The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-05

ghT ARLINGTON, March 4.-Today
wv proceedings I'm the Smoot case
were not marked BY the intense
feeling of yesterday. President
Smith was easier and more adroit
in his answers. and he made
a better Impression by his ex-
plantations of Mormon church affairs
than heretofore. He also improved the
opportunity when questioned concern
ing various passages in the BOog or
Covenants to preach a sermon on the
Mormon doctrine which viii have wide
spread distribution in the printed dOcu-
ments which are issued reporting the
hearing.
Senators Asked Questions.
Today's hearing showed but little fur
fher light upon the subject of polygamy
as practiced, the examination relating
almost exclusively to its introduction
as a religious doctrine of the Mormon
church and whether the Mormon church
by the manifesto OF 1890 really sought
TO discontinue its teaching and prac-
tiCe. Senators HOar. Burrows, Dubois
and Beveridge relieved Attorney Tay-
Ter almost entirely of the part of in
uuisitOr and propounded most Of the
questions President Smith was called
upon 10 answer. The trend of the ques-
tioning by these senator's revealed pref
~ clearly that Foraker and Beveridge
Rre fa.vOrably disposed toward Senator
SmoOt. that Burrows and Dubois are
clearly antagOnistc. and that Senator
Hoar IS deeply interested in bringing
20 the surface all Of the peculiar fea-
lures Of MormOnism- Senator Bailey
also Joined in questioning, and re-
marked significantly when the case OF
Brigham II. Roberts was mentioned: II
voted 20 seat him"
Prominent Spectators.
A large number OF Senators not
on the elections committee and mem
bers OF the house attended today's
hearing, among them Senators Patter-
son. Dryden. Kean and Bacon.
Representative lands, who took an
active part in the Roberts case, and
Chaplain Edward Everett Hale, were
listeners. The hearing was enlivened
by a controversy between Senators
Hoar and Foraker, who renewed their
recent scrap on the floor of the senate
and each informed the other I'm parIia-
mentary terms that he was not speak
ing the truth.
smoot an Incident.
1t is regarded as significant that
nothing has been adduced in the trial
as vet to connect Smoot with the case
except in the most indirect way and
the fact is apparent that the church
8 the principal defendant and Smoot
an incident.
The prosecution still insists Il has
made out its case. From what has
been proven by the testimony Of Presi-
dent Smith the prosecution contends
that presiding officers of the church
are criminals in the eyes of the law be-
cause of their continuous plural CO.
habitation, and that Mr.. Smoot has not
rebuked them, but has continued to as
sociate himself with them as one Of
them. and the prosecution expects to
show that should Mr.. SmOOt be exclud-
ed that members of the Mormon church
should not be admitted to public Of
fee.
Claims Of the Defense.
on the other hand. the defense con-
tends that every officer and member Of
the church has faithfully observed the
law prohibiting plural marriages and
that none such have been entered into
since the passage Of that law. Plural
wives who We're married prior TO that
law. they admit. are being supported
rather than abandoned. 1t is also corr
tended that pOlygamy is no longer
preached or taught and that despite
The doctrines of the church, every men,
eer acts Of his OWE free viii and ac-
Cepts or rejects the decisions of the va
rious councils as ne pleases. And II is
denied that AIR Shoots votes or ac-
tons I'm the senate are subject TO die
Nation OF his fellow apostles or that the
church dominates in business and poll
Ccs.