Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12
IN DEFENSE OF SMOOT
THE UTAH SENATOR SUPPORTED
BY MR.. HOPKINS

The first speech In defense of the right
OF Reed Smoot to a seat in the Senate was
delivered yesterday afternoon by Senator
Hopkins of Illinois
Mr.. Hopkins took the position that Sem
ators were not federal officers to the ex
tent that the Senate could pass upon their
quailncauons and eligibility or court i'm
peach them for high crimes or misde-
meanors. If Senator was to be punished
1t must be done by the state or federal
courts. Only federal officers, he main
tained, were fmpeachable, and this i'm
parchment must be for acts committed as
such federal officers
Inc precedent cited was the unsuccessful
effort to impeach Senator Blount of Ten
nessee. charged with reasonable corra-
spoh1ence with foreign nation. more than
one hundred years ago. The concIusion
then, Mr.. Hopkins said had never been re-
versed and that was that the Senate had
no right to try the case as Senator Blount
Was was not an omcer Of the United States.
This precedent had, Mr. Hopkins ssid
never been reversed.
After citing other cases. Mr. Hoplins re
harkea that Is was unnecessary for him
10 multiply evidence to demonstrate his
point that individual states have no mower
to add any qualification to a Senator other
than those prescribed by the federal Con-
stltution. Referring directly to Mr. Smoot
he continued:
Qualifications Of Senators.
1T Is conceded by the chairman of the
committee on privileges and elections tina,
senator smoot possesses all of the qualif-
cations spoken OF In the Constitution itself
1t Is also conceded. not only by the able
chairman Of this committee, but, 1 think
by all who are at all familiar with tbe
case that Senator Smoot is not a polype-
mist tnat ne has never married a plural
wife. and has never practiced polygamy:
that he Is man, in his personal relations
as son, husband, father and citizen above
reproach; that in all of the relations OF
citizenship he has lived a singularly pure
and upright life"
He then asked: why then should ha ha
expelled from this body. disgraced and dis
honored for life, stigma placed upon his
children his own life wrecked and the hap
tan gentleman. and his re igious belief has
taken him into the Church of Jesus Christ
or Latter Day Saints, commonly called the
Mormon Church"
No Disqualifying Oath.
Mr.. Hopkins said he felt sure that those
representing the protestants would not con-
tend that there was an apostolic oath which
hau been taken by Mr.. Smoot which would
prevent him from dscharging his duties as
senator. Mr.. Hopkins symp athized he said.
with the denunciation of polygamy made by
MT burroWS IN MS recent speech. 1t was
he believed. relic Of barbarous age. and
a destroyer of the ideal American home. and
he had no sympathy with the practice.
Never before in the history of the gov
eminent" he declared. with great emphasis
has the previous life or career of a sena-
tor been called in question to determine
whether he should remain in the Senate or
not.
IF members of any Christian church
were to be charged with all of the crimes
that have 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 Mr. Hopkins who con-
cluded that the testimony taken before the ,
Senate committee demonstrated that 1t was
undergoing radical change for the better./
and that Senator Smoot represented thu
higher and better Mormonism.
He denied that the protestants had made
good in any of the charges against Mr.
Smoot. after reviewing these charges and
the argument to sustain them at length.
and concluded with the declaration that he
would be false to his oath as a senator II
he voted to expel Mr.. Smoot from the Sem
ate.
Mr.. Beveridge interjected the statement
Unto the speech of Mr.. Hopkins that the
should be informed that Mr. Smoot
was not nor ever had been a polygamist