Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-12-17

Washington, D. c., Dec. I'm the
upper house yesterday. Senator Bur
rows of Michigan, chairman of the
oOlfr1idttee on. privileges and elections
addressed the solons on the report OF
the committee having in charge the
matter of Reed Shoots right to sit
as a representative in the upper
house of congress from the state of
Utah
Senator Burrows said there had
been no proof submitted to sustain
the allegation that Mr.. Smoot is a
polygamist.
MIR. Burrows impeachment was
based entirely upon the connection of
Mr.. Smooth with the governing body
of the church, consisting Of the pres
idency and the twelve apostles. He
referred to this body as hierarchy"
and said:
The power exercised by this body
is far-reaching and commanding, hold
ing in it's grasp practically the entire
membership of the organization and
through it the domination of the
state"
He said that 'since the admission
of Utah into the union the people OF
the state have been, if possible more
completely under the domination OF
the Mormon hierarchy than during
the long years of their territorial eX-
istence," and in support of this state
ment added Immediately and at the
very first election thereafter the hier-
archy resumed its domination in state
affairs, taking possession practically
of every official position in the state
government, and has held them ever
since with unEielding tenacity. The
only Office held by a non-Mormon un-
der the state government during the
ten years of It's existence, as an elec-
tive officer, has been the attorney
general"
He cited many instances of political
interference not only in Utah but ad
joining states, and quoted at length
the church manifesto of 1896 requit-
ing members to obtain the consent OF
the hierarchy before becoming candi-
dates for office. He went on:
NO more cunningly devised scheme
could possibly be concocted to put
the church in politics and make it po-
tential therein than this
PoIygamy Unquestoned.
He said that MIR. Shoots member
ship in the church governing body
which inculcates a belief In polygamy
is conceded. "The evidence upon this
point is 50 complete and overwhelm-
ing as to leave no doubt as to the
truth of the allegation; that major
ity of the members of this hierarchy
has continually and persistently lived
in polygamy, and is today openly and
comics sedly defying the laws of the
land prohibiting such crimes. The
record is so shocking as to challenge
credulity.'
He spoke in this connection of the
establishment of the committee at the
confessions of President Smith and
Of the revelations of the fact that
eight of the twelve apostles have plur-
al wives, and added: eff the public
press is to be credited, this number
has been augmented during the last
year to forty-three."
Coming to the connection of Senator
Smoot with the hierarchy Mr.. Bur-
rQ<x said that practically all of lis
members we're polygamists when he
became a member.
THE vital question, therefore, is"
he said, can one become a member
OF and identify himself with a band
of lawbreakers, knowing them to be
such, participate in their counseIs and
sustain them in their conferences, and
yet escape all responsibility for their
unlawful acts? Such a contention
win not stand the test of either law
or reason
"The senator's completely in encour-
aging polygamy and polygamous CO
habitatfon does not consist wholly in
the fact that he is one of the govern
ing body OF that church. BY repeat
ed acts he has,-as member of the
quorum of the twelve apostles, given
active aid and support to the HER
archy in its defiance of the statutes
of this state and the laws of common
decency."
Disqualified for Membership.
Senator Burrows concluded as fol-
lows
ut is submitted that the senator, by
becoming a member of and identifying
himself with such an organization
and participating in its functions, has
disqualified himself for membership N
this body. An organization that fos-
tiers and encourages crime; tramples
upon all law, human and divine; prac-
tees polygamy and polygamous CO.
habitation; desecrates the home; de-