The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-20

was NJ no time raised much above the
conversational tone. There was only
a fair attendance Of senators. and the
galleries were half filled. The meager-
ness of the audience was due to the
fact that the senate met at the I'M
usual early hour of II. Mr.. Smoot was
warmly congratulated by many sen
afOrs when he took his seat. He was
followed by Senator Dillingham;, who
made an argument in support of the
Utah senator.
Speaking in his own defense, Senator
Reed SmOOt addressed the senate on
the general subject Of MormOnism He
condemned polygamy in the strongest
terms, and declared emphaticaily that
he had taken no oath inconsistent with
that he has taken as senator. Mr.
SmoOt spoke as follows.
smoot and PoIyeamy.
Mr.. President: In what I shall say
to the senate ! do not intend to ana
lyze the voluminous testimony taken
before the committee. or TO make an
argument thereon. The greater part
Of this testimony has been before the
senate for more than two years. and
all of il for nearly one year. It has
been fully argued by the distinguished
senators who have already spoken upon
this question. Ny own testimony, COW
ord. is before you, and I do not feel
that 1 should trespass upon your in
dulging in an extended discussion. In
deed, l should have been content to
submit the case upon the record and
speeches made by others. without say
ing anything myself. except that there
are certain matters which can be
known only to myself; and I think that
the senate is entitled to frank stale
ment from me as to my personal at
titude respecting these matters. The
senate is entitled TO know my personal
attitude upon the subject of polygamy
and upon the subject of loyalty TO this
government. Upon these two matters
shall express myself briefly. but with
entire candOr.
Has But One Wife.
First. 1 desire to state, as ] have
heretofore stated to the senate and te
the country. that / am not. and never
have been. a pOlygamist. ! have never
had but one wife, and she is my pres
ent wife.
There has been more or less prevo-
lent opinion that the doctrine of pOlyG-
amy was obligatory upon the members
of he Mormon church, when in truth
and fact no such obligatory doctrine
abs ever existed. The revelation con-
ceraing polygamy, as originally made
BILE and not mandatory. As matter
OF fact. only a small percentage Of the
adherents of that faith have ever been
pOIyganists The vast majority of the
adult members from its foundation to
the present have been mOnOgdmists-
1.-THE Mormon people, however. re-
garded this doctrine-althCugh per-
Missile In character--as part Of their
religious faith, and when the law was
passed denouncing its practice. the en-
forcennent of the law was resisted on
the ground that it was unconstitution-
al as being an Interference with their
religious liberty Appeals were taken
to the highest courts of the United
States. every phase of the subject was
tested in the courts. and the law was
upheld. Then the church adopted the
manifesto against p9lygany. which
was ratified by the general. conference
of the people. and thereupon the prae-
tice CT polygainy for the future was
abandoned
Continued on Page 2.