The Washington times., 1906-06-11

dency of the church. and has voted 10
sustain him, after full knowledge that
he was living in polySamous cohabita-
tiOn with five wives. II is charged also,
that he assisted in the election OF other
officials equally guilty Of polygamy.
Says the report:
We're living in polygamous relations with
a number OF wives. was a matter OF
such common knowledge in the COM
munity that it is incredible that Mr..
notice OF this condition Of affairs to
at least have put him on inquiry. If
he did not know of these facts. it was
because he took nains not TO be informed
OF them.
AT no time has he uttered a syllable
of protest against the conduct of his
mon church. but. on the contrary, has
sustained. them in their envSuragement
of polygamy and polygam Gus cohabita
ton, both by his acts and by his silence.
In the Judgment Of the committee. Mr..
SmOOt is no more entitled to a seat in
the Senate than he would be If he were
with a plurality OF wives"
1t is stated that books con; aiming the
doctrine, of polygamy are still. circulated
as equal in authority 10 the Bible. The
president and eight of the twelve apos-
lies are noted polygamists. and by their
example teach the crime more effacious-
Attention is called to the fact that
number of plural marriages have been
contracted since the manifesto of 1890
fOTbidding them. and in violation Of the
law of the State of Utah. and II is de-
Clared to be morally impossible" that
they could have happened without the
knowledge of the first presidency and
the twelve apostles.
Two chapters of the report are devoted
70 the domination Of the church in busi-
ness and politics and il is declared that
demonstrates
existence Of a complete union between
the church and State in Utah. The rule
that no church officer of prominence can
become candidate for public office
without first obtaining permission is
characterized as a species of political
usurpation. striking at the very founda-
tiOnS Of our Government"
With regard to the oath of vengeance.
the report says:
''It is In harmony with the views and
conduct OF the leaders of the Mormon
people in former days when they openly
dCtiCd the government OF the United
States, and Is also in harmony with the
conduct of those who give the law TO the
Mormon Church today in their defiant
disregard Of the laws against polygamy,
and pOlygamoUs cOhabitation-"
Referring TO Shoots testimony that he
had taken the endowment oath the re-
port says: 1T is difficult to conceive
how one could discharge the obligation
which rests upon every Senator to so
perform his official duties as to promote
the welfare OF the people OF the United
States and at the same time to be calling
down the vengeance Of heaven on this
nation because Of the killing of the
founders Of the Mormon Church sixty
years ago"
The Minority Report.
The minority report. signed by Sen
atOrs Foraker. Beveridge. Dillingham;.
Hopkins. and Knox. was presented ty
Mr. Foraker. 1t holds that there is no
jus; Il und for expellinE Smoot or for
finding him disqualified to mold tac seat
he occupies. His election was regular.
His private character is irreoroachaole.
He is not polygamist. ana has been
noted for his opposition 10 plural mar
riages. So far as mere belief and mem
bership in the Mormon Church are con-
cerned. he is fully within his rights and
privileges under the guarantee CT re-
lsious freedom given BY the Constitu,
tiUI-.
"As to the endowment oath" the re-
port says that the alleged nature Of the
obligation as developed in the testi-
of the disreputable and unUrustworthy
character OF the Witnesses
All that II Is attempted 10 show as
the character Of this oath" the minor
lty say, is positively contradicted by
Smoyt and a great number of wit
neSscs whose standing and character
and whose reputation for truth and
Neracity are unquestioned. Upon this
state OF evidence we are Of opinion
that no ground has been established on
winch 20 predicate finding or belief
that SmOOt ever took any obligation
involving hostility to the United States.
or requiring him TO regard his allegi-
ance TO the Mormon Church as para
mount TO MS allegiance and duty to
The United States"
Concluding. the minority says. ''The
undersigned are OF the opinion that
there Is no just ground for expelling
senator Smoot or for finding him dis
qualified 10 mold the seat he occupies,
because of the fact that he, in common
with All the people of his State. has
not made war. upon. but has acqui-
eSced in. a condition for which he had
70 original responsibility"