The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-03
THE RANKNESs OF TT.


The Chairman-Do you remember how
many children he IJoseph +. SMITH snid
had been born to him since 1890?
senator smoot-I think he said eleven.
The Chairman--And by all OF his wives?
Senator Smoot-That am not POSI-
tive OF.
The Chairman-Eow. with the full
him, you sustained him In October last?
senator Smoot-I did.-TestImony in
Smoo' case volume 8, page 2s7.
The man who will abide IN the cove
nant is my brother and my friend and
mas my sympathy and love, and | will
sustain sIt him. But the man who raises
OF God and tho authority OF the priest
hood on the earth, IS not my friend. and
ne mas not my sympathy nor my love-
Sermon Of Joseph F. Smith In salt Lake
tabernacle, October 3, 1895
Either Senator Reed Smoot !,
friend OF polygamy or be is rank COW.
ard. If be regards the covenant which
be has made with the Mormon priest
hood as being Of more value than his
oath TO uphold the law, then be can not
be looked upon in any other light than
as befriending polygamy and defending
the praeticers OF polygamy. If be takes
his Senatorial oath 10 be binding above
any other covenant which be NAV have
made in the Mormon church, then he is
a coward in Sinking away from the
performance OF bis duty, because be is
afraid to demonstrate with or seek the
punishment Of his polygamous coadiu-
tors, thus raising his "heel and his
voice. against the polygamous priest.
hood and alternating their support. There
is no middle ground that Smoot NAV oc-
cupy-he is one or the other-and in
either case he is unfit to be Senator.
The facts are that Reed Smoot as a
Mormon apostle. and in the endowment
ceremonies. has taken upon himself such
obligations and sworn 10 such oaths (he
calls them Covenants in order 10
escape inc charge that the church pre-.
scribes oatbs of secrecy as will not per.
init him to criticize lawlcssness and still
retain the fellowship. good will, support
and influence Of his superiors and co.
ndjutors among the high ecclesiasts. He
has voted to induct a lawbreaking DO
lygamist into his own quorum-one who
made personal appeal 20 the President
of the United States for amnesty, and
returned home TO Immediately re-en.
gage in the lawlessuess for which he
prayed forgiveness and clemency. Smoot
has voted 70 sustain in the high Official
places of his church men whom he well
knows to be living In gross defiance of
the Law and therefore in disobedience to
na Il -
wherein He Gays "Let no man break
the law OF the land, for he that keepeth
the law of Goa hath no need TO break
the law of the land. This very day.
Reed Smoot is using his political influ.
enco as Senator, and his priestly pow
er as an apostle, to shield these law.
breakers from the arm Of the law. He
has had his political machinery at work
in this State for months past to defeat
impartial enforcement OF the law. He
has preached sermons, in the capacity
of an apostle, from the pulpit of the
tabernacle in this city in order that his
ecclesiastical office should be made 20
serve similar purpose. In every way
he lends couptenance aud affords pro.
toctlon TO poIygamy and polygamous
living. That he does not do this with.
out deliberate intention to bemean his
Senatorial office may be gathered from
his testimony, delivered as follows;
The Chairman--I EN- sorry, Senator. 20
trouble you, but wanted to ask you an |
other question. Is there any law In the |
state OF Utah prohibiting polygamous !
coha abjtation?
Senator Smoot--There IL.
The Chairmsn-TherC Is such a law as |
that? 80
Senator Smoot-There is
The Chairman--Then Tho president OF ,
your church Is violating the law OF the
State? "
Senator Smoot-He has so testified
here, In Smoot case, volume .
Q. pages 299 and 400.
Apostlc.Senator Smoot can not plead !
that this is none Of his business, for he ;
made 1t his affair in the canes Of Apos. !
Ties Taylor and Cowley. There are other
laEhresGeSs in his quorum, and the /