Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1904 — SMOOT INQUIRY BEGINS [ARTICLE]

SMOOT INQUIRY BEGINS

Charges Against the Mormon Senator Are Asserted Before a Senate Committee and Denied.] Washington, Jan. 18.—The charges against Senator Reed Smoot, of Utah, prosecuted by persons of Christian sects all over the country, and by women’s associations, were stated to the senate committee on privileges and elections. In brief they are that Smoot is a member of a church that claims authority in all things temporal and spiritual, thus putting it above the government; that its members live polygamous lives and teach polygamy, Smoot among them; and that the church is not keeping faith with the government on this point. These were somewhat changed from the charges originally made against Smoot and he asked time to reply, which was granted. Nevertheless, Smoot's counsel did deny the charges as made. They also said they “threw down the bars” defying the prosecution to produce proof that Smoot has ever been guilty 0< an offense against the law; promising that if it was proven they would throw up the case. They insisted, however, that the senate’s power was limited to offenses committed since a man’s election as senator, or connected with such election. This contention was controverted by the prosecution. Tlie charges now made against Smoot include one that six of tlie Mormon “apostles” are living in polygamy apd that Smoot knows it.