The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1904-03-10
||IFU1ES CLAIMS OF
PRESIDENT Smith
SENATOR DUBOIS PRODUCES
CENSUS FIGURES REGARD
ING PoLYaAM1sTs.

OVER oNE-FiFTH OF
N OFFENDERS
Says No Material Reduction Has
Taken Place - Second Week Of
smoot Investigation Begins with
Head Of Church Still on Stand.
Washington, March 8.-With Presi-
dent Joseph F. Smith, of the Mormon
church, again on the stand for the de-
Tense, the second week OF the investiga-
ton OF the Smoot case opened Monday
before the senate committee on privi-
leges and elections. Senator Dubois put
into the record the census figures for
Utah, taken in 1890, to show that In
stead Of only three or four per cent.
in, polygamy, as Mr.. Smith had said, in
reality there were about 1874 per cent.
Of the Mormon population Of an age en-
abling them to be ~polygamists who were
in that state in 1890. Senator Dubois
gave it as his opinion that there has been
| no material reduction in the number Of
polyganists since 1890.
MI. Worthington conducted an exam
nation Of Mr.. Smith, to ascertain the
process undergone in cases Of excom-
m%unicetion. The witness explained the
manner in which the church Is d.
vided into. wards and stakes and
the machinery of the organization
through which charges against any per-
son have to be brought and passed up.
He said the apostles have nothing to
do with the judicial affairs of the church.
They preach the gospel and send mis-
sionaries to other fields. The president,
the apostles and high counselors form
ing what is known as 1.-The fifteen" meet
once a week for prayer and consultation
on matters generally relating<to tho
church.
A futile effort by President Brigham
Young in 1875 to have Bishop Jacob w.
Weyler removed from the leadership Of
a ward was related by Mr.. Smith to
show that the presidency does not exer-
else power over the wishes Of the peo-
pie and that the members Of the church,
by the freedom of their vote, in reality
form the power of government. Several
other like instances were related for
the same. general purpose.
Power Of Members.
MI. Worthington read the revelation
by Joseph Smith, Jr., January 10, 1S41,
nominating Brigham Young as pres.
ident, and all of the members Of thu
high council and the apostles. In thi;
: revelation was a command to accept
the nominations or reject them in gen
l eral conference. Mr.. Smith declared
that even in the original revelation
} naming a successor to the first pres
l !dent it was in the power of the mem
@ bers to accept or reject.
Mr.. Smith, in reply to an inquiry
said Reed Smoot became an apostl
. April 8, 1900.
q Mr.. Worthington inquired whethe
! at any Of the joint meetings Of the frs
n presidency and the apostles the ques
ton Of polygamous cohabitation ha,
been discussed. Mr.. Smith said it ha,
not in either advisory talk or in re
n gard to taking official action to pre-
vent the practice. He declared tha
= when Mr.. Smoot became an apostle
the status Of most of the polygamist
> had been fixed many years before. I
Ii answer to questions by Mr.. Worthine
ton and Senator Burrows, Mr.. Smit
said Senator Smoot had never advise
for or against continuance Of polygs
nous cohabitation.
In relation to convictions. Mr.. Smit
said there have been none since tn
manifesto of 1890; that all of the COZ
yictions under the Edmunds law WEI
l. while Utah was a territory. Senate
!, Dubois referred to Mr.. Worthington 6
counsel for Mr.. Smith.
> II protest." said Mr.. Worthingtol
a II am not the attorney for the witnes
II was the examination would ha,
been far different"
y A list OF the first judges elected SIM
(, Utah was q state showed that II
former territorial judges were chose
without exception, and that all of the
had formerly sent Mormons to prise
for polygamous cohabitation. The pu
pose Of this was to deny the inferen'
that the Mormon church dominant
i. the courts.
Mr.. Worthington read the list Z
senators and representatives elect,
from Utah. since the manifesto Of 189
to show the percentage Of Mormons
Gentiles. The witness was asked
!. regard to each: WAS he q Mormt
or a Genlile?"
. In regard to Frank ]. Cannon, wi
n was elected to the senate, Mr.. Smi
said:
"He was classed as a Mormon, b
. he was a poor one"
n At the conclusion of the examinati,
!. in regard to the courts and the pc
IA sonnet of the men on the bench, t
. hearing was adjourned until two D.