The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-03-11
Interesting Testimony in
the Smoot Case
REVELATION EXPLAINED

Washington, d. c., March S.-Fran-
els w. Lyman, an apostle OF the Nor
mon church, at the Smoot investiga-
tion before the senate committee on
privileges and elections this afternoon,
acknowledged that he violated both
the Jaws of man and Cod in associat-
ing with plural wives.
His testimony was of a character
very damaging to Senator Smoot and
at its conclusion Attorney Tayler, rep
rese1ting the prosecution, announced
TO the committee: I'VE claim that Mr.
Smoot Is inextricably woven into this
faD.ic, the Mormon church, and that
he can only release himself by cutting
himself off with one sweep"
Was Mr.. Smoot chosen as apostle
by revelation from God?" was asked
Yes" replied the witness.
WAS the voice audible as an Or
dinary sound?' queried Mr. Hoar.
ut was to President Snow, no
doubt" was the reply.
How do you know"
The Lord revealed 1t to me- replied
Lyman.
How"
by the spirit OF the Lord.'
by audible sound?"
He spoke to me and my soul and
heard by the spirit of the Lord" he
replied.
Mr.. Hoar cornered the witness in his
defense of polygamy.
You admit violating the laws Of the
church and the land. Have you re-
pented?" he was asked
No, not yet" he replied, whereat
the committee laughed.
Il think" he continued, my viola
tions are we'll known to Mr.. Smoot
and the other apostles
Mr.. Hoar asked the witness IL he had
Rad any revelations" while upon the
stand to tell everything but the truth
He replied mot particularly" and
that he answered as the spirit Of the
Lord directed him.
Has the spirit of the Lord directed
you to contradict yourself as you have
done?" asked Mr.. Hoar sarcastically.
The witness did not answer.
great length on the point as to whether
the people of Salt Lake knew he was
living in polygamous state. The
witness drew fine distinctions between
what the people might think ,hey knew
and what they actually and positiye.y y |
knew.
Mr.. Pettus asked number of ques-
tions with a view Of determining how
the church viewed the acceptance or |
rejection OF revelations to the head OF |
the church or TO apostles.
Mr.. Hoar tried to show that the wit
nesss answers inevitably led to the
conclusion that revelations from God |
could be disregarded al will by ,ne
higher officers and that instead of the
Almighty being omnipotent that the
FIST presidency or a quorum of the
apostles could over-rule His will"
"A sort of veto power of the Al
mighty remarked the senator from
Massachusetts, whereat all but the
MOrmons laughed
AT the afternoon session, Apostle
Francis NJ Lyman being on the stand.
he was asked by Senator Dubois,
whether In any Of the apostolic meet
ings Smoot had ever rebuked him for
living in pOlygamous relations, or
had ever taken him to task in public
and responded that he had not.
Asked by Chairman Burrows as to
what was meant by going through the
endowment house" the question being
persisted in, despite objections of couu-
sci, Lyman said that he could not re-
peat the whole ceremony to save his
life, but he could tell part of II.
Il remember" said he that I agreed
to be an upright moral man, pure in
my life agreed to refrain from sex
ual commerce with any woman except
my wife or wives, and TO be good and
true to all men. took no obliga-
don to any government, country or
Kingdom, of any kind"
This was deemed satisfactory as to
the charge that smoot had taken an
obligation Inconsistent with his duties
as senator.
A series OF questions was then asked
10 show what part Smoot took in the
meetings OF the apostles, and in the
quarterly and general conferences OF
the church. It was shown that he
attended when In the state, that the
wives OF the apostles did not attend
and that witness had never introduced
his plural wives to Smoot.
Under cross examination witness
said that Apostle 5moot never knew
he (witness) was doing wrong. His
father had twenty-five children, but
only witness and one brother had ever
praeiiced polygamy. The other broth
srs were all monogamists The general