Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-19
His Answer to Secondary Charges
Filed With Senate Committee
On Elections.
NOT GROUND FOR HIS EXPULSION
Denies First Presidency Claims Su
preme Authority in All Things
Polygamy noI Encouraged.
Especial to the "News.")

sNtI VI otHdtoE iNttu Sinoph W WIG etN-
ondary charges was filed with the SEN
ate elections committee today. In 1t the
senator says; II am advised and aver
that none OF the matters contained in
these revised and amended charges,
even II same were true, are such as 10
furnish any legal ground for my expul-
sion from the senate. Insisting upon
this objection 10 the Jurisdiction of the
senate, and renewing and replying TO
the new charges and motion to strike
cut heretofore made in reference TO the
original charges, answer as follows
As 10 the first charge | deny that
the Mormon Priesthood, according 10
the doctrine Of the Church or belief or
practise OF It's membership, Is vested
with. or assumes 10 exercise, supreme
authority In all things temporal, spirit
ua civil and political. | admit that
the First Presidency OF the Church has
supreme authority In things spiritual
and IN things temporal, relating 10 the
property and business affairs Of the
Church itself. | admit that the head OF
the Church claims 10 receive divine rev.
Citations. | admit and aver that | am
bound to accept and obey such reyela-
lions so far, and so far only, as they re-
late to things spiritual or to the proper
" business, or affairs OF the Church Il.
self. And especially deny that | am
or can be bound IN any way to obey any
such revelations when such obedience
would be IN violation Of the Constltu-
tion or laws OF the United States or OF
the State OF Utah
''As to the second charge admit that
| am one OF the Twelve Apostles Of
Church and that members OF the First
Presidency aud the Twelve Apostles are
sustained Tor voted for) IN general con-
ference OF the Church, as phophets,
seers and reyelators. Under the rule
and practice of the Church the presl-
dent only Is recognized as authority to
receive revelations OF the Church. |
admit and aver that the President and
his two counselors constituting the
First Presidency and they only, are SUI.
preme In the exercise Of the authority
OF the Church on ordinary occasions,
and that when the First Presidency ia
disorganized by vacancy In the office
Of President, and then only, Is such SUI
preme authority vested in the Apos-
ties. This has happened only once
since became an Apostle and such ex-
igency lasted about IA days.
las 10 the third charge. | deny that
as shown by their teachings or by their
own lives the said alleged body of men
has not abandoned belief In the sprac-
tise Of polygamy and polygamous CO.
habitati0n. except that adj
init that the practise of polygamous
cohabltation by some who were poly
gamists before the manifesto has been
abandoned but continued for time
by others, and where continued 1t has
been on the sole responsibility OF such
persons and subject to the penalties OF
the law.
"(A) deny that rs the ruling author
tiles OF the Church or otherwise the
First Presidency and Apostles of the
Church promulgate solemnly, or other
wise, the doctrine Of polygamy. II IL
true that the Doctrine and Covenants
containing the revelation OF Joseph
Smith on the subject Of polygamy IL
stIll published and circulated by the
Church just as the Bible containing
declarations on the same subject Is
published and circulated. But In the
case Of the Doctrine and Covenants as
IN the case OF the Bible, all that Is con-
tanned therein on the subject OF polyga-
my Is Superseded by later authoritative
teachings known unto all Mormons, IN.
structlng members OF the Church, and
especially It's missionaries, that the
practise OF polygamy Is suspended as
set forth particularly In the manifesto
of President Wilford Woodruff on sept
Is, 1900. In illustration OF the teach
lngs of the Church on the subject OF
polygamy since the manifesto, refer TO
The publication on the title page which
ia as follows, The Articles OF Faith.
A series OF lectures IN the principal
doctrines OF the Church OF Jesus Christ
OF Latter. day Saints by Dr. James T.,
Talmage This book was copyrighted
by entry In the library OF Congress,
March TO- 1852 The lectures which II
contains were delivered by an Elder OF
the Church, who delivered them under
the instructions OF the First Presidency
After their delivery the manuscript was
submitted TO and revised ny a
COMMITTEES appointed by the First
presidency, committee consisting OF ~
ders Francis NJ, Lyman, Abraham h.
Cannon, Anthem II. Lund, (who were
then Apostles OF the church,, Elder
George Reynolds, one OF the presidents
OF the presiding quorum OF Seventy,
Elder John Nicholson, and DR., Kari o.
Maeser, After such revision the lee
lures were published by the Church
and have ever since been used every
where as n text book OF the Church,
Here follow several hundred words,
extracts from the book.
"On Information and belief, ] deny
that the president OF the Mormon
Church or a majority OF the Twelve
Apostles, now practise polygamy or
polygamous eohabitatlon, ] admit,
however that the president and some
of the Apostles had plural wives prior
10 the manifesto and continue TO re-
cognize the women whom they. mar,
red subsequent 10 their flrst ana legal
marriage as being still their wives On
information and belief j deny that
either the president or any OF the
Apostles OF the Church has taken
polygam0us or plural wife since the
manifesto Of 1890, | deny that either
the president or any OF the Twelve
Apostles has at any time practlsed
polygamy or polygamous cohabitation
with my countenance or win my
knowledge, except as herein above SET
forth. on information and belief |
deny that any plural marriage cere-
mony has been performed by any Apos-
tie OF the Church since the manifesto OF
1890 And deny that many or any
Bishops or other high officials OF the
Church, have taken plural wives since
that time.
I deny except as hereinabove adj
mltted In answer to this third speclh-
cation that all or any Of the First Pres
idency or Twelve Apostles encourage,
Countcnauce, conceal or conniye at
polygan1y or polygamous cohabtation,
I deny that the First Presidency or the
Twelve Apostles honor or reward by
any Office or preferment those who
most peraigtently and denartly violate
the law Of the land. Except as herein
abov admitted | deny the allegations
Of the third charge,
AS 10 the fourth charge, there is
nothing in the language Of this charge
to clearly Indicate the statute to which
II refers, but assuming as oounsl for
A.