The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-03-11
Smith ADMITS He Izil
vIKATED the LAW
President Of Mormon Church
fas Cohabited With
Plural Wives.
only STOPS MARRIAGES
But he Insists That 1t Doesn't Inter.
fere Will, Cohabitins With Plu-
raj Wives Acquired Before
H.. That Time.

Washington. March $50 great has
become he interest in the investigation
OF the protests against Reed Smoot re.
tanning his seat in the senate that it
a necessary to keep all persons ex-
sept those directly interested out of the
committee room. Just before the rear
ing begun today Smoot received a tele-
gram from Provo, Utah, stating that
his sister. Mrs. George S. Taylor, was
dead.
When the committee was called to
order Chairman Burrows ruled that
testimony bearing upon plural mar
riages of any of the twelve apostles, Of
which Smoot is one, is competent so
TAR as it relates to such ~polygamous
rehabilitation since September rs, 1890,
the date OF President Woodruff's mani
festo Withdrawing the order of the
church commanding plural marriages.
What It's About.
Senator Beveridge stated that there
had been a misunderstanding as to
whether Smoot was being tried on
charges Of polygamy and of having
oath rs senator. Now he said, it is
apparent that these charges are not
pending in this investigation.
Senator Dubois dissented from the
statement and said the real charge is
that Smoot is a m of the Nor
fHou lleTaicnE, WnlCn SuDSCrlOeS TO
VOWS in conflict with the laws Of the
country, and was bound to support
such vows. For the first time in
twenty years. said Dubois, the rela-
lions of this organization toward the
United States are to be tried
Pettus made a protest against the de-
bate between members Of the commit
tee, and Chairman Burrows directed
Taylor To proceed.
Smith Violated Laws.
] In reply to questions by Taylor, Pres
ident Smith denied that he performed
/ polygamous marriage of A. H. Can
non and Lillian Hamlin. which the
newspapers charged him with having
done, and brought out a statement re-
garding his (Smith's) position under
the laws covering polygamy. He ac-
knowledged that lie had violated them
continuously since the manifesto Of
1890. and Is ready now to face the laws
pf the land.
SIS cohabitation with a plural wife
contrary to the rules of the church,"
Smith received permission to answer
the question in his way. He said:
J. "In regard to the status Of polygamy
ut the time of the manifesto, I want to
say that after the hearing before the
master in chancery I understood we
should abstain from relations with our
plural families, and that rule was OBJ
-SClNcu W " LII lllllG Tie ella DllHE ACT
went into effect, admitting Utah as a
State. Under that act the only prohi-
bition was that plural marriages should
pease. Nothing was said about CO.
habitation with our wives"
No More Marriages.
Smith said he married his first wife
thirty-eight years ago and his last wife
twenty years ago. He preferred to taxi
chances with the Law rather than aban-
don his children and their mothers. He
had cohabited with his wives since the
manifesto, and they had borne him
children since that date.
He said no plural marriages had been
performed III the church since the
manifesto n that p~olyganlous cohab-
itation was regarded by the church as
contrary to the law.
Defied the Laws.
Mr.. Taylor: You say that there is a
state law f%orbidding polygamous CO.
habitation, and that you have been con-
%tinuing to violate it in utter disregard
OF the consequences"
Smith: II think | have"
You have caused you plural wives
to bear you new children in violation OF
a law YOU knew to eXist?"
"That is correct"
"Why have o done sou
"For the same reason I have told you
L preferred to face the law. I could
not disgrace myself. l could not dis
regard my family"
ID you consider it an abandonment
of your family not to maintain mar
riage relations?"
Smith faced Taylor in a low
penetrating voice, said: II don't like
to be important, but I should like you
to ask n woman who is a Wife"
At that point Senators Foraker anC
BeveriGge objected, and in discussing
the question both expressed the Opin.
don the witness had stated fully thai
he had violated the laws, and that he
had heen frank in regard to his rea.
sons, and that the committee was ad.
Vised on that subjec:.
Senator Dubois asked it 1t was no
understood by those in authority thai
1T was the duty of the ~polygamist tt
continue for and support his plura
family after the manifesto. Smith an,
severed hat it was generally SO un.
derstood."