The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-01-06
THE COMPLETE PROOF.

The Smoot case seems likely 20 be
| brought TO an issue before tho Senate
during this session. After having secured
long series Of post tponements. during
which the country grew nauseated and
weary Of the entire affair and much of
| the revolving testimony of the church
| leaders and many Of the fatal admis-
| sions of Smoot himself was forgotten,
| the Mormon apostle now affects to de.
| sire an early vote on the resolution of
| the Committee on Privileges and ,Elec-
| tions, which holds that he is not en-
| titled 10 his seat There has been no
| time during this long controversy. when
| it has not been the wish of the pro-
| testants against Smoot to have the case
| decided; all the delays have been in
his interest. The only reason now for
| asking immediate action is because he
feels that the country is charging him
with pettifogging postponement, or be-
cause he believes that political consid.
erations will prevail and church and
business influences will affect a sufficient
number of the Senators to protect him.
Senator Burrows made the point that
Apostle Smoot is responsible for the
teaching and practice Of polvgamy. II
has been generally admitted, even by
his allies, that. if this point were sub
stantiated, he would have no right to
retain his seat in the Senate-the case
would be simple and an adverse de-
cision would be Immediately reached.
But the men who and the newspapers
which speak for him deny his compile
ity.
And yet the proof is so plain that
no one need TO err. If the Mormon
church teaches polygamy, Reed Smoot
is responsible. And the Mormon church
does teach polygamy Its standard
work of commandments is the Doctrine
and Covenants. and that Doctrine and
Covenants contains as the direct law Of
Almighty God, a revelation which is
mandatory for the practice OF polyg
amy. That Doctrine and Covenants
contains no word of the manifesto
which repeals the revelation on polyg-
amy and contains no sentence which
modi6es the polygamouS decree
So significant was this matter deemed
at the time of the investigation that
Smoot S own counsel procured from the
president of the church, while he was
on the witness stand, promise to have
the manifesto inbibiting polygamy in
serted in the next edition Of the book
The following colloquy occurred in
Smoot' s presence, Mr.. Worthington be-
ing his counsel:
Mr.. Worthington--It appears here that
the Doctrine and Covenants continue TO
be printed without the manifesto. Why
is 1t that the manifesto is not printed
and distributed with the other revelations
contained in the Doctrine and Cove
nants?
Joseph F. SmIth-So far as ! know. t.
never thought of IT, II never occurred
TO me, but. from the circumstances exist
ing at this time and what have heard in
relation TO the matter, It appears TO me
that 1t should he In the Doctrine and
Covenants, and | shall certainly use nv
influence to have II put in the next edi-
ton that is published.
Under the circumstances that also
was promise made by Smoot himself; !;
for the pledge of the president was uti-
lized for Smoot s benefit.
Yet the Doctrine and Covenants con-
tinues to go out to the church and TO
all the world with the alleged revela-
tion commanding polygamy glaring
from its pages in bold types; but no
sign of the manifesto, and no refer.
ence 10 that document appears. In a
20 Al al
pie the new issues of that book are
printed without date-and without the
manifesto. Polygamy is therefore be-
ing taught suthoritatively by the Nor.
mon church, Notwithstanding the cove.
nsnt 10 abandon the practice and to
discontinue its promulgation, and in ut
ter disregard of this most recent pledge
of Joseph F. Smith president and pro-
phnt, seer and revelator Of the organi.
cation, and of Reed Smoot. apostle and
prophet, seer and revelator of that or
ganization.
smoot S completely in the continued
teaching of polygamy is demonstrated
both by the continued issue of the
book, the new editions Of which con.
tain the revelation commanding po.
lygamy and do not contain the revela-
ton inhibiting polygamy; and by this
other monumental fact that Reed Smoot
has never protested publicly-nor. so
far as the world knows, privately
against the continued teaching and the
flagrant practice Of the crime.
The man who still contends that
Reed Smoot S responsibility for the
teaching and practice Of polygamy has
not been apparent is one who is will.
fully determined 10 disregard facts.
Upon the evidence already adduced in
this case any jury acting under its
oath would find a verdict Of guilty.