The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-05

my since the manifesto. Do you think you were obeying the law in having eleven children from different mothers since that time?"
 T obey the law so far as teaching Is concerned. I have not said that l have obeyed the law in my practice. AS have said before, I preferred to take my chances with the law rather than aban- don my plural family. Polygamy has not been taught by any of the officials. The church has obeyed the laws, even if I have not" said MT. Smith.
 Reference had been made many times to the revelation commanding plural mar riages, and Senator Foraker said that all though the ground may have been cover ed before, he would like to have good record and answer to this question:
 Whether Practice Is Arbitrary. When, where and how was the injunc- tion in favor of polygamy received by the church? What I want to know is wheth- CT the practice is arbitrary or merely per- missive.'
 MT. Smith explained that the revelation was made to Joseph Smith at Nauvoo in 1S43, but was not publicly proclaimed on account of the disturbance which had made Smith a martyr
 The doctrine, he said, had been taught by Joseph Smith to Brigham Young, and fis associates and preserved by Young It was taken to the Salt Lake valley in 1s47 and In 1852 was proclaimed by Young and accepted as revelation.
 Does that answer your question:" asked MT. Smith.
 Tt answers to when and where, but not how" said Senator Foraker.
 Senator Forakers Question. What 1 want to know is whether the members of the church were compelled to practice the polygamous marriages and II this Is true, why is it that only three or four per cent of the Mormons have practiced what has been declared divine command?'
 MT. Smith called for a copy of the book of the doctrine and covenants and read part of the revelation, which he said had been accepted in the nature of per- mission to take plural wives and was not mandatory upon members of the church. Other passages from the same revela- ton were read, particularly the portions which prescribe the manner of taking more than one wife 1t was set forth that if one wanted to espouse q second virgin, he could do so by obtaining the consent of the first but that if the con sent of the first was withheld he was at liberty to proceed withou. it. It is set
 
 consent to share her husband with anoth- CT woman she would be destroyed" Senator Pettus asked the meaning of the word "destroyed' in that sense
 Would Be Destroyed.
 MT. Smith answered that she would be destroyed by the Lord, but that he was not informed just how the Lord would go about it."
 Then it does not mean that the hus- band could destroy herr" Senator Pettus asked.
 No. never
 'I take it then that the question of getting a wife's consent to marry again might just as well be eliminated en- tirely,' said Senator Beveridge.
 Just as we'll" answered witness Senator Overman asked Mir Smith if he knew whether any one of the six poly gamist apostles had dsobeyed the law in regard to the polygamus co-habitation since the manifesto of 1890.
 Were In Same Status.
 q do not know" said Mir. Smith. T only know that they were in the same status of polygamy at the time of the manifesto as I was myself do not pry into their family affairs. I am happy to say that I am not 'spotter or an in former I am not a paid spy"
 Yet you might know without being a paid spy" persisted Senator Overman. T know nothing about It. As I have
 
 (Continued on Second Paqe)