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Show IS VIOiATMG TEE-.IAI BUT IS' READY TO TAKE CONSEQUENCES PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH Mormon Leader Acknowledges Acknowl-edges That He Has Violated The Polygamy Laws Continuously Con-tinuously Since Manifesto. Has Lived With Five Wives Since 1890 andDuring that Period They Have Had 1 1 X Children; Other Estimates. 3). 1 CROWDS THRONG COMMITTEE DOORS. . - ! - . 2 "WASHINGTON, March, ZjSo great -has become the Interest In the investigation of the protests against Reed Smoot of Utah retaining: his Beat In the United State Senate that It was necessary to post a police- man at the-door of the room of 'the Committee on Privileges and Elec- tiana -where the hearing are progressing. All persons except those direct- ly Interested were kept out of the room, though outside the door it was impossible almost to maintain a passage way through the corridor of the CapltoL I Just before the hearing was begun today Mr. Smoot received a tele- gram from Provo,Utah, stating that his sister, Mrs. George S. Taylor, is dead a the result of an operation. He had no previous knowledge of her . illness and exhibited plainly the effect of the sudden shock. ffi I ' ! I ' I ' I , WASHINGTON March 3. When the ComtrJtreie-on PHvlet-4-I3ectlona was eaCed to order this morning seven. Senators were present. Chairman Burrow Bur-row gave the ruling on the questions asked of President Joseph F. Smith, re-" re-" lating to the polygamous cohabitation f George Teasdale, a Mormon apostle. apos-tle. Objection to such questioning had been made by the defendant. The committee com-mittee ruled that the testimony bearing upon plural marriages of any members of the twelve apostles, of which Mr.; Smoot is one. Is competent so far as it relates to such polygamous cohabitation cohabita-tion since September 26. 1890, the date of President Woodruff's manifesto, withdrawing the order ot the church commanding plural marriages.' Beveridg Interposes. Senator Beveridge stated that there had been a misunderstanding as to whether Mr. Smoot was being tried on the charges' of polygamy and of having taken an oath Incompatible with his oath as a United States Senator. Now, - ho Vid, It 1" apparent that these ctvy?es are not pending in this investl-t investl-t gatlo'n. I Senator Dubois dissented from the statement that there had been such a misunderstanding and said that the real charge is that Mr. Smoot Is s. member of the Mormon hierarchy which subscribes to .vows In conflict with the laws of the country and was bound to support such vows. Hierarchy on Trial. "For the first time In fifty years." said Mr. Dubois, "the relations of this organization toward the United States are to be tried." j Senator Pettus made a protest against the debate between members of the. commission and Chairman Bur- rows directed Mr. Tayler to proceed. Questions were then directed to ascertain ascer-tain Mr. Smith's knowledge of the po-' po-' Jygamy marriages of Abraham Cannon and whether Mr. Smith had performed the service uniting Mr. Cannon and Lillian Lil-lian Hamlin, in Los Angeles, in 1892. j Mr. Smith said be had seen newspaper newspa-per reports saying that he had done so, but he denied the truth of the state- ' I ments. . Smith's Own Position. j Then Mr. Tayler. asked a number of -questions which brought out a state-St state-St frora Mr. Smith regarding his oft position under the law covering polygamy. He acknowledged that he had violated them continuously since the. manifesto of 189? and is ready now and always has been ready to face the laws of the land. ' , 2-r. Taylor, fiekt&i ""la cohabitation - - ' with a plural wife contrary to the rules of the church T.' . ; .- Smith, Speaks With Feeling'; . Mr. Smith asked and received permission per-mission to make a statement, and then answer the question in his own way. He spoke with great feeling and directness, di-rectness, Just the reverse of his attitude atti-tude on the stand at yesterday's hearing, hear-ing, saying: "In regard to the status of polygamy at the time of the manifesto I want to say that after the hearing before the master of chancery I understood that we should abstain from relations with our plural families, and that rule was observed up to the time the enabling act went into effect admitting Utah as a State. Under that act the only prohibition pro-hibition was that plural marriages should cease. Nothing was said about cohabitation with our wives." Marriage and Cohabitation. "With the wives you had married previous pre-vious to the manifesto, you mean?" Interrupted In-terrupted Mr. Hoar. "That Is what I mean." said Mr. Smith. "I understood that plural marriages mar-riages were to cease, and ever since the manifesto until the present' time there never has been a plural marriage In the church performed in accordance with Its teachings or with the connivance of the church," and he added with greater emphasis: "I know whereof I speak." Then in answer to the question whether polygamous cohabitation was regarded by the church as contrary to the law, he answered: "It was." . Continuing, he said: Admits His Own Delations. "This was the case, and is the case now. But I was placed in this position," posi-tion," said Mr. Smith, "I. had a family a plural family, if you please. I married mar-ried my first wife