The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1908-02-06
The snloot Case

plause.)
The Smoot Case
have been criticised because /
declined to cast my vote in favor OF
Reed Smoot 1t has been charged
that by voting against his retaining
seat in the United states senate l
broke with my party and violated
a principle of the republican party
and was remiss i'm the ties OF fealty.
The republican party more than nf-
tv wears ago declared as two of its
cardinal. fundamental principles an
ti-slavery and anti-Mormonlsm ana
anti-poly iyamy. Slavery was eximi-
mated from this country at the ter
rifle cost we all can only dream of.
Countless lives and millions of treas
ure were spent in the elimination or
that institution. The cardinal prin-
ciple of the republican party estap-
fishing anti Mormonism ana anu-pol-
ygamy is with us today. and II re-
mains principle of the repuDiican
party lust the same as in the days
Of the beginning, for never has the
republican party declared in favor or
polygamy or Mormonism or of Reed
Slioot. (Laughter) Upon the other
prcposition that / broke with my
narty because more of them voted for
Smoot than against him let me say
i'm accordance with his judgment and
his conscience, without a party cau-
crs to bind MIN or to determine his
course, and / deny that / shail pe
criticized because my vote was gwen
in accordance with my Judgment OF
the facts and the law, In accordance
with the dictates of my conscience
and / deny that any man has the
right To shield himself behind the
principles of the party of the feaity
OF his membership in order TO es-
cape his vote upon that proposition.
(Applausc.)
In 1862 the first law of this land
was enacted against polygamy ana
Norm onism I'm 1882 an amendment
to that law was enacted calling upon
this great government OF ours 10 Ell
inmate polygamy and Mormonism
from the face of the earth.
Fight Against PoIygamy.
In 1887, sourred on by the taunts
of the Mormos church and its lead
ers. the Edmunds-Tuckerl law was en-
acted, and when that was put upon
the statute books doom's day had ar
rived for the Mormon church and
polygamy.
Some provisions of that law are
most interesting, but / cannot read
1t. My eyes are too poor. 1t provid-
man convicted of the crime of big
amy and polygamy was SO defined.
should be sentenced to prison, and
should forfeit his rights to citizen
ship. The law further provided that
the property of the Mormon church
should be escheated, 1t should es-
cheat to the state for the benefit OF
the school fund, and In the most
stringent terms and words the provis-
ions of this law were enacted.
Following the enactment OF that
law prosecution after prosecution
was instituted, and the result was
that the jails Of the federal govern
n,ent were filled, and the men re-
sponsible for that condition were in
Jail or about to arrive there. Then
In that smooth sleek way of the Nor
non people. they prostrated them
selves before the government In
1890 they offered to President Har-
rison. then the president of the Uni
ted States, that If all should be for
given, Mormonism should be swept
away, polygamy and unlawful poly
gamous co-habitation should cease,
and the end Of all that abomination
should come. President Harrison. In
the great goodness and wisdom Of his
heart, moved by the considerations
that these men presented, for they
plighted their honor to the obedience
vows, forgave them their past. Then
they issued the, manifesto. with
which all perhaps are acquainted, in
which the people OF the Mormon
church were directed to refrain from
their polygamous practices and live
the upright pure lives that the citi-
zens Of this republic should.
Scarcely had that been done when
they applied to the federal govern
ment that the state Of Utah might be
created, that congress should pass an
ens bling act permitting that territory
to become a state, and congress. still
believing in the statements made by
these people. gave them the right to
be admitted into the union, but upon
condition that they should insert In
their constitution a provision that
Mormonism and polygamous prac-
tees should forever cease.
And SO in 1896 the state Of Utah
became one of the great sisterhood
of states. Scarcely had Utah been
admitted when those people returned
to their old practices. and continued
the relations which had openly been
severed, and the United States gov
ernment was absolutely powerless 10
prevent or procure the enforcement
of the laws of the United States. for
il was then q state and not q terri.
tory, and Cannon and other men AZ
responsible for its management and
the members Of it were subject To
state and not to federal laws: and
not to federal laws in that regard.
So that when Smoot was present
ed to the Senate 1t was determines
by ME that the only remedy the Uni-
ted States government had in thar
case was to say to those people:
You cannot have a seat on the floo~
of this senate for one OF your apos.
tics until those denominations shall
cease" (Applause)
But what has this to do with
Smoot? you ask. Why, Smoot -
came an apostle OF rhe Mormon 1
church and he was elected by mesn
whose combined harem numbered /
sixty women. and Mr.. Smoot bv hse
vote elevated Smith, the present head
OF the church. and Smith, accoryIins
to his own testimony. was the hrse
band OF five wives and the father a |
forty-two children, and while ~
senate was considering the caaa -
Smoot, Joseph Smith sat by the cr.S
le of child presented to him hv "a. |
NTH wife. the forty-third child n 81,
twelve after he had signed the msna
festo and prayed the forgfvene- of |
the government (I.aurhter