The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-01-12
DEFENDSREED SHOOT
SENATOR HOPKINS DELIVERS FIRST
 SPEECH.
SympathIzes With DenunciatiOn of PO- lygamy by Mir. Burrows Bat that Concerns Utah Mans
 Past Life.

Washington, Jan. 1.-The first speech in the Senate in defense of the right of Reed Smoot to seat was de- livered today by Senator Hopkins of Illinois.
 He argued that Senators are not Fed eral oficers to the extent that the Sem ate can pass upon their qualifications and eligibility, or impeach them for high crimes, or misdemeanors. If a Senator is to be punished. 1t must be done by the State or Federal courts. The precedent cited was the unsuc- cessful effort to impeach Senator Blount of Tennessee, charged with treason able correspondence with a foreign na- ton more than 100 years ago. The conclusion then. Mir. Hopkins said. had never been reversed and that was that Senator was not an officer of tho United States. Referring to Mir. Smoot he continued:
 Tt Is conceded by the chairman of the Committee on Privileges and Elec- qualifications spoken of in the Consti- tuition. It is also conceded that Sem ator Shoot Is not polygamist; that he is in his personal relations a son. husband. father and citizen, above reproach, that in all the relations Of citizenship he has lived singularly pure and upright life.
 Why, then, should he be expelled from this body, disgraced and dishon- ored for life, a stigma placed upon his children, his own life work wrecked and the happiness of his wife destroyed? He is a Christian gentleman and his religious belief has taken him to the oR hrio aP aKf Ta Saints. commonly called the Mormon Church."
 MT. Hopkins sympathlzed with the denunciation of polygamy made by Mir Burrows. In his recent speech. It was he believed, a relic of a barbarous age and a destroyer of the Ideal home.
 Never before in the history of the government he declared. with gSeat emphasis "has the previous life or career of a senator been called into question to determine whether he should remain in the Senate. If any member of Christian church were to be charged with all the crimes that has been committed in its name. where Is the Christian gentleman in this body who would be safe in his seat?'
 An extended history of the Mormon church was given by Mir. Hopkins who concluded that the testimony taken before the Senate committee demon Strated that it was undergoing fadi- cal change for the better and that Sem ator Shoot represented the higher and better Mormonism. He denied that the Protestants had made good in any of the charges against Mir. Shoot He concluded with the declaration that he would be false to oath as a sena-, tor if he voted to expel Mir. Shoot.
 pr. Dubois wanted to know where and when MT. Shoot had ever publicly placed himself on record as condem- ing polygamy.
 MT Hopkins replied that Senator Shoot had twenty or forty times stat ed his position before the committee. and that his whole life and every fibre of his being was a protest against polygamy It was not necessary for him to arise in the tabernacle and de- nounce President Smith of the Nor mon church.
 MT. Dubois demanded to have pointed out in the committee testimony where MT. Shoot had stated his position. MT. Hopkins, however. took hls seat and Mir. Cullom was recognised to call up the legislative appropriation bin and answer was made to Mfr. Dubois.