more than thirty-eight thirty-eight years ago, and my last wife more than twenty years ago. By these wives I have had children, and I have preferred pre-ferred to take my own chances with the law. and suffer any consequences the law might visit upon me rather than abandon these children and their mothers. moth-ers. Knew What He Was Doing. "I have continued to cohabit with them since the manifesto of 1890, and they have borne me children since that date. I was fully aware of what I was doing. I knew I was amenable to the law, but. as I say. I preferred to face that situation rather than to .desert them. I have not cohabited with these wives openly or flaunted the fact, but 'i have acknowledged these wives and children as my family. The people of Utah have regarded the situation as an existing fact. These people as a rule are broad-minded and liberal in their vjews, and have condoned the offense if offense it is ratljer than to interfere with my situation as they found it. It has been known what I have been doing. do-ing. I have not been interfered with nor disturbed in any way. If I had been I was there to answer the charges. I was willing to face them and submit I to the penalty, whatever It might be." Mr. miU paused fox s, mvmen bat SMITH SAYS HE HAS BEEN LIVING WITH FIVE WIVES SINCE 1890 as Mr. Tayler prepared to ask another question he again prpceededi with his statement; He Draws a Distinction. "Tou must draw a distinction between be-tween unlawful cohabitation and plural marriages," he said. "The State law in regard to the latter has been complied with. No marriages have been" performed per-formed with the sanction, approval, consent, knowledge- or connivance of the church or its officials. .But, the other oth-er law Is the one I have presumed to disregard and which, as I have said, I ani ready to face rather than disgrace myself or degrade my family by turning turn-ing them off." - Admits Violation of Law.. . Mr. Tayler resumed his questioning. "Tou say there is a State law forbid-" ding polygamous cohabitation and you have been continuing to violate it in utter disregard of the consequences?" he asked. . " ' ; - ', ' ' , , "I think I have," was the answer. "Tou have caused your plural wives to bear new children In violation of the law you knew to exist ?"" 'That U correct,'' said Mfv Smith, ' r. .; ' .- - ; ' u , "'Why have you done so?" persisted Mr. Tayler. Would Not Degrade Family. "For the reason I have told you. I preferred to face the law. I could not disgrace myself. I could not degrade my family." i "Do you consider it an abandonment of your family not to maintain marriage mar-riage relations?" Mr. Tayler asked. Smith Becomes Angry. Mr. Smith faced Mr. Tayler and In a low but penetrating voice said: "I don't like to be Impertinent, but I should like you to ask any woman who Is a wife " At that point Mr. Foraker and Mr. Beveridge objected and in discussing I the question both expressed the opinion that the witness had stated fully that he had violated the laws and that he had been frank In regard to his reasons and finally that the committee was advised ad-vised on that subject. Foraker Grows Sarcastic Mr. Foraker said liat after such a statement as had bstn made by Mr. , EnUtU It SMBjaaeofsry. M jtfct 0 witness concerning his opinions on the subject of good morals. Mr. Hoar moved that such questions be not allowed at this time, but if at a future time it was. found that Mr. Smith's statement was not full and complete the committee might question him. Must Provide for Family. Mr. Dubois then asked Mr. Smith If it was not understood by those in authority au-thority that it was the duty of the polygamlst to continue to provide for and support his plural family after the manifesto of 1890. Mr. Smith answered that It was "generally "gen-erally so understood." Resuming the Inquiry concerning Mr. Smith's personal polygamous relations Mr. Tayler asked: "How many children have you had since the manifesto of 1890?" Children Since 1890. Mr. Worthlngton objected on the part of the defense and both Senators Beveridge Bev-eridge and Foraker again said that they thought as the witness said his wives had borne children since the mjuUfeatq It jnadq no dlfferenca how. many such children had been born to him. . "I contend that it does make a difference," differ-ence," said Mr. Tayler. "It makes a difference how well the fact was advertised adver-tised that he was violating the law. It makes a difference whether it was two or twenty-two in the effect his example might have upon others in the church." Has Five Wives. Mr. Burrows asked Mr. Smith If he had married any wives between the first and the lat he had mentioned during his statement to the committee. "I have." said Mr. Smith. "How many?" - "Three." "Then you have five wives now?" said Mr. Burrows.. "That Is Correct," was the response. Mr.. Burrows ruled that the question objected to was in order and directed the stenographer to read the question: "How many children have you had since the'manlfesto of 1890?" Eleven Children Since 1890. "Eleven since 1890," sajd Mr. Smith. Continuing he said: "Each of my. five wives fcavs borne at children.'