The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-10
Witness in Smoot Case Explains
Machinery Of the
Church.
Members Amenable to Bishop OF
Ward for Violating
Rules.
Even President Is Answerable
to Inferior If He Breaks
DEGREES.

Washington, March 10.-Andrew
Jensen, assistant historian of the Nor
mon church, was recalled as the nrst
witness to-day In the Smoot case.
He said on oross-examtnatlon that
there were a number Of Typographical
errors and misstatements In the dog
raphtes of the Latter Day Saints ana
that he got a great deal OF the infor-
nation for the volume from other
publications.
ness to furnish list Of the presidents
of the fifty three stakes and he agreed
to do SO as soon as he could prepare
1t. The chairman indicated that he
also would seek q list of the bishops
of the 700 wards. This Is for the pur-
pose Of bringing additional witnesses
to Washington.
Mr.. Worthington, for the defense.
announced that the opposing counsel
have agreed upon a statement OF fact
in regard to the testimony in the Teas
dale divorce case and would present
it In an executive session Of the COM
mittee.
Mr.. Jensen gave an elaborate ex-
PLANTATION of the machinery of the
church and the distribution of author
ity among apostles, presidents of
stakes and bishops.
Mormons In Majority.
Mr.. Jensen said that aside from Salt
Lake, Weaver and Summit counties,
the Mormons were in the majority IN
all the counties Of Utah. Senator Du-
bois asked the witness in regard to
Apostle Heber j. Grant. Mr.. Jensen
said Mr.. Grant had the reputation OF
being a polygamist. He was formerly
in charge Of missions in Japan and
was now in England in charge of the
European mission.
IN reply to questions from Chair
man Burrows the witness said Grant
was reputed to be polygamist at the
time he was named by President
Smith as the head of the mission in
Japan. It was understood, Mr.. Jensen
said, that Grant took q wife to Japan
and a wife to England, but he could
not say whether the wife Grant took
to the Orient was the same one who
was now In England.
Mr.. Worthington asked Mr.. Jensen
If he meant by the term "reputed to
be polygamist," that a man has more
than one wife or lives with more than
one wife. He said he wanted the for
.erner definition to be understood in
every case as that was a statement
which -''the church allows to go UNI
challenged
Bishop Over President.
!. In regard to punishments for break
ing rules of the church, Mr.. Jensen
~
not excluded, is amenable to the
bishop Of his ward and that other Of
ficials do not interfere. He said such
things ARE considered as local at
fairs and the bishops of wards have
charge Of the conduct of all local af-
fairs.
Chairman Burrows said President
Smith had testified that he had violat-
ed the laws since 1890 and he asked of
Mr. Jensen:
DO you know whether Mr.. Smith
has ever been interfered with for
breaking the laws?"
IT think he was not
do you know Of any non-Mormons
who have been prosecuted since
1892"
IT don't know that any nom Nor
mons are living in Utah with more
than one wife openly"
Mormon Prosecuted.
He said further that he knew OF
the prosecution Of one Mormon-the
case of Lorin Harmer, who testified
yesterday in regard to his arrest and
conviction. Mr.. Jensen said in an.
swer to questions from Senator Hoa1
that he had never known Of a prose
cution of a polygamist who continued
toe cohabit with plural wives he ha6
married prior to the manifesto Of
1890.
He said that if Mormons shoult
turn informers against a polygamis
under such conditions, against Presi
dent Smith for instance, such Nor
mon informers would be odious in the
sight of most mem bers Of the church
Senator Dubois referred to The
prosecution Of Heber j. Grant, anG
the witness said he had heard of NJ
such cases.
Mr.. Jensen said it Is only the higl
officers of the church who are sup
posed to devote all of their time t,
the church, who are under obliga
tons to get the consent Of thei
brother officers, when they desire t.
engage in some other business or en-
ter politics.
At 11:45 the committee went int
executive session.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON