The semi-weekly messenger., 1904-03-11

Washington. March AFTER having
Joseph F. Smith. President of the Nor
mon church on the stand for nearly
Ave hours today before the Senate
committee on privileges and elections,
which is investigating the rights Of
Reed SInoot to sit as a Senator. both
the prosecution and the defense an
nounced that they were through with
him and another witness was called.
This was Mrs. Clara Mabel Kennedy.
who told some secrets of the Mormon
church. which if not broken down will
prove as important as the statement
by President Smith that he and other
officials have been persistently CO.
habitating with plural wives in viola
ton OF the law.
Senator Dubois put into the record
the census figures for Utah, taken in
1880. to show that instead of only three
or four per cent. in polygamy as Mr..
Smith had said. in reality there We're
about 23A per cent. of the adult Nor
mon population living in a state of
polygamy in 1880. Senator Dubois
gave it as his opinion that there has
ben no material reduction in the num-
Der of polygamists since 1890.
Mr.. Smith said that according to his
best understanding Presidents Wood
run and snow conformed to the form
ers manifesto and obeyed the law.
He said that Of the six apostles ap-
pointed since the manifesto of Presi-
dent Woodruff only one. NJ. F. CoWley
ts polygamjst.
In regard to Joseph NJ. Tanner, pres
jdent of the board of trustees of the
Utah agricultural college, Mr.. Smith
said 1t was understood that he had
more than one wife" He declared
bot cn 70 nc he lrn M In no
church had been appointed an official
in the church because he is a polyga-
mist: that such appointments have
been based on merit alone.
Mr.. Tayler then asked if four out of
seven of the trustees of the agricuitur-
al college are not Mormons.
Mr. Smith said he believed that to
be the case.
Senator Foraker asked Mr.. Smith if
he had had any objection to Mr.. SmooT
becoming a candidate for Senator and
Mr. Smith said:
'I gave my consent to his becoming
a candidate
Why did you think your consent
necessary" asked Chairman Burrows.
Because it is a rule that any one
Of the general authorities desiring to
engage in any business outside of his
church duties must get the consent OF
the first presidency and twelve apostles
before he can do So said Mr.. Smith
Mr.. Tayler asked for a detailed
schedule of Mr Smiths children born
since 1890 and over the protest of Mr..
Smith, Chairman Burrows directed
that the question be answered.
Mr.. Smith gave a list Of children by
the wives in the order in which ne
married them. The list is as follows:
By Julina-Edith and Rachel.
BY Sarah-Asenath and Jenneta.
By Nartha-Martha. and one child
which died.
BY Alice-Ffelding. Jesse and An
drew.
By Mary-silas. Agnes, James and
may be Calvin.
He said he did not know the age Of
the last named.
Chairman Burrows inquired: How
many children have you now?"
"Forty-two' was the answer.
Twenty one boys and twenty one
girls and I am proud of every one of
them.''
Senator Overman said that he had
pamphlet saying that Jesus Christ was
polygamist. Turing to Mr.. Smith he
asked: rs that what your church
teaches2'
mo sir" was the response. What
we teach is that Jesus Christ was de-
scended through long line OF polyga-
mists. through David down to Abra-
ham," With that Mr.. Smith left the
Stan0, having Deen the only W1lueSS
the five days the hearing had pro-
gressed.
The prosecution then called to the
stand Mrs Clara Mabel Kennedy, of
Sewer county. Utah. who testified to
having been married into plural mar
riage since the manifesto Of 1890. She
said the ceremony had been performed
by an apostle OF the Mormon church
Mrs Kennedy said she was born in
Albany twenty-Seven years ago. OF
Mormon parents The family moved to
Diaz. Mexico, when she was about four
wears old where she lived until she
was IL years DID, when she was mar
ried to James Francis Johnson who
already had one wife Mrs. Kennedy
said she met the first wife and they
had "a slight interview about joining
into the family as second wife. The
first wife gave her consent to the az
rangement.
According to arrangement, Mr.. and
Mrs. Johnson and baby and the wit
ness drove from Diaz TO Jaurez. Mex
leo. to be married. They remained
there two weeks before the ceremony
was performed.
where were you married?" aske
Mr. Tayler-
lat the home of A. c. McDonal5
the counselor to the first president OF
state) said the witness.
''When?''
May 10, 1896"
''Who married your"
Brother Young"
DO you mean Brigham Youns the
apOstle7"
ayes sir"