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Show jUut o fsii n Head of the Church Closely Scrutinized by the Ladies Washington, June 27 The story of the alliance of tno Mormon church nnd the Henry O. Havemeyor Interests ln the beet sugar business was told and the deal characterized as entirely legal by Jo6. F. Smith, president of the Mormon church and of tho Utah-Idaho Utah-Idaho Sugar company, before tho House Sugar Trust Investigating committee com-mittee today. The head of the church explained how Mormon affairs are conducted, how lta funds come practically from the tithes of the people, how tlioy are systematically accounted for, nnd asserted as-serted that tho Intel ests of tho Mormon Mor-mon people are safeguarded at all times. Tho committee made no effort to pry Into tho affairs of tho church except ex-cept only as they related to business matters. The venerable head of the Mormon church said his deal with Mr. Havemeyer was not considered important im-portant enough for formal consideration considera-tion by the council of tho church, but was effected with tho acqulesence of tho church officials. Mr. Smith testified that it was not the general practice of the church to make business Investments, that the sugar business was its largest Investment. In-vestment. He emphatically denied that the church had any stock ln tho American Ameri-can Sugar Refining company. . "Why haven't you folks bought out the Havemeyer Interests?" asked Representative Rep-resentative Baker of California. "We haven't the money " "You know Havcmoyor was a power I.i the business world and you were glad to get him into the- business, weren't you." "We were only Interested ln getting his money." Washington, Juno 27. Joseph F. Smith, of the Mormon church, wns ne principal witness at today's hearing of the House commlttco on investigation of the so-cnlled sugar trust. The oath was administered, to hjin by Chainnan Hard wick, the Mormon leader-remaining seated vhile being sworn Mr. Smith wns accompanied to the hearing room ibv Senator Reed Smoot, Bishop C N Nioley. business manager of tho Mormon church; Thomas R Cutler, a former bishop of the church, and RepreEentatlvo Jospeh Howell and R W Young of Salt Lake, counsel tor the representatives of the Mormon hierarchy. The party was forcod to pass a lino of curious women This was not Mr. Smiths' first experience ex-perience with a congressional committee. commit-tee. Many present today when tho vonorable Mormon lender appear recalled re-called h.'s visit during the Investigation Investiga-tion Into the right of Senator Smoot to retain his seaL Though his mission mis-sion today was an entirely dlfforent one submission to examination ns to business relations of the Mormon church with tho American Sugar Refining Re-fining company through the Utah-Idaho Utah-Idaho Sugar Refining company It was expocted the Interests of his people In Morraonlsm would not escape inquiry. in-quiry. In tho Utah-Idaho Sugar Refining company stock. In which Mr Smith has trustoo holdings, moro than 400,-000 400,-000 shares are owned by tho Sugar trusts, Henry O. Havemeyer, having taken a personal interest In the experiments ex-periments of tho Mormons ln the beet sugar Industry and financed their enterprises, en-terprises, which have boen succefsful. "Have you any official connection with Utah-Idaho Sugar company? a6ked Chairman Hardwlck nt tho outset out-set of the session. "1 am presldont of tho company," replied re-plied Smith. "Do you own any stock?" "Yes, sir, I own about 5,000 shares individual." "Do you own nny stock ln a representative repre-sentative capacitv?" "Yes, I hold 49.S15 sharcB for the church Tho title Is hold in the namo of Joseph F. Smith, truRtee." Of the stock of tho Amalgamated Sugar company of Ogden. Mr Smith said he owned about seventy shares individually in-dividually Tho church held none. The witness added that neither ho nor the church held stock In tho 'Lewis-ton 'Lewis-ton suKar compnny. Prcsl-Jcnt Smith said the church 'became 'be-came Interested ln the Utah company when many peoplo who subscrlbort failed to pay for their stock, and the compnnv, under bond to complete a beet sugar factorv, was unable to do It. The church was appealed to bv the stockholders to assist, which It did. to tho extent of ?50,000 "Does tho Utah-Idaho company pay dividends?" "In promoting Its religious Interests." Inter-ests." "Did the church ever po Into a partnership part-nership with Henry O Havemeyer"'" "Tho church never did, but tho stockholders did. Wo wore striving to build up tho hoot sugar business In UtaJi under very groat difficult les We wero anxious to ohLiln capltnl. Wo were given to understand that Mr. Havemeycr'had offorcd to tike an interest in-terest In our enternrlsc, and I, as ono of the stockholders was delighted to hoar of his offor. which was eventually accented I wns w'llllng to sell my portion of the slock to help make un tho half Interest to the Havcmeyors" "Before the ULih company com-hlncd com-hlncd with Havemcver." Mr Hariwlck racked, "was It not ln competition with the American Sugar Refining company?" com-pany?" "Not lu Utah." "How was the deal with Havemeyer apnroved?" "The matter was prosentcd to the board of directors and they ngrcod to eoII half of the stock " "D'd the church take le;al advice as to whothor te combination was lawful or unlawful?" "The church didn't, but the company com-pany consulted Its nttorneys, I think, as to the legality of the deal. I am not sure of that ibut reasonably certain cer-tain that It was done. The church itself it-self has nothing to do with the business busi-ness of investments or holdings; that Is looked after by mo as trustee. The church itself takes no parL" |