The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-05


law in regard to polygamous cohabita-
ton since the manifesto of 1890.
II do not know" said Mr.. Smith. 81
only know that they were in the same
status Of polygamy at the time of the
manifesto as I was myself. 1 do not
pry into their family affairs. 1 am
happy to say that am not 'spotter'
nor an fnformer.' / am not a paid
spy"
l. Bishops as Married Men.
Senator Hoar asked:
do you regard it as a divine COM
nand that the bishops shall have one
wife or more? What I want to know
Is how you construe that command"
II believe the practice of polygamy
was general among the Jews at the
time the Scriptures were written" said
Mr.. Smith. 81 believe that it was COM
manded that bishop should be a
married man because his duties made
it necessary that he should be an ex-
perienced man." (Here the chairman
had to rap loudly to restore order in
the. committee room.)
Senator McComas took the witness
in hand to bring out whether, as the
head Of the Mormon church, Mr..
Smith had ever rebuked the apostles
Of the church for teaching polygamy
since the manifesto Of 1890, and Mr..
Smith declared:
mo member Of the church has ever
taught polygamy since that time"
what would you do If the principle
of plural marriages was publicly at
tackled? ?" Senator McComas asked
1--WE would defend it," said Mr..
Smith.
Questioned by the Defense.
Mr.. Smith was taken in hand by the
defense and questioned by Mr.. Worth
ington, who called attention to IAN
apparent inconsistency" in the books
Of the church in regard to the authority
Of more than one person to receive
revelations.
Mr.. Smith said that only the presi-
dent could receive revelations for the
entire church" though every member
Of the church could receive revelations
for his personal guidance. providing
they live worthy to receive inspirations
from God. The last revelation re-
ceived, according to Mr. Smith, was
in 1882, and came to President John
Taylor, calling two men to the apostle
late.
'That is the only one in twenty two
years, them" said Mr.. Worthington.
@'The only one except the manifesto"
said Mr.. Smith.
not appear in the doctrine and cove
nants with the other revelations? ?" said
Mr.. Worthington.
ct is an oversight, I should judge.
believe now from what / have heard
it should be in, and 1 certainly will
use my influence to have it inserted in
the next edition published" answered
Mr.. Smith.
do you amend the Bible by holding
TOT, tc,c ho a
literally?" asked Mr. Worthington.
mo, we do not interfere with the
King James version Of that book" was
the answer.
Mormons Against Poiygamy.
Mr.. Smith testified that the law
making polygamous cohabitation a
crime was passed by the Utah terri
torial legislature, which was over
whelningly composed of Mormons, and
that the constitutional convention also
was composed of large majority Of
Mormons, so that the existing laws of
the state legislating against polyga-
NOUS cehabitation really were the re-
suit of the, efforts of Mormons them
selves.
| Reference was made to the Evans
| BILL which passed the Utah senate
March 8, 1901, and few days later
4 the nOu56.--I Ills U1ll plOVlOSQ LIl1I iiO
prosecutions for polygamous cohab1ta-
ton should be Instituted except on
complaint OF husband or wife. The
bill was vetoed by Gov. Wells.
Mr.. Smith had said he was In favor
Of the bill, and was asked why.
well, 1t was rather a personal mat
ter with me. was one OF those I'M
fortunate-or otherwise-men VINO mad
numerous family and we were made
the prey of a prying individual VINO
was continuously spying into marital
relations. I thought if such a law was
passed it would be a boon to myself as
we'll as a relief to those in a similar
position and put an end to this con-
tinl1al sspotting' of our private affairs.
I spoke to a. few friends about the bill.
but to none Of the members of the
| legislature
Senator Hoar asked questions to de-
ter1nine the relative weight of reve-
lations and the law of the land when
the two came into contact and asked
particularly in regard to the old reye-
Mr.. Smith said that with the older
members it was the effort to uphold
the laws. but with the younger ones,
well, they were a little hard to con-
troll.
Senator Hoar wanted to know what
Mr.. Smith would do If the revelations
conficted with the law. (Which would
you obey?" he asked.
with me, perhaps, the revelation
would be uppermost." said Mr.. Smith.
"Can you say perhaps to such
question? ?" interrupted Mr.. Hoar Sc
yerely. He asked: Suppose you re-
ceived a revelation commanding your
people to do something which would
Conflict with the law of the land.
which would they have to obey?"
Could Obey Either.
(Which ever they pleased" was the
reply. "There is no compulsion."
Then he read from one of the stand
ard., of authority: Let no man break
y Gov y hat