The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-02-15

Of church which does not chastis
them for SO doing; and, second. be
cause he is Mormon. and the Nor
mon Church is hierarchy; iisloya
to our Institutions whose will he /
bound to obey"
Subject to the limitations impose,
by the con situation. said Mr.. Knox tn
states are left untrammeled In thei
right 10 choose their senator's He re
cited the fact that the Constitution
enables the Senate to protect ltsel
against improper characters by expel,
ling them by a two thirds vote II they
are guilty OF crime offensive immo-
/ rality, disloyalty or gross impropriety
/ during their term OF service. HI
/ specified these reasons he said, be-
cause he could not imagine the Senate
I expelling member for a cause not
/ falling within one OF them.
II know no tenet In the new propo-
ganda of constitutional construction
that begins to maintain the danger
TO our country involved In the conten-
ton that Senator Of the United Stat
es may be deprived OF his seat when
ever the majority OF the Senate con-
cludes that there are doctrines taught
or have been taught in the past, by
some church organization to which he
belongs, which that majority believes
to be or have been, dangerous
Mr.. Knox said that II he were asked
to state concisely the true theory OF
the Constitution on the important point
OF the qualification Of Senator. he
would unhesitatingly say:
THAT the Constitution undertaken
to prescribe no moral or mental quail
ification, and in respect TO such quail
fications as it does prescribe, the Sem
ate, by majority vote shall Judge OF
the existence Of each case, whether the
question is raised before or after the
Senator has taken his seat. That as
all matters affecting mans moral or
mental fitness, the states are to be
the judges in the first instance sub
ject, however to the power of expul-
sion when an offense or an offensive
status extends into the period Of Sen
atorial service and such a question can
only be made after the Senator has ta-
ken his seat.
"As regards Senator Smoot all have
agreed that he is a man Of unblemished
character, possessing every constitu-
.ional qualification as a Senator Of the
United States. What then is the charg
against him? We may as well go to
the root Of the matter at once 1t Is
1nly this-he IS a member and officer
IF the Mormon Church-nothing more.
There Ia one other charge brought a.
gainst him. All other charges are in
:luded or in grew out of the fact that
le is a Mormon, and one Of the ad-
'isory counsel to the presidency Of
hat church. Clearly that in itself
cannot disqualify him whereas JUS
Ice Story said: "The Catholic and
he Protestant, the Calvanist and the
armenian the Jew and the Infldel, may
it down at the common table Of the :
ational councils without any inquisi-
ion as to their faith and mode Of wor-
hip
Concernng Senator Smoots toler-
nee Of the continued polygamous re-
ltions by Certain Mormon officials,
tr. Knox said; Y
THE only thing alleged against
moot is that he lets this sleeping dog
e. If this disqualifies him every citi-
IN Of Utah, Mormon and Gentle, is
kewise disqualified, who likewise re-
aims from prosecuting the old Nor
on polygamists-and they aldo
Declaring the Polygamy is dying out
Id that polygamous marriages have
lded in Utah. Mr. Knox said: v
1--WE are all sworn to support the con-
tuition Of the United States. Per-
nally construe this to mean l have
lemnly obligated myself not to vote
IT to deprive any person or state of
~ right guaranteed by that instru-
ent.
Entertaining this view and for the
asons have stated, could not yield :"
the opportunities and in some cases D'
e demand, that l cast my vote for tn
nator Shoots expulsion without 81
liberately violating my oath Of Of W
e; without yielding my judgment m
others as 1t Is alleged Senator Smoot
IL yield his to the Mormon Church; ba
d without converting my place here at
nF1 - "a IL T..