The Washington herald., 1907-02-18
The Case for Senator smoot.

An incisive and destructive analysis Of
the case Of Senator Smoot was made by
Senator Knox in a brief speech on Thurs
day last Within the compass of five
pages of the Congressional Record. Mr..
Knox examined the main points of the
evidence taken in the Smoot inquiry and
the arguments advanced in favor of de-
privlng the Utah Senator of his seat. 4
practical, common-sense consideration of
these arguments and the evidence upon
which they are based led the Pennsyl-
vania Senator TO the conclusion that he
could not vote for the expulsion Of Sena-
tor SmoOt without doing violence to the
Constitution, which guarantees to each
State equal representation with every
other in the Senate Mr. Knox assumed
at the outset that the Senate would not
seriously consider any other method than
expulsion of depriving Smoot of his
seat, for Senator Smoot possesses every
constitutional qualification as Senator.
and so cannot be removed by a majority
vote on that ground, and if removed at
ALL must be expelled by two-thirds vote
on some other ground than constitutional
disqualification.
What IS the charge against Senator
Smoot? Mr.. Knox answers this question
very briefly; He is a member and an
officer Of the Mormon Church-nothing
more All other charges are collateral
and grow out of the charge that Smoot
is a Mormon. Mr. Knox goes into all
these charges seriatim. First, it is alleged
that the Mormon Church is a theocraey,
a government of priests ruling in mat
tiers temporal as well as spiritual. Mr..
Knox was unable to find anything in the
publicly professed teachings or doctrines
of the church to support this allegation.
'The creed of the Mormon Church" as
the book of doctrines shows. prima facie.
at all events, mot only disclaims the
right to exercise political authority. but
enj0ins obedience to the State in all
things. Nor have Mormon oficeholders.
as a matter Of practice, disregarded the
laws Of the land and attempted to sub
stitute the will Of the church therefor
But it is alleged that revelations NAV be
received enjoining disobedience TO the
law Of the land. Such revelations. how
ever, supposing any to be received. are
not binding upon any person as against
the law of the land. though Senator
Smoot admitted that If he were sure God
had commanded him to disobey the law
Of the land, he would feel under obIiga-
ton TO obey the command. but that he
would leave the country before violating
the law. With this medieval religions
belief Senator Knox was not disposed to
quarrel. Religious belief is not an Of
Tense or a defense" and man may
believe what he chooses without coming
in conflict with the law; while his re-
ligious belief viii not avail him as a
protection if he violates the law. Sena-
tor SmOOt believes that he might receive
a revelation. AS a matter Of fact. he
has never received one. Mr.. Knox takes
the practical view that the mere posi-
bility of receiving a revelation does not
constitute a danger of such magnitude
and imminence as TO justify Shoots ex-
pulson from the Senate
The chief charge against Smoot. ac-
cording 10 those who desire his removal
from the Senate, is that he encourages.
cOuntenances. and connives at the vio-
lation OF law He is one of the
apostles of the church, and as such voted
to keep in office polygamous members Of
the church. With respect to this charge.
Dir. Knox urges that in so voting Smoot
did not in any way pass upon the legality
of the p0lygamous acts of those officers.
but merely upon the moral quality Of
the acts as measured by the standards
OF the church, and therefore Of their
fitness to hold the exalted positions