The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-02
CASE OF APOSTLE SMOOr.
STATEMENT BY PRES. SMITH OF
THE MORMON CHURCH


Declares Smoot Capable and Enter
prising Citizen and FIT for Oace-Not
States Senator by tho Church-PoIyg-
amy the Decrease-Now Practiced
Only by Those Who Had Families Be-
fore the Law Went ImtO Effect
\ Salt Lake City. Utah, Dec1-In an in
terview to-day with the correspondent
of the Associated Press President
Joseph Smith of the Mormon church de-
fined the present position of the church
with respect to polygamy, and the eecle-
siastical position of Apostle Reed
Smoot, whose candidacy for the United
States senate has resulted in an active
campaign against him by the Minister
ial alliance. President Smith said the
church did not desire to enter the con-
troversy over this question, but was
anxious that it's own people, as well as
the people of the country should under
stand its position.
Concerning polygamy the president
said the church did not perform, sane
ton or authorize marriage in any form
that is contrary to the laws of the land.
THE assertion that prominent Nor
mons practice polygamy is evidently
made to mislead the public" he con-
tinued 'Polygamy under the law is
the marrying Of a. husband or wife
while the legal husband or wife is liv-
ing and undivorced. There is no such
offence committed by sanction of the
Mormon church. But when the prohi-
bition Of polygamy was proclaimed by
the, president of the Mormon church
there were many persons who had con-
tracted plural marriages, and that re-
lation has been continued in many in
stances, because the men in that posi-
tion determined not to abandon their
families but to care for and provide for
them and educate and cherish their
children.
This is enormously construed as
practicing polygamy and creates the
impression that polygamous marriages
are still permitted in and by the church.
1t was ascertained by a careful GEN.
sus in 1890, when President Woodruff
issued his manifesto against further
polygamous marriages, that there was
2,451 such families belonging to the
church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints in the United States. In May,
1892 a complete and thorough inquiry
showed that the original number in 1890
had been reduced 63 per cent, leaving
then only S97. the great majority of
whom were of advanced age, and many
of them having since departed this life.
1T is evident that with no additions
to this total but rapid and continual
decrease, the number of polygamist
families will soon be reduced to zero"
President Smith was asked to define
the position of Mr.. Smoot in the church,
his position as an apostle having been
compared to that of cardinal or arch
bishop in other churches.
1.-THE two positions are not parallel"
President Smith said. "An apostle of
seventy, or elder or bishop in the church
of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
is usually engaged in some secular vo-
cation or laboring in some capacity for
his daily bread. He is ordained to the
office he holds in the priesthood so that
he may act in that calling when requir-
ed He gives his services gratuitously
to the church There are instances, of
course, when a mans whole time is talk
en- up with some church duty, that he
receives remuneration therefor, but es
a rule men holding positions in the
priesthood are engaged in secular call
ings and are men of affairs. Reed
Smoot is a banker, the manager Of the
largest manufacturing institution in this
state, and is interested greatly in min
ing operat tions and other temporal pur-
suits. He is recognized as capable and
enterprising citizen, and his position in
the church need not interfere in any
way with his services to the state or the
nation in any political Office to which he
may be elected. 1t is not true that he
has been put forward by the church as
candidate for public office, but he has
the same right that any other Ameri-
can citizen enjoys to accept any office
to which his fellow citizens may elect
him to occupy. Mormon church off
cials have served in congress for many
years and no objection has been Of
fered on that account. Every Mormon
official has been one holding the priest
hood, and that has never interfered
with his official duties. The objection
In the present case is without substan-
tiaI reason or foundation"