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Show KEARNS OPENS UP MORMON QUESTION IN. THE SENATE INi STARTLING SPEECH Denounces the Story that He Purchased Seat of President Presi-dent Snow; Throws Down Gauntlet to the Hierarchy. attendant on Utah's struggle for Statehood, State-hood, and added: "For some reason he did not oppose my election to the Senate. Every other candidate for the place had sought his favor; it came to me without price Or solicitation on my part. The friends and mouthpieces of some of the present leaders have been base enough to charge that I bought the Senatorshlp from Lorenzo Snow, president of their own church. "Here and now I denounce the calumny against that old man, whose unsought and unbought favor came to ma in that contest. . "That I ever paid one dollar of , ' "WASHINGTON, Feb. 28. The anti-polygamy anti-polygamy resolution introduced by Mr. Dubois was laid before the Senate this morning and Mr. K earns of Utah, who ito retire on March 4, addressed the Senate. Mr. Kearns, being recognized, said he could not Dermit the occasion to pass without saylng'what It seemed should be said by a Senator, under such conditions; condi-tions; before leaving public life. He then reviewed the history of Utah and recited the conditions under which Statehood was granted. "The pledges given by the people of Utah." said the Senator, "I believe consisted con-sisted of the following propositions: , '"That the Mormon leaders would live within the laws pertaining to money or asked him to influence legislators legis-lators of his faith, is as cruel a falsehood false-hood as ever came from human lips. "So far as I am concerned, he held his power with clean hands: and I -would protect the memory of this dead man against all the abuse and mlsrepre. sentation which might be heaped upon him by those who were his adherents during -life, but who now attack his name in order that they may pay the greater deference to the present king. "I am about to retire from this place of dignity. No man can retain this seat from Utah and retain self-respect after he discovers the methods by which his election is procured and the objects which the church monarchy intends to achieve. Question of Successor. "When the question of my successor became a matter of great anxiety to new aspirants for this place, the discussion discus-sion was not concerning the fitness of candidates nor the political popularity of the various gentlemen who composed that waiting list, not concerning the pledges' of the legislators, but was limited lim-ited to the question as to who could stand best with the church monarchy; as to whom it would like to use in this position: as to who could make for thw extension of its ambitfons and power In the United States." Plural Marriages. Mr. Kearns then took up the subject of the Mormon marriage relation, and said: "Plural marriage relations have been continued. defiantly, according to the will and pleasure of those who had formerly for-merly violated the law, and for whose obedience to law the church monarchy pledged the faith and honor of Its leaders lead-ers and followers alike in order to obtain ob-tain Statehood." Apostles Responsible. Mr. Kearns charged that every apob-tle apob-tle of the church is in a large part responsible re-sponsible for this condition, and that It is quite evident the church monarchy is trying to re-establish the rule of the polygamous class over the mass of the Mormon people. He charged that not more than three or four of the quorum quo-rum of apostles have refrained from practicing polygamy, and that "special reasons may exist In some particular case why a man in this class has not entered into such relation." plural marriages and th3 continued plural marriage relation, and that they would , enforce this obligation upon all of their followers, under penalty pen-alty of.dlsfellawahlp. . V" 'That "the leaders of the Mormon church would no longer exercise political po-litical sway, and that their followers would te f ree and would exercise their freedom in politics, in business and in social affairs.' " Continuing, he said: "Utah secured her Statehood by a solemn sol-emn compact made by the Mormon leaders in behalf of themselves and their people. "That compact has been broken wil- I fully and frequently. "No apostle of the Mormon church has publicly ' protested against the violation. '. "I know the gravity of the utterances that I have Just made. I know what are the probable consequences to myself. my-self. But I have pondered long and earnestly upon this subject and have come to the conclusion that duty to the innocent people of my State, and obligation obli-gation to the Senate and the country, require that I shall clearly define my attitude." Religion Not Involved. Mr. Kearns said that the question of religion Is not involved and he passed i from that subject to the social aspect with brief comment. The social autocracy, autoc-racy, he said, at present Is at as high & point as It has ever reached- He described de-scribed the surroundings and the powers pow-ers of President Smith, who he said affects af-fects a regal state and has established himjsat with the dignity of a monarch. , "In all this social system," said Mr. Reams, "each apostle has his great part. He is Inseparable from it. He -wields such part of the power as the monarch may permit him to enjoy, and It is his hope and expectation that he will outlive those who are his seniors in rank, in order that he may become their ruler." Taking up the business policy of the church, Mr. Kearns charged that it amounts to a monopoly. He recited the " holdings of President Smith, by virtue of his office as well as his private holdings, hold-ings, and said that when Smith became president be boasted of his poverty, while he now "is in receipt of an Income In-come like unto that which a royal family fam-ily derives from a national treasury. "One-tenth of all the annnal earnings, earn-ings, of all the Mormons in all the world flows to him. ' .These funds amount to one million six hundred thousand dollars annually." - Continuing, Mr. Kearns said: "Paries are nothing to these leaders, except as parties may be used by them. So long as this Is a Republican administration admin-istration and Congress they will lead their followers to support Republican tickets, but if. by any chance, the Demo- cratic party should control this Government, Gov-ernment, with a prospect of continuance continu-ance in power you would see a gradual veering around under the direction of "the Mormon leaders. No man can be elected to either house of Congress against their wish." The election of Senator Rawlins was charged by Mr. Kearns to have been due entirely to the Mormon church, in order to humiliate a deposed apostle. His Own Election. - He then took up the charge that he (Kearns) bad bought his own seat from Presment Lorenzo Snow. The Senator i " epokefc of his friendship for President Snowl as haying arisen from the events |