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Show I THE INVES-I INVES-I TIGATION I Of Church Reopen-I Reopen-I . ed at Washington. I B. H. Roberts Tells I what He Knows. I Washington, April, 20. With tlio I reopening of the Investigation In the ; Smoot case before the senate commit tee on privileges and elections, the ! prosecution, devoted considerable time to drawing from Urlgham II. Roberts the character of the oaths which are said to be necessary for a Mormon officer of-ficer to take In order to have the support sup-port of the church for political olllce. Members of the committee showed an equal interest in the obligation which ore said to betaken by Mormons who no through the endowment house. Along both lines much evidence was brought out. It was shown by the testimony of Mr. Roberts that without the consent of the Mormon church he failed of election to a seat in Congress and later with church recognition of his candidacy candi-dacy he was elected. In relation to the endowment house obligation, Mr. Roberts was extremely reticent. He said that the sacrcdness of the secrecy was sucli that ho could not reveal it to the world, and that if he did so lie would lose caste with the church as having betrayed a trust. Portions of the testimony given bv Mr. Roberts, especially in rcga'rd to his reasons for maintaining polygamous polyga-mous cohabitation with his plural wlves, was almost a duplicate of the testimony given by other polygamlsts I who have been on tho stand. Mr. Roberts said that he regarded s- 'the laws of God as higher lhan the laws of the land and that his moral obl'gation to his wives was greater than both the laws of God and man. Important testimony for the prosecution prose-cution is expected to bo developed at this session of the committee. The hearing opened without formality of any character. Urlgham II. Roberts was called to the stand by Mr. Tayler and was questioned to bring out a statement of Ills orncial connection witli the church. Washington, Aprh 21. Urlgham II. Roberts was again on the stand on cross-examination this morning when the hearing of tho Smoot investigation investiga-tion was resumed before tho senate committee on privileges and elections. He was examined In regard to his statement that elections In Utah oscillated os-cillated between the Democratic and Republican parties and said that the only time when the Democrats elected their candidates was In 18'j0 and 1898, when the silver question was the principal one discussed. Since then tho Republicans have been successful. Tho witness Identified an interview published in Utah during his candidacy candida-cy forcongrcss, in which he admitted ttic right of the church to discipline members when they entered politics without first securing permission. lie also admitted that after having been ejected from congress and upon his return re-turn to Utah he had been In 1000 again prosecuted for plural cohabitation. cohabita-tion. He was not convicted CHUKCH NOT IN" rOLITICS. Senator Bailey asked the witness if it was not true that the political support of the Mormon Church in Utah was sought by political parties, tho same as the Irish, the German or Italian vote was sought in other communities. com-munities. "I believe not," said Mr. Roberts. "There may be individuals who trim their sails that way but not the Church." Chairman Rurrows Inquired: "If you were invited to accept a political olllce, would you feel at liberty to accede to the request without first getting consent from the Church?" , "I think not." "If your request were refused you would not feel at liberty to run for tho office V" "That would depend upon tho emergency and, which was the more binding, m duties as an otllccr of the Church' or my duties as a citizen." "And If you decided tho Church should be considered first?" "Then I should decline the olllce." "Well, if the Church should refuse to consent and you should still accept the office, what action would be taken by the Church?" "I would probably be called upon for an explanation." "What if you should Inform tho Church that you regarded your duty to the state above that to the Church? Would the attitude of the Church be one of hostility?" "I can not believe there would be any action taken politically;" "Rut the patriotism and religion in such a case would be In conflict," said Senator Ralley. "At one tlmo you defied the Church, did you not?" "I, did." "And you were defeated?" "Yes." "Recauseyou refused to submit to tho orders of the Church?" "I think I was enlightened by the Church,'' said the witness. "And when you were enlightened and did submit to those orders you were elected?" "I was." Mr. Roberts said that both he and Apostle Thatcher had stood out against the riiurch rule, and that ho had withdrawn his opposition to the rule and was elected to office. Senator Sena-tor Dubois brought out the fact that Thatcher did not submit to the Church at that tlmo, and was defeated. |