New Ulm review., 1904-12-14
RESUME HEARING
Of SMO0T CASE
EVIDENCE TAKEN BY SENATE
COMMITTEE IN PROTEST
AGAINST SEATING HIM.
MANY WOMEN ON HAND
TO HEAR TESTIMONY
DIR. Buckley Questioned as to What He
Heard at Salt Lake Convention
Divorces from the Dead Some
times Granted.

the protest against Reed Smoot, junior
senator from Utah, retaining his seat
in the United States senate, were re-
privileges and elections The room
was crowded, women predominaIing
among the spectators, as was the case
last session Senator Smoot arrived
early, accompanied by Waldemar Van
Cott, Salt Lake City attorney, who
is assisting A. S. Worthington, of this
city, in the conduct of the defense.
Lake, adviser to Mormon witnesses,
and Mr.. Worthington, also were pres
ent Former Representative r. w.
Tayler, of Ohio. acted again as the
counsel for the protestants. When the
hearing opened the members of the
committee present were Senators Bur-
rows, chairman; Foraker, Dubois, Pet
tus and Overman
First Witness Called.
The first witness called by Mr.. Tay-
Ter was Rev. J. M. Buckley, D. D., OF
MorristoWn, N. j., editor of the Chris
tian Advocate, of New York Dr. Buck
ley told of visits to Utah in 1901 and
again last June. At that time he at
tended a joint convention of the
young mems and young women's
unions, of Mormonism Those who
spoke were Brigham H. Roberts, Ell.
mira S. Taylor and President Smith.
The audience was estimated by the
witness at 11,000 persons. The line
of inquiry introduced by Attorney
Tayler concerning the meeting was in
reference to what had been said at the
convention about polygamous cohab-
itation. DR.. Buckley read from an
article on this meeting, which said that
President Smiths voice rang out "as
strong as William j. Bryan's'' as he
defended the Mormon marriage, and
declared that polygamy was not
adultery, but was system of mar
riage. President Smith was quoted
by the witness as saying that he could
not give up any of his wives; that it
meant eternal damnation to abandon
a multiplicity of wives.
Former Recorder Testifies
George Reyno1us, Mormon living
in Salt Lake City, testified that he is
the first assistant superintendent Of the
Mormon church Sunday school and sec.
retary OF the missionary committee Of
the apostles, and formerly clerk or
recorder Of the endowment house.
This relation was severed in about
1871. The endowment house was torn
HnyUp in 1QQQ h,,4
used for the same purposes. Mr.. Rey-
nolds told the committee that he has
given certificates of marriage since he
ceased to be recorder of the endowment
house, in cases where widows sought
TO obtain pensions. He made the GER
t1hcates from records in his possession,
but these records, he said, had since
been removed to the temple, and he
has not access to them now.
In answer to questions by Senator
Overman Mr.. Reynolds said marriages
were performed with dead persons in
the endowment house
MIR. Tayler then asked if divorces
were granted in the endowment house,
The church grants divorces to those
who have been married for time and
| eternity, but does not divorce legal
marriages until the courts have acted. .
| said Mr.. Reynolds. Plural marriages
are not recognized by courts, and,
therefore, the church does not consult
the court in granting divorces in cases
of such marriages"
Divorces from Dead Persons.
| Senator Foraker asked if such di-
vorces are granted from dead per
sons.
In few instances only, I shoult,
say, said the witness.
For something done after death, OF
before?' the senator asked.
In lifetime"
is the dead person given an oppor.
tunity to be heard?" the senator asked
No, sir; it is because such cases
are held to be unjust to the dead ac-
cused, that SO few divorces Of this kind
are granted said the witness.
rs anyone appointed to defend the
accused?''
Never; but the complainant is
\