The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06
Boldly Declares He Is Responsible
Only to Utah for Violation
of State Laws.
DEFENDS HIS CONDUCT
Again Upholds the Most ObnoX-
ious Practice of the Latter
Day Saints.
RESENTS INTERFERENCE
And Asserts He Viii Continue to
Live with His Five Wives
and Many Children.

WASHINGTON, March 5-Admissions
drawn from Joseph F. Smith, president of
the Mormon Church, respecting his con-
tinued violation Of the law fOrbidding
polygamous relations with women. again
constituted the features OF the proceedings
to-day before the Senate committee of priv
ileges and elections against Reed Smoot.
or Utah. The witness, angered by the per-
s.stent efforts Of some members of the
committee to obtain from him every detail
of his remission in obeying the law. turned
on Congress and charged that body with
interfering without authority in his pri-
vste domestic affairs. and usurping the
powers OF the Utah courts, which alone,
he said, possessed the right to hold him
TO account for his conduct. While the wit
ness had been taken in hand by the defense
for the purpose of cross-examination, the
members of the committee In reality con-
sumed the greater portion Of the time, and
matters were brought out along the line
followed by the prosecution in the three
first days of the hearing The hearing will
be continued at 1O:3O Monday morning.
When President Smith took the stand
this morning Attorney WOrthington asked
him If he had any statistics showing the
proportion Of poIygamists in the Mormon
population. Mr.. Smith said his recollection
is that when the Utah commission was
created in 1852 and undertook to administer
the laws Of the Territory 1900 polygamists
were excluded from voting. AS the women
vote in Utah, he said, and as it requires
two women to one man TO form polygamy
in the State, probably the number of males
excluded as polygamists would not be more
than 1900
Senator Dubois exercised right to ques-
tiOn the witness at this point and said the
population then was about 10000 and OF
hara We n y
He wanted excluded from considera ton
the number not in condition to enter state
OF polygamy. He said President Smith S
statement OF the percentage or poiysany
included sucking babes and children, and
that he objected 10 having Mr.. Smiths s
statement before the country unchallenged.
MORMON STATISTICS.
After further statement of the number
/of polygamist families In Utah, Mr.. Smith
read from an interview he gave to repre-
sentative of the Associated Press IN 1902
showing the following: "In 1890 at the time
OF the late President Wilford Woodrufl's 8
manifesto. there were 2i51 such families.
In October, 1899. it was found that this num-
Der had been reduced as follows: BY death,
$50; by removals beyond the confines of the
Republic, 63; by divorce, 80; leaving at that
time 1.543. 1t is now ascertained that the
original number has been reduced by 1854
63 per cent, leaving only S9I still living
and that the great majority OF them are OF
advanced age
Senator Dubois asked if any United States
officials now took statistics on poiygamy,
and the witness replied in the negative.
Then" said Senator Dubois, these figures
are only church statistics"
Mr.. WorthingtOn asked regarding Mr..
Smiths son, Hiram Smith, ard was told
that he is thirty-two years old and has a
wife and children, but Is not a poly gamist.
Ea is one Of tha twelve anostIes The first
counselor now Is John +. Winder. He and
his fellow-counselOr and two apostles have
been appointed since Mr. Smith became pres
ident. He said he could not say whether
these men maintaining marital relations
with more than one wife, but that they
are reputed TO be the husband of more than
one Wife
In regard TO John Henry Smith. a cousin,
Mr.. Smith said their families are intimate
and Il am strongly inclined TO believe he Is
living with plural wives
Referring TO Senator Bailey's questions
yesterday in regard TO the manifesto, Mr.
Worthington read from a sermon OF PreSl-
dent Woodruff delivered a year after the
manifesto against plural marriages, in
which President Woodruff declared that he
was moved and 10000 Latter-day Saints
were moved by the spirit of God TO abandon
the practice OF plural marriages.
Senator Bailey contended that 1t was In
obedience To the demands of the law or
fear of the consequences of the law that
proved the revelation Continuing he said:
For my part don't have much faith in a
doctrine that doesn't get a revelation COM
mandlng a change of conduct until there
is a statute compelling it."
"All that. of course, Is a matter OF
opinion" said Senator Foraker.
Il don't think il is a matter of opinion,
either" said Senator Bailey Il myself have
been compelled to submit TO certain rules
lust because it was the law, and vicious
law at that. Just how far 1 would have
!. submitted If j had received a revelation
I from God to do something else, l am not
prepared TO say. L think the whole thing
was more matter of law than of revela-
ton"
when the laws were passed which were
not in harmony with the teachings of our
church." said Mr.. Smith. I'VE held that
they were unconstitutional. OF course. our
own rules commanded that we obey the
Constitution of the land. but we fought
the validity OF the new laws from the low
est TO the highest court, and when it was
settled by the Supreme Court of the United
States that plural marriages could no long
er be INDUCED in. of course, we were in
cined TO obey. But we had a revelation
our own statute books in regard to
plural marriages. and IL was not necessary
to obey in order 10 obtain certain blessings
that couldn't be received without Obeying
it. Whether we should obey the law OF the
land or continue 20 practice the law of the
church was A serious question.
I'VE hold that the president OF the church
e entitled 10 receive revelations inspired
by the almighty God. President Woodruff
sought guidance from the Lord and the
Lord made il manifest to him that it was
his duty to stop plural marriages. He pro-
claimed that revelation and il was sub
mifted 10 the entire church and accepted
by the entire church. and thus became bind
ing. and from that day 10 this the law of
the land has been kept so far as plural
marriages are concerned But there is a
great difference between taking a plural
wife contrary TO law, and I'm taking care
OF the wives taken before il was a violation
OF the law. / wouldn't desert my wives
would not abandon my children. | will
run my risks before the law"
President Smiths voice shook with emo
ton. He showed more feeling than ne had
al any previous time exhibited as he leaned
forward and said: But IL is TO the laws OF
Utah that / am answerabe: il is the laws
OF my State that mas the right 20 punish
me The courts OF Utah are OF competent
jurisdiction Congress has no business Il
Interfere with my private affairs II tn,
courts OF my State 90 not see fit 10 call mt
10 account FOR my conduct / cannot help II
Congress has no right 10 interfere-it has nc
right 20 pry into my marriage relations anc
call me 10 account
Chairman Burrows at this point ques
toned the witness He said: you say yot
wouldn't abandon your wives or your chill.
dren Why do you consider IL necessary tc
have issue from your plural wives in order
y CONTINUED ON PAGE ., COL. ID