| Show DIPPING IN DEE I Investigation Ras Ens Gone Farther Than j Intended Omaha Bee of the Smoot case by byth bythe th the C privileges and elections or of the United States s senate nate has gone very much farther tarther than was exp or per perhaps perhaps haps Intended when the investigation Tue constitution provides that each house of congress shan shall be the sole judge ot of the election and lions of Its members so that hint the tho at sty ot of the Inquiry und under r this provision of oC the organic lea Is ot of course unquestionable But II in Jt it so 50 as to embrace nn ap investigation Or of the tenets or of the Mormon church and the practices QC of certain members or of t at who have nothing to do with the case or of Mr Smoot It would seem that thol committee h has gone beyond Its proper function and has opened up a matt t that may have unfortunate consequences As we 0 understand the case the com duty was simply to to election and qualifications or of Smoot As to his election there is no Question In regard to itt regularity He was chos chosen I en cn by the legislature of Utah In entire conformity with the law The fat fact that the church or of whIch he is a member had any agency or influence In his election eJection should not be considered lie He has the 1 same me right to be a member of the Mor lor Mormon lormon mon church as ever every other othor AmerIcan cU cit citizen Izen has to belong to a religious suet or denomination whose doctrInes and teach teachings ings h belies in Lt erty of is gUaranteed to eer every citizen o the ro rc public The free freo exercise ot of religion Is provided for In the bill bUl of rights Mr I Smoot could not justly justl therefore be cx elu eluded ed from tho national senate on th thI the ground that he Is a member of the Mor Mormon mon church Furthermore It has been I shown that he Is not disqualified on the ground or of polygamy not having vIolated the law In this regard While It Is true there thero are Mormons who are I church does not now counte countenance countenance nance plural marriage an and Smoot Is In accord with the church In this respect He Is nowise accountable th con conduct conduct I duct or of others null It would manifestly be unjust to hold him responsible for it His religious beller belier ho Is I entitled to and It would be a gross violation of a w II settled and sacred American prInciple to punish hint him for It It Is perhaps unfortunate that the leg of Utah did not elect to the sen senate ate a man outside the Mormon church but having done so there appears to be beno beno no valid reason wh y oIl Mr Smoot should not be to rel represent resent that state In Inthe inthe the senate nate The committee on privileges and elections eJections has gone to an IndIscreet and wholly unnecessary extent In Its In the tendency or of which ma may be to create In the country countr a troublesome religious contention |
