New-York tribune., 1906-06-12
sMOOT REPORTS IN.
uzIORITY AGAINST HIN.
serafc Minority Do Not Question
His Right to Seat.


ne' - taking the opposite viow. At the same
80 senator Bailey. who IS member OF the COM
80 said that wS.le he cOncurred in the views
-, majority TIA; Mr.. Snnoot is entitled to
9 eco. ne was Of the opinioE that Mr.. Smoot
h ,s rot he deprived of his seat under the Con-
.~,on except by resolution OF expulsion
o,,rr5aree with Senator Burrows's request an
.,t-s number Of copies Of the reports and of the
s.-4nes in the case ordered printed. Mr.
--ovrs also gave notice that ne would call up the
. AT the earliest possible moment consistent
. .be ruhlic business and Senator Foraker
'-sssed his approval Of this announcement.
eo,,,or Sroot was present in the Senate chamber
- The reports were presented. He smiled when
s,-,tor Bailey made his statement. Under The
,sr suggested by the Texas Senator. a vote of
.o,hirds would he necessary 10 vacete the seat
:, nc Ttah Senator.
-Fe majority report. signed ny Senators Burrows
rou,ver Dubois Pettus. Bailey. Overman and
rrarier, gives the following reasons in part for
s.,la-ing Senator Smoot not entitled 10 a seat;
That Nj s4o9t moot Is one of IA, seIf-perpetuating
Twelve Apostles Of The Church Of Jesus Christ of
LATER Day Saints. commonly known as the Nor
n control the members OF said Church in ali
thirgs temporal we'll spiritual; that this
81 exercised by the said First Presidency and
Twelve Apostles a. 10 encourage the practice OF
-olvesmy and polygamOus COhahitatiOn in the state
Of 5an siS ~ st Of Law s5 ~ me ne 1 S ION
and thai the said First Presidency and Twelve
s-es.lss 20 now control and for a long time rast
fave ctrolied the political affairs Of The state Of
ifsh and have thus brought about in said state a
rion Of church and State. contrary 10 the consti-
To1stitution Of the United States: and the said
Reed snoot comes here. not as the accredited rep
rssentative of the state of Utah in the Senate Of
the United states tut as the choice of the hier-
fhe functions of The State IN said State of Utah
Instances Of plural marriages are. cited. and the
report adds;
Is morally iIppossib!e that an these violations
plural marriages co2lc nave been committed with
out the knowledge Of the First Presidency and the
twelve Apostles Of the Mormon Church Further
more Il shown by the testimony Of Of the
ihe established law OF the Church no person could
secure plural wife except hy-consent Of the Pres-
dent OF the Ohurch
One interesting chapter Of the report is devoted
70 The charge that testimony was suppressed by
Mormon leaders. through the sending out Of the
country Of apostles and other officials, who
charged with taking plural wives since the mani
festo
another chapter IS devoted 10 the manifesto and
the statement of one witness forth that 1.-The
manifesto IS only a trick 10 beat lthe devn at his
0Vn game"
The majority report charac1erizes wholly
fensbe" the position that because Smoot himself
does not practise polygamy, and there is no evi-
dence 70 show that he has personally and indiyidu
ally encouraged the practice IN others. he ought
soca-eS. Tic report continues:
la the Judgment Of the oouanittee Mr smoot Is
W0uiG be u DE- We're associating in polygamous
haGtstloH w',a plurality Of wives.
TIE report discusses the political domination of
tha First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles OF
the Church. mich is described as most injurious TO
tbe Interests Of the state.
Te ausl chapter Of the report. just preceding the
ealclusols OF the committee. quoted st the be-
ginning Of this abstract. IS devoted 10 the oath OF
Vengeance administered 10 those who go through
tas ceremony known as taking the endowments"
ne committee says IL was proven that an oath
administered expressed substantially in this
form.
that won viii pray and never cease 10 pray Al
mighty GOD 10 aVsnee the blood OF the prophets
upon this nation and that you Will teach the same
70 your children and 10 your childrens children
unto the third and fourth generation.
There can be question: declared the com
mittee, in regard TO the taking Of the oath OF
vengeance BY Mr.. Smoot. He testified that he
went through the ceremony OF taking the endow-
IN the year 1850. and the bead OF the Mormon
Church stated ia his testimony that she ceremony
is Tow the same 7hat i has always been.
An obligation OF the nature Of the one before
mentioned would seem TO be wholly incompatible
with the duty which Mr SmoOt as a member OF
ne United States Senate would owe TO the nation
Attached 10 the minority report, signed by Sen
tors Foraker, Beveridge Dillingham;. Hopkins and
Knox. IS an extended statement OF the investiga-
don conducted by the committees continuing over
three years, together with abstract OF all of
he material, relevant and competent testimony
o1ered from the point OF view Of these Senators
Tie report of the minority, outside OF the state
neHt, Is brief but touches upon all OF the points
believed by The minority 10 be essential. Con-
eerning the character Of the Utah Senator. who
has been trial for his membership in the Sen
fe the minority says:
ASIDE from his connection with the Mormon
Church SO lar IS his private character is con-
seheo u IS, according 10 all the Witnesses IRE
poseha0e for az who testify on the subject agree
a.shl !fe entirely free from immoral practices OF
esi one wife and has been noted from early man
I nece for his opposition 10 plural mArTtages and
k.onabiy GlQ As much any other member Of the
mormon Church 10 bring about the prohibition OF
--flAef plural marriages.
50 FAR mere belief and membership in the
mormon Church are concerned. says the minority,
Reed smoot is within his rights and privileges
ehoer the guarantee OF religious freedom given by
TIE Constitution Of the United States. for there is
10 statutory provision. and could not be. prohibit
"g either such belief OF such membership.
lie minority says there remain but two grounds
VI which TIE right or title OF Reed Smoot 10 HIS
'eat is contested. and these are as follows:
@, lha' he is shown 10 have taken what is spoken
N ne record as the endowment OATH" by which
~ obligated himself 10 make his allegiance 10 the
States, and
.hat by reason OF his official relation 10 the
.lfcf, Of its apostles. he is responsible for
pS.gam0us cohabitalion, which Yet continues
111ong tie MOrmOus. Notwithstanding II Is prohiD-
Nea by law.
As 10 The endowment oath" IL is sufficient in
- summary say that the testimony Is collated
&c analyzed and thereby shown 70 be limited in
sslount vague and indefinite in character. and Ut
- unreliable because OF Inc clsreputable and
-Nlott~oTtAy character OF the witnesses
~-'G quoting testimony OF various witnesses on
Ne subject of prosecutions, tie minority says:
.sre conditions in Utah since Reed SrnOot became
- ellc.sl D Mnrrnon Church IN 800 have been