Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-11

1t the domination of the state by arrogat-
ing to itself and intoxicating the belief
in it's followers that they are endowed
with supernatural powers as prophets,
missioned by the Almighty to dominate
the affairs of this world, and that re-
sistance to the will of this theocracy is
rebellion against God. The testimony
he commended, fully sustains the alIega-
ton that the Mormon priesthood is vested
with supreme authority in all things,
temporal and spiritual; and that the first
presidency and the twelve apostles are
supreme in the exercise and transmits
sion of the mandates of this authority.
Rule of the Hierarchy. =
He said that "since the admission of
Utah into the Union the pc pie of the state
have been. if possible, more completely un-
der the domination of the Mormon HER
archy than during the long years of their
territorial existence" and. in support Of
this statement, added: Immediately and
at the very first election thereafter the
hierarchy resumed its domination in state
affairs, taking possession practically OF
every official position in the state govern
ment and has held them ever since with
unyielding tenacity. The only Office held
by a non-Mormon under the state govern
ment during the ten years of its existence,
as an elective officer, has been the attorney
general.
He cited many instances Of political inter-
ference not only in Utah, but adjoining
states. and quoted at length the church
manifests of 1896 requiring members to OBJ
tain the consent of the hierarchy before be-
coming candidates for Office. Smoot had
been compelled to obtain this permission.
He was nominated by the hierarchy" said
Mr.. Burrows, land the selection ratified by
the legislature" He went on:
mo more cunningly devised scheme could
possibly be concocted to put the church in
politics and make it potential therein than
this. For the moment it is known that
candidate has the Endorsement of the
church and permission of the hierarchy to
be a candidate, that moment he has back
of him the whole power Of the Mormon
Church and his election is assured.
There has been no case In which can
didate for a high office in Utah has OBJ
tanned the consent of the church to run and
has been defeated"
He said that Mr.. Shoots membership in
the church governing body which includes
belief in polygamy is conceded. Con-
Guiding that the members of the hierarchy
teach polygamy as principle of human
conduct, he took up the question as to
whether they protect it; on that point he
said:
Continued Practice of Polygamy.
1.-The evidence upon this point is so COM
plete and overwhelming as to leave no
doubt as to the truth of the allegation. The
proof is indubitable that in spite Of the
manifesto of 1890 issued by the head of the
church, counseling the suspension Of po-
lygamy; in spite that majority Of the
members of this hierarchy has continually
and persstently lived in polygamy and is
today openly and confessedly 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 aston
ishment of the committee at the confession
of President Smith and of the revelation of
the fact that eight of the twelve apostles
have plural wives. Referring to Smiths
confession of five wives and fortytwo chill
dren, Mr. Burrows added:
"If the public press is to be credited,
this number has been augmented during
the last year to forty-threc, and while we
are discussing the right of the representa-
tive of the hierarchy to a seat in this body,
We can imagine its sanity head sitting in
the home of his fifth plural wife, rocking
the. cradle of the largest iliegitimate Off
spring of his debauchery and crime, and
with sanctimonious air singing the familiar
hymn of his church,:
Now the Gentle reign is DER,
Darkness sewers earth no more,
Gentle tyrants sink to hell,
NOws the day of Israeli
He then declared that "it is shown by the
testimony that the majority of the apostles
are living in polygamous cohabitation in
Guiding the president of the twelve. Plural
marriages are performed in secret in dark
ened rooms on the highways remote from
habitation.
Senator Shoots Completely.
Coming to the connection of Senator
Smoot with the hierarchy. Mr.. Burrows
said that practically all of its members
were polygamists when he became mem
ber 1.-The vital question therefore is" he
said. "Can one become member of and
identify himself with a band Of lawbreak-
ers, knowing them to be such. participate
in their counsels and sustain them In their
conferences, and yet escape all responsible
ity for their unlawful acts? Such con-
tention will not stand the test of either
law or reason.
1.-THE senator's completely In encouraging
polygan1y and polygamous cohabitation
does not consist wholly in the fact that he
Is one of the governing body of that
church. BY repeated acts he has as q
member of the quorum of the twelve apos-