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Show V 7 -"V i r f - ..... ': - ) . . J w 1 ..i I ' -1 V J "Uih.v, V; .. ..1 J-LV - widest IMlIz el Evid:nc:.Al!3ve: Ly Ccittcc; I ' 'Smith's Testimony Centime., ( . .; ' -"'' , "' ' ' ' ' ' ' . v j I 00S0e0O0000'(50O0O0i I 1 1 DID SMITH PERFORM- CEREIOIi Y? ' -i ' ' (!) WASHINGTON. D. C. March 8. The inquiry Into the case of Apostla. I '- Teasdale shows that It la the Intention cf the prosecution, to establish the ' 'act that plural marriages have been performed" by officers of the churcn ; following the .manifesto of 1830, and that President Smith -himself per- I formed a plural marriage ceremony between Apostle Cannon and Lillian . i Hamlin In 1892 at Los Angeles, CaL . ' .'SO questions by Mr. Burrows in relation to the inconsistency of his belief. Following Specifications. Mr. Van Cott declared that the State laws protect tt person In. his belief, no matter what the tendency of the belief, so long as there is no practice in violation viola-tion of law and that therefore the line of qnestioning was not reaching any end. He read from Mr. Taylers statement state-ment that Mr. Smoot was not charged with any offense cognizable by law. Mr. Tayler "said he was pursuing the line of inquiry set out in the protest against Mr. Smoot to the effect that the president of the Mormon church and the majority of the twelve apostles were practicing polygamy. He referred to Mr. Smith as the daily associate and superior, in, the church, of Mr. Smoot, and said that Mr. Smith is the husband of five wives and believes still in the principles ot polygamy. Propaganda of Polygamy. "Do you expect to prove In that connection con-nection that the president and the twelve apostles form a propaganda of polygamy?" asked Mr. Beveridge. "We do." said Mr. Tayler. - "Then' I think the course ; taken is pertinent," said Mr. Beveridge. Mr. Worthlngton, in reply to Mr. Tayler. said that the charge that Senator Sen-ator Smoot nad taken an oath as apostle apos-tle which, would be in conflict with his oath to support the Constitution of the United States, by reason' of the fact that the apostolic hierarchy was composed com-posed of men violating the laws of polygamy, said: "That oath was taken in 1900, and all the evidence introduced thus far goes to- show that since that time- the members mem-bers of the hierarchy have not been pledged to polygamy. ' Teasdale Case Cited.' - ' WASHBXGTON. March 8. The Sen ate Committee on Privileges and Elections, Elec-tions, in executive session, decided to throw down the bars and admit the widest latitude of testimony in the in-; in-; vestigation of the protest against Sen- ; 'ator Smoot's retaining his seat in the I Senate. This action was taken over the protest of Smoot's attorneys and prac-l prac-l - tlcally places the Mormon church ; on Z to"- ' ' ' I President Smith may continue on the " witness stand for a day or two. t Smith' Testimony Continued. . .At the afternoon session Mr. Smith . was again on the . stand. Before pro-Z pro-Z ceedlng Mr."" Hoar said he wanted to understand one more point in regard IT. to the revelations, and that was - ' whether women members of the church are permitted to vote on questions of scceptance or rejection of revelations. Z Mr. Smith answered that women voted- on all of these matters. It was brought out that the Supreme I court decided in 1878 - in the Reynolds 1 Z case that plural marriages as practiced " In the Mormon church are polygamous, and Mr. Tayler asked whether the - church accepted that ruling of the Eu- ! " preme court. j Mr. Smith answered that tb law on ' Z n question was finally passed .pn in . 1889, and sinme that time be had fid . knowledge . of any plural marriages 1 . taking place. Before that time agd since the Reynolds decision he said he t m probably knew of some such marriages. In answer to a question Mr. Smith ' said that prior to 1862, when the plural marriages in the church were declared u by the church to be eonstltutionaL polygamy had been practiced "In a : limited way." j Beveridge Is Satisfied. I. "The witness was asked In regard to the polygamous marriages of a certain, Mr. Teasdale, an apostle In the church. We have not Made objections before the testimony was taking an Irrelevant turn, because we realise that the practice prac-tice ot a court of Justice cannot obtain in a committee hearing. But now an attempt Is made to brink in testimony In regard to . the conduct "of this Mr. Teasdale some fif teen. twenty or thirty years ago. If you are trying to prove, merely, that some ; members -of the church have violated the laws of the land and judge Mr- Smoot. from that point of view, you might as well close the hearing now." . ' . The committee went - Into executive session at 4 p. m. to determine the ad" visabiUty of the testimony. -' Mr. Beveridge inquired concerning the reasons for the line of questions concerning con-cerning polygamy, as he said ! he understood Mr. Smoot