Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
THE CHURCH DIVIDED
Controversy Among Mormons
Over Polygamy.
APOSTLE SMITH HEARD
CAUSE OF PRESIDENT WOOD.
RUFF's MANIFESTO.
Alleged Revelation That Caused Pras
tice of Polygamy to Be
Suspended.

Apostle John Henry Smith of the
Mormon Church was the principal
witness before the Smoot investigat-
ing committee today, but nothing
sensational was developed. He COM
tradicted testimony given by Chair
man Jackson regarding Mormon in.
reference in Idaho politics. He de.
clared that the suspension of the
practice of polygamy was the result
of a revelation and that il would
take another revelation to put it III
force. j.
| Apostle John Henry Smith of the Mormon
Church was recalled as the first witness to-
| day in the Smoot investigation, and was
| ss-examined by A. s. Worthington, coun-
| sci for Mr.. Smoot. Apostle Smith said ne
| had known A. F. Mcdonald twho died dur
| ing the present year,, who was charged by
| one witness with having performed plural
marriage in Mexico. 1T had come to tho
| attention of President Lorenzo Snow that
| Mcdonald had been exercising the right to
marry OF seal persons in plural marriages."
ed me to call Mcdonald to account. | went
| to Mexico but did not learn that any plural
| marriages had been performed. never
| have heard of any president of the church
| authorizing plural marriages since the man-
| ifesto.'
| Denial was made by the witness that tho
| Mormon Church owned a majority of stock
in the sugar manufactures of Idaho.
! jackson Contradicted.
| He was examined concerning his particis
patton in politics I'm Idaho. and his test-
mony was chiefly In contradiction OF the
| testimony given by Charles ii. Jacksons
/ chairman of the democratic state commit
4 tee who testified Saturday. He emphatical-
4 ly denied that he had said there had been
revelations that a certain pohkacai 7tickes
| should be supported
| Apostle Smith however, admitted taking
| an active part In bringing about the repeaa
Of the terrstSria, .es. ns oarns whfcn seon voss
ing He said he had made poHticaf
| speeches In Idaho in 1902 but appealed TO
| the voters as a citizen and not as a MEMBER
| of the Mormon Church.
When Mr. Worthngton closed his crose~
| examination Senator Dubois asked APOSTLE
| Smith II an apostle could take a plural
| wife now and retain his standing.
| Unless perchance he were handled by
the laws of the country" was the response.
| "You mean that some Gentle would have
to make complaint?'
| "No. sir: II submitted to his council ]
| think it would deal with him. | know !
| would"
| witness said If the fact of plural mar.
riage should be demonstrated i'm the courts,
| an apostle contracting such marriage
| would lose his standing.
| The Cannon-Hamlin Ceremony.
Attorney Tayler for the protestants ex-
amined Apostle Smith concerning his
1 knowledge of the alleged marriage OF <pos-
| tie Abram Cannon and Lillian Hamiin,
charged by witnesses to have been per.
formed by President Joseph Smith on the
| high seas, near Los Angeles. in 1896.
| The witness said he went TO President
| smith and asked him IL he had performed
| such a ceremony. and the reply was that
| he had not He admitted that II the pres
| ident of the church had wanted TO perform
| a ceremony of that kind he would be at
but 1 believed him absolutely" con-
| cluded the witness.
| Apostle Smith said he had made inquiry
| as to who performed the ceremony. but
| obtained no information the subject.
| The witness said he had serious doubts
| whether Abram Cannon had married Liz
| Iian Hamlfn.
| Then what is the explanation you made
| to yourself as to the status of your brother
apostle and Lillian Hamlin?" he was
| asked.
He said he had not concerned himself on
| the moral question. as Abram Cannon
| was dead
formed a plural marriage ceremony yes
| terday what would you dor
| Il would go before grand jury and give
| my testimony"
"Then your only interest would be to see
| that the guilty person was punished? What
| about the effect upon the church?
THE church would have TO take care or
| itself"
The witness said he would take no action
| in such a case unless he saw the ceremony
performed
| Suspension of Polygamy.
| APOSTLE Smith said there was much con-
tention between members Of the church on
| the subject of the legality OF plural mar
riages until polygamy was prohibited by
| the church in President Woodruffs mani
| festo.
| Apostle Smith said that the suspension of
| the practice Of polygamy was the result OF
| a revelation, and that 1t would take an
| other revelation to put 1t In force
! Then the president of the church might
put polygamy in practice by receiving
| revelation? .
Nothing Is forced on the Mormon people,,
| he replied.
| Mormon Colonization.
Chairman Burrows drew from the wit
| ness some statistics relating to the church.
| but no register of the total membership.
| In regard to colonization Apostle Smith
| said there is a large settlement In Mexico,
! and that one-third of the population OF
| Idaho and one-fourth of the population OF
| wyoming are Mormons. Other states and
| territories having large settlements are
] Nevada California Arizona. Colorado and
| New york while Iowa has a large settle-
| ment of the reorganized Church OF Latter
| nav Saints which drew away from the
| other church because II did not believe In
| polygamy.
| Trouble Over a Land Dia2ute.
| Isaac BirdsaI. formerly Mormon. now
| living at Elslnore Utah. was sworn ana
was examined concerning a civil trial in a
| land case in which he and his daughter
were defendants. The case was heard In
| the bishops court of Monroe ward in Utah.
where Birdsall and his daughter were
charged with unchristian-iike conduct.
James e. Leavitt brought the action to
obtain possession OF sixty acres Of land