OCR Text |
Show PROTEST AGAINST SEATING OF SENATOR REED 8MOOT. Charge Made by Rev. Lellach of Salt Lake That Senator.Eluct Is an Active Polygamlst. Senator Burrows, chnlrmnn of tho scnato committee on privileges and elections, on Thursday presented to tho sennto a protest signed by Rev. J. It. Lellach, of Salt Lake City, representing repre-senting tho Ministerial assoclaton, against tho seating of Senator-elect Smoot. Rev. Lellach, In his sworn stntompnt, declares that Smoot Is n polygamlst, and now has a plural wife, although ho deems It Inexpedient to glvo the maiden nnmo of tho lady at this tlmo. His chargo on this point Is as follows: "That tho snld Reed Smoot Is n polygamlst, po-lygamlst, and that slnco tho admission of Utah Into tho Union of stntcs ho although then and there having a legal wlfo, married a plural wife In tho state of Utah, In violation of tho laws and compacts hereinbefore described, and slnco such plural or polygamous mar-rlago mar-rlago tho said Reed Smoot has lived and cohabited with both his legal wlfo and his plural wlfo In tho stato of Utah and elsewhere, as occasion offer, cd, and that tho only record of such plural marrlago Is tho secret record made and kept by tho authorities of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Latter-day Saints, which secret record Is in tho exclusive custody and control con-trol of the first presidency and tho quorum of tho twelve apostles of said church, of which tho said Reed Smoot li one, and Is beyond tho control or power of the protestants. Your pro-tcstunts pro-tcstunts respectfully ask that the scnato scn-ato of tho United States, or Its committee, com-mittee, compel the first presidency and tho quorum of tho twelvo apostles and tho Bald Reed Smoot to produce such secret record for the conBldora-Hon conBldora-Hon of the senate. Your protestant says that It Is Inexpedient at this time to glvo fuither particulars concerning such plural marriage and Its results, or tho place In which It was solemnized, or tho maiden name of tho plural wife." Senator-elect Smoot Is quoted as saying, regarding tho charges filed by Rov. Lcllch: "Lclllch, as agent of tho Ministerial association, carao to my homo town, Provo, I am told, and en-ileavorod en-ileavorod to get signatures signed to tho protest against seating mo; but ho was confronted by a solid array of Mormons and Gentiles who nro my neighbors and friends, and who lator signed a petition In my behalf. Rev. Dr. Stoddard of Provo headed tho petition pe-tition favoring my cause. Thero Is nothing of Importance In this chargo filed today, excupt that I am alleged to bo a polygamlst. I say to you now that If I know, I were to dlo within nn hour I would swear before God that I never In tho past practiced, nor do I now prnctlco, polygamy In any manner or form." |