was not charged with being a polygamlst. - Mr. Tayler explained that he wanted to Bhow that the demands of the church : are such that it might affect Mr.. Smith's allegiance to the United States. Mr. Worthlngton said that the line ot questioning was following out matters on which there was no dispute, and , which are admitted by his client, i At the same time, he said, the questions relating to a man's private beliefs and - convictions are improper, and that if he were attorney for Mr. Smoot he would advise him to decline to answer. Believes Polygamy Bight.' j . Mr. Burrows ordered Mr. Tayler to proceed with the case, and the committee com-mittee took no notice of Mr. Worthlng-ton'e; Worthlng-ton'e; objection. Continuing the inquiry In relation to "divine revelations Mr. Tayler asked in regard to the manifesto of President Woodruff in 1890, com-; com-; mandlng a suspension of the require- ! - roent that polygamy be practiced In the churA. and also the prayer for i - amnesty in 1891. The questions were 1 . numerous and were to ascertain whether the members of the church considered these declarations affected the continuance of cohabitation of those previously married. . Mr. Smith said it was regarded that 1 they did affect such persons. Mr. Tayler asked: ,"Do you so regard i- itr - . i "The command did not change my . . view on the question of plural mar-. mar-. riages," he answered. ! Being pressed further on the same subject for his personal belief, i Mr. Smith said:' "I believe plural marriages mar-riages lo be right" . ' Manif estp Fully Understood. ' . Mr.. Tayler then asked if It is true that ' the revelation declaring plural marriages remain in the books of au- - thority as a part of the teachings of , the church. ' i Mr. Smith said that it was true.; He . also said that the subsequent mani-. mani-. festo declaring the principle not in operation was fully understood. I Mr. Burrows directed a number of ZZ. questions to Mr. Smith bearing upon the consistency of Mr. Smith's answers ; - relating to his belief in and acceptance - of the divine revelations. He said: ' "I understand you believe in the rev- - elation of Joseph Smith. Jr., in regard '.to polygamy . and still think it is right?" - j - "Yes." ;. I "And the manifesto of President t Woodruff declaring a suspension of the polygamy principle was a revelation, was it not?" ! . . 'fga 99 ' I "How can that be?" pressed Mr. Bur- rowa "One declares in favor of polyg-. polyg-. amy and the other stops tt?" -I adhere to both in my belief."! said Mr. Smith. "I believe polygamy 'was ' 1 right, or . I should never have married T - more than ojie wife." ! .. "As I understand it," Mr. Hoar in-i in-i terrupted. "the last revelation does not - prohibit polygamy, but merely suspends " the former principle commanding it. -1 It may still be believed that the "prac- tice is innocent and proper, but as the divine command to continue it is stopped, the members of the church submit to the civil law on the question of plural marriages." i "That is right," subscribed Mr. Smith. - ; . Van Cott Protests. 1 Mr. Tayler asked a number of ques- tlons relating to Abraham H. Cannon and others of the Mormon faith, in order or-der to bring out the witness' knowledge of the : questions -whether or not they were polygamists and whether they had married since the manifesto of 1890. . Mr,. Smith said he was acquainted with Lillian H. Hamlin, who was known as the wife of Mr. Cannon, but that he had never seen her before 189S. . , Mr. Van Cott. on behalf of Senator Smoot, made a protest against going ! Into the conduct of persons not lnter- ested in the case and asking questions . which could have no bearing on It before be-fore the committee. He referred tC questions -which had been asked by Mr. Hoar concerning Mr. Smith'e belief and manifesto of 1890; that many bishops and other high officials of the church had taken plural wives since that time; that the first presidency and the twelve apostles countenance, encourage en-courage and connive at polygamy and polygamous cohabitation, and honor and reward by office and distinguished those who habitually and personally violated! the laws. Counsel Worthlngton for Senator Smoot replied, and when he concluded an executive session of the committee was held over the question, "'Whether the evidence be admitted showing that the first presidency and a majority of the twelve apostles not only believe In, but practice polygamy and polygamous cohabitation, and that Smoot aided and abetted therein. The executive session was concluded at 6:15 o'clock and It was decided to admit the evidence. This will make the inquiry far reaching. When the committee convened this morning President Smith was immediately imme-diately called to the stand. The venerable ven-erable head of the church' appeared fresh and bright and showed that his long Journey almost across the continent conti-nent had fatigued him but little, if any. He replied to questions