishops and other high officials Of
the church have taken plural wives since
that time. All OF the first presidency
and twelve apostles encourage, counte-
nance. conceal, and connive at polygamy
and reward by high office and distin-
guished preferment those who most per-
sistently and defantly violate the law OF
Fourth. Though pledged by the COM
pact and bound by the law OF their Com
monwealth. this supreme body, whose
bers were individually directly respon-
sible for good faith to the American pco-
pie. permitted. without protest or objec-
tlon, their legislators to pass law NULL
tying the statute against polygamous CO.
ha bltation.
In substance these charges so far as
they seem to be proper subject OF in
Quiry here are:
l. That the Mormon Church exacts and
receives from Its members. including Reed
Smoot. absolute obedience in all political
matters.
2. That the Mormon Church is promul-
eating the doctrine Of polygamy. and that
the first presidency and oil the twelve
apostles, Including Reed Smoot, ''encour-
age, countenance, conceal. and copnire at
polygamy and polygamous cohabitauon.
and reward those who practice IT,"
No evidence has been submitted to tho
committee or has come TO it's knowledge
In anywise affecting inluriously the gen.
eral character of Reed Smoot On the
contrary. 1t has been admitted by tho
protestants through their counsel and a
number OF witnesses on both sides have
testified that his moral character Is un-
impeachable In every respect In the
protest OF Mr.. Paden and others 1t is ex-
plicitly stated that they do not charge
him with any ofrense cognizable by law.
Some Historical Facts.
To a proper understanding OF the volu-
mlnous evidence In tho case, In so far as
II tends to throw any light upon the
question whether Reed Smoot is entitled
to retain his seat in the Senate. II viii
be useful TO set forth, in q preliminary
way, certain indlsputable historical facts.
The Mormon people. under the lead of
Brigham Young, In their pilgrimage from