. . .' . ! "Since that timer' asked Mr. Bur-rows. Bur-rows. "I rather think." he added, "that oni of them has had three children I coulc" tell you a little later." That Visit to St. Louis. He said in reply to Mr. Tayler that he had attended the dedication exercise! at the St. Louis exposition and had been accompanied by his plural wife, Edna Smith, by name. Senator Smoot had been with their. i on that occasion when they had beet photographed in a group. In reply to a question by . Senatoi Smoot, he said : Visits His Other Family. "Each of my families has a home oi its own in Salt Lake City, and comparatively compar-atively near to each other. Sine th manifesto my custom has been to llv with my first wife at her home, but 1 have visited my other families. . He also paid, replying to Mr. Tayler that he had been present at the recep. tlon to the President at Senator earns -residence at Salt Lake City and that h had had one of his plural wives win . tCoaUaucd on fags O : : BY' SIG?,Y. T0L1 URBEEt OATS DYi CEURGS HEAD -(Continued from Page 1.) Mm, but that she was not the one whom he took to St. Louis. ' "My attitude toward my wives was of general 'knowledge," ha said. ' v Kay Put Cznoat ea. Stand. - Senator Bmoot's counsel objected, however, to tiie asumptlon that Sena- . tor'Smoot knew til the circumstances connected with Smith's wives. "We prefer to put Senator Smoot n the stand and let him tell what he knows," remarked Mr. Van Cott. -Being asked whether he had taken " the test oath in JS95 before voting. Mr. - Smith hesitated and his counsel asked that he be confronted with the oath. The question was temporarily withdrawn. with-drawn. Not Advised oy Emoct. Senator Overman Did Senator Smoot ever advise you to persist in your po , lygamous cohabitation? Mr. Smith I think not. I have never so far as I remember discussed my private pri-vate affairs with lilxn. , , ' "Are the apostles your advisers V "l receive advice from all good men, but no more from them than other eiders ei-ders of the church." "Did they ever advise you to desist from the practice?" "Not that I know of." "Has Mr. Bxnott visited you at your , residences?", "He has been to my first wife's bouse, where I make what may be called my official residence." Polygamous Apostles. 5 Asked about Teasdsle. one of the apostles, Mr. Smith said he knew nothing noth-ing of his present domestic relations. He thought, however, that until two or three) years ago Mr. Teasdals had two wives. Mr. Smith also was asked about Apostle John Taylor, and he ee.td.he It reputed to be a polygaroist. "I could , not say of my own knowledge." knowl-edge." t Have you the slightest doubt of Itr "I haven't much doubt of It." iJoean't Know Where Taylor Is. , Asked where Mr. Taylor now la, Mr. Smith said he did not know; that some weeks ago Taylor had been sent to investigate in-vestigate a tract of land offered the Mornons and he hsd not heard from him since. He had been in Mr. Taylor's Tay-lor's home in Salt Lake City only once. Would Know About It. "Could an apostle be a polygamlet without your knowledge?" asked? Senator Sen-ator Dubois. "No, sir, not unless he violate the rules of the church, and- I don't think any of them would1 do that." "Then why say 'I think,' and 1 suppose' sup-pose' r "Because,' replied the witness, "I never saw" any of them married to any woman." Merrill and Grant Polygamists. Mr. Smith said that Apostles Merrill and'Heber J. Grant are reputed to be polygamists; he had) seen two women who were pointed out as Mr. Grant's wives. Mr. Grant is now In Europe in the interest of the church. He has with him his second wife. John Henry Has Two Wives. "John Henry Smith' is," the witness stated, "the husband of two wives. "He is a kinsman of mine," he said; "and I know positively about him." "Did you ever advise him to desist from the polygamous practice?" Never Advised Against It. "I never did; I could not consistently do so while I myself was practicing the system." Mr Smith was asked about other apostles. Mr. Cowley is, he -said, a reputed polygamlet. po-lygamlet. Rudger Clawson is not. Lyznan Also Has Two. He was especially explicit concerning F. M. Lyman, president of the apostles and in the line of succession to himself. Mr. Smith! said that Mr. Lyman being present should answer for himself, but the committee insisted and he replied that Mr. Lyman was reputed to have two wives. "Have any of these men taken plural wives since the manifesto of 1890?" asked Senator Beveridge. Without Church Approval. "I repeat," said Mr. Smith, bringing his fist down on tbe table with some emphasis, "that since the manifesto of 1890, no man has entered into plural marriage with the knowledge or approval ap-proval of the church." He was asked by Mr. Tayier about Marian Scoles Teasdale, deceased, who it was stated had' never met Mr. Teas-dale Teas-dale until 1903. Mr. Smith replied that he had not known the lady, but that he had understood under-stood that Mr. Teasdale had not known when be married her that he had another an-other wife. Polygamy Not Preached. "When your deacons go out and make converts in other lands do they not present pre-sent the rightfulness of polygamy as a religious virtue?" This question was put by Senator Hoar and was answered1 in the negative. "They never discuss polygamy." Mr. Smith said, "unless compelled to do so to meet attacks. They do not advocate polygamy in any way. Indeed, the elders el-ders are instructed not to advocate plural plu-ral marriages at all; it is a thing of the past." |
