The Forrest City times., 1904-03-04
REED SHOOT CASE
 0N AT THE CAPITAL
An Investigation the Scope of Which May Be More Comprehensive
 Than Anticipated.
THE POLITICAL STATUS OF THE
 MORMON CHURCH IS INVOLVED.
Great Interest Attaches to the Hear ings. Because Never Before Has Tbere Becn Inau2urntcd m In quir, Into Breeds H~ Related to Political ihairs of the NItion.

auiry Into Crceds H~ Related to
 Political Ahairs of the Nation.
 Washington, March 3.-The investi- gation which is to decide whether Reed Shoot, of Utah. is 10 retain his seat in the United States senate and. in cidentally. define the political status of the Mormon church. was formally be- gun. Wednesday. before the senate committee on privileges and elections.
 Great interest attaches to the hear inrs because of the dual purpose of the inquiry Other investigations have been directly al the rights of certain contestants To seats in congress. but never before has there been inaugu- rated an inquiry into creeds or political factors to determine whether an un- lawful influence is being eXcrted in the political affairs of the nation. Such is the nture of the Shoot inquiry and at the opening session it was con ceded the hearings would extend over several weeks and preeipitate con test in which noted legal talent will fight every inch of the way
 X Prominent Witness.
 Interest increased with the an nouncement that Joseph F Smith, president of the Mormon church, would be the first witness and in all probability. occupy the attention of the committee fer two or three days The attorneys for the defense, A s. Worth ington, of this city, and Waldemar NanCott, of Salt Lake. arrived early and engaged in consultation with their client. ] c Carlisle former secretary of the treasury. and R. w Tayler. for mer representative in congress and the attorney who prosecuted the success ful contest against Brigham Roberts retaining his seat in congress. on the ground of his having violated the anti polyeamy law. are the counsel for the protestants. Half dozen witnesses, nearly all ef them officials of the Nor mon church. occupied seats in the rear of the large committee room
 unnS Ladies Present.
 Quite a number of ladies were in at tendance and watched the proceedings with interest Chairman BarroAs, after ascertairina by rcll call that a quorum of the committee vas present. directed Mir Tayler to proceed with the case. Mr. Tayler inquired the number of witnesses present and Mir Burrows read the following list of those on whom summonses had been served: Mabel Parker Kennedy. Amos Charles Matthews, Ogden lilies, Andrew Jen-
 
 Thos H. Merrill. Chas E. Merrill. Alma Merrill Lorin Harmon. Moses Thatcher, NJ. w. Merrill, Jos F. smith and Francis NJ. Lyman
 President smith sworn.
 Mir. Taylor announced his readiness to proceed. and asked that President Joseph F. Smith be sworn. After that had been done Franklin s. Richards. Salt Lake attorney. stated that he Was present as an adviser of the wit nesses. in the event that any improper questions were asked.
 The first question asked brought out that Mr. Smith is president Of the church and vas horn in Utah in 1S48 and always has been n the church
 Mir Taylor asked Nlr Smith if he was a prophet, seer and reyelator.
 The witness said he was 50 sus- tained"
 fhophets. SccrS and RcNeIutor-
 Further questions along the same line brought odt the statement that he received his powers by reasons of the position he holds in the church. He said the apostles of the church were sustained in the same powers as prophets. eeers and reyelators. He Was asked to name his predecessors as president of the church. and gave them in order back to the first president. Joseph F. Smith, Jr The witness said he sustains tEe same powers as his predecessors.
 Man of Many tEnirS Questions directed to ascertain The business occupations of MT Smith In addition 10 the presidency of thc church brought 05t the following Hit ot concerns of which Ac .s pre- denf. Z.on Cp-cpeeat3vr and Mercantile C.. with a capital s'eea ef nefe thaa one raiii.oa collar Gfa'o# taal eI llaa. I.en st..oYs taH1 tfab Sugar e.. Coz affa.e@ HaFa t H3rA8uc e.. faa L5ftt b t4 taax fg &aft Lahe lpa ftasles fatiuay e. sat4lr lNe'e f. ard ".lf iaee KudfiEa C. Itt aa as 4ae pte dent ot number Q. r.at- s~"Hl# #ftte'.as he names of NE... s1a.d LGf l.ea.l. and that he ia $ e.tfrter of The tnlon Pacific Rail @a1 @a ed.tar of 'he Improyeme4ter ata J+4et5te Instructor and d.ract CT ll.. --.L .t t..L tt... ,-.,.,-.,,..-. L.. -t