Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-11
PERKINS FAVORS SHOOT;
MORMOMS HAVE HIS EAR
SUPT. MILLER REVEALS UTAH
PRACTICES
to the Constitution Pro-
hibIting Polygamy Is the Only
Way to Check Evil, Declares
Legislator-Divine

Rev o. r. Miller of Washington, d.
c., legislative superintendent of the
National Temperance society. who is
spending few weeks in Southern Cal
fornia, speaking in many OF the lead
ing churches in the interest of the
temperance and reform measures now
pending before congress, gives his views
on the result of the Reed Smoot in
vestigation. Mr.. Miller said:
1.-THE first result of the Reed Smoot
investigation has been the shocking
disclosures concerning Mormonism
brought to light by this investigation.
In fact Mormonism has been tnVesti-
gated more than Reed Smoot. The in
vestjgation has shown that polygamy
is quite as generally practiced in Utah
today as it ever was notwithstanding
the pretended revelation from heaven
to the former President Woodruff for
bidding the practice of polygamy, and
the investigation has also shown that
all who go through the Endowment
House must take an oath to avenge the
blood of the prophet Joseph smith on
this wicked nation and It's people even
to the extent of taking up arms, IT
necessary. against the government"
"What has been proven against Reed
Smooth
1.-THE investigation has so far FAILED
to prove that Reed Smoot is polyg-
amist although there seems to be
very general impression that as the
Mormon church throughout all It's his
tory has so strongly advocated and
practical polygamy that no man could
be one of the twelve apostles who
was not a polygamist.
Why Smoot Stays
"There was at one time an at
tempt made to prove that Reed Smoot
had another wife in Mexico, but While
many believe that he has another wire
somewhere, no satisfactory proof of 1t
has as yet been Forthcoming,
hence his opponents have given up the
attempt to eXpel him on the ground
polygamy, but have pressed hard the
claim that he should be excluded or
expelled from the senate on account
of having taken an oath disloyal to the
government when he passed through
the Endowment House.
why was he allowed to take his
seat in the first place."
"As you we'll know, Immediately after
his election, thousands of protests were
sent to the senate, especially to Sen
ator Burrows, chairman of the COM
mittee on privileges and elections.
urging the exclusion of Smoot from the
senate, and it was supposed that when
his name was called and his creden-
tials presented that the chairman OF
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions, who had received so many pro-
tests, would challenge his seat and ask
that his credentials be not accepted and
that his case be referred to committee
for Investigation before he be allowed
to take his seat. Had that been done,
Reed Smoot could not have taken his
seat to this day, but for some unac-
countable reason, his seat was not
challenged at that time and he has been
exercising the right of senator ever
since"
What methods have been advocated
for removing him."
To Supreme Court
"Some senators advocate excluding
him, which would require only major
ity vote, while others advocate eXpell-
ing him which would require two
thirds vote. There is serious question,
however as to the constitutlonallty or
excluding a man who is already In,
and many hold that the only thing that
can now legally be done is to expei
him, which, of course, will be much
more difficult because of the two-thirds
vote required, and because Reed Smoot
is a Republican. In my opinion, the
probabilities are that the question will
be referred to the United States SUI
preme court as to whether the senate
now has the power to exclude him. or
whether they must expel him in order
to get him out so that he is likely to
hold his seat very nearly his whole
term before final action will be taken.
what do you think will be the re-
suit of the final vote?"
well, I believe that whichever way
is decided upon, whether to exclude or
to expel him, that when the matter
comes to a final vote, Smoot will be
driven from the senate, if in the
meantime. the Christian people of the
country will let their senator's know
that they expect them to vote against
him.
Gets After Perkins
"And at this time. the good people
of California who oppose Reed Smoot
remaining in the senate, would do we'll
to write to Senator Perkins, as / have
just received word from one of my
colleagues at Washington that Senator
Perkins was inclined to be favorable
to the Mormons, probably because the
Mornons are urging him to favor Reed
Smoot, and other people are silent"
us there any other objections to
Reed Smoot besides those mentioned?'
Eyes. In this country where the
sentiment is so strong against the
union of church and state, there is
well defined pubic sentiment tndt
high church official of any denomina-
ton should not hold a high office such
as that of congressman or senator.
There would be a serious objection to
even a Methodist, Episcopalian or
Roman Catholic bishop or archbishop
holding such office When Reed Smoot
is removed from the senate undoubted-
ly another Mormon will be elected in
his place, but probably not high
church official.
Prohibit Polygamy
"A far more important thing than
to expel Reed Smoot, is to secure an
amendment to the United States con-
stitution prohibiting polygamy and
polygamous cohabitation. The al
manac, or the time limit, will remove
Reed Smoot, but it will take more than
the almanac to drive polygamy out of
this country"
But does not our government guar
antee freedom of religious liberty, and