in a deliberate way and in only one Instance did he manifest any resentment at the questions ques-tions propounded and this was on a minor matter. The questions covered a wide range In regard to revelations and the receiving receiv-ing of them direct from God. President Smith explained the extent of the revelations, declaring that he never knew of any revelation to the church which had been disregarded or rejected by the whole church. He declared de-clared that the revelations came from God. This was in response to a question from Mr. Hoar, who asked, "Then members of the church can deregard the voice of God, expressed through you, and still remain in good standing in the church V President Smith did not care to admit ad-mit this definitely, so asked permission to make a more detailed statement. He arose and explained the difference in plural marriages, to which, he said, many Mormons, thousands of them, dissent, but are not thereby put outside out-side the church. He had heard prominent promi-nent Mormons proclaim openly that they do not believe In plural marriages. Pressed for a declaration as to his revelations from God, the witness said emphatically: . . "I have never bad an Inspiration, except ex-cept that God showed to me that Mor-monlsm Mor-monlsm is a dlvme revelation by the spirit of God." , Pending the calling of President Smith to the. witness stand 'Judge F. S. Richards of Salt Lake City stated that he appeared at the request of President Smith, John Smith and other witnesses, as there might be some question about which they might ask legal advice. ' In addition to President Smith, other witnesses present today were Apostles Apos-tles Lyman. Hyrum M. Smith, Andrew Jensen, Thomas, Abner and Charles E. Merrill and Lorln Harmer. The committee-room : was crowded, many ladies being present. - As stated, the decision of the committee in executive execu-tive session will permit the scope of Inquiry to be wide and it will therefore be prolonged.- SMOOTIS ATTORNEYS VAINLY TRY TIT LIMIT TESTIMONY The Washington correspondent of the Tribune, wires to his paper as follows: fol-lows: There will be no limit to the investigation investi-gation in the case of Senator Smoot. It will be most thorough and far-reaching, ae the protestanta wish. This was the substance of the committee's determination determi-nation today when a' question, the objection ob-jection to which by Senator Smoot's attorneys at-torneys brought the matter vp foe. decision. de-cision. The bars have been let down and a most thorough probing into the Mormon church and Its affairs is absolutely ab-solutely certain. When the committee adjourned at 4:35 o'clock this afternoon It was to go into executive session, and the conclusion conclu-sion was reached as stated.. It was really the first day of the hearing hear-ing of the case as to whether Reed Smoot, apostle of the Mormon church and Junior Senator from Utah, had a right to a seat ia the Senate in view of his connection as apostle with Mormon Mor-mon hierarchy. The day closed with President Joseph Smith in the witness chair, which he had occupied during both the morning and afternoon sessions, adjournment being bad after a prolonged controversy between counsel ae to the scope of the investigation. '' ' : . The issue -arose ever a question propounded pro-pounded to President Smith as to his acquaintance with George Teasdale, ! and whether Teasdale was . a polygamlst. polyga-mlst. . ' ' . Waldemar Van Cott, of counsel for Smoot,' objected to the Interrogatory, and in an address to the committee held that there wa no charge in the protest' pro-test' except an- academic 'charge. He proceeded) on this line until interrupted by Senator Hoa.r, who presented a hypothetical case. Pending a decision a fecess for ten minutes was had to enable the committee commit-tee to retire and vote oa a proposition pending in the Senate. . Upon reassembling the. debate was renewed. Mr. Van Cott giving reasons for" his objections. . He was frequently questioned by the Senators, and made an effort to show that counsel for the protestants was making his inquiring too broad. Senator Burrows took occasion to correct cor-rect a statement made by the Balf Laker as regarde the scope of the investigation. in-vestigation. , , Mr. Van Cott, resuming, cited the case of Reynolds vs. United States, and quoted from the protest, declaring that Senator Smoot . was not charged with a crime. Mr. Tayler made a vigorous response to Van Cott, in which be quoted from his statement made to the committee January 18th last, in which be declared that the president of the Mormon church and a majority of the twelve apostles now practice polygamy and polygamous cohabitation, and that some of them have -taken polygamous wives since the manifesto of 1890,-and that these things had been done with knowledge knowl-edge and courftenance of Senator Smoot. That plnral marriage ceremonlee had been performed by apostle since the i .. ' |