The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-12-20

Washington. Dec 19-ApostIe John
Henry Smith of the Mormon church
was recalled as the first witness today
in the Senator Smoot investigation.
and was CrOss-eXamined by A. s.
WorthingtOn. counsel for Mr.. SmOOt.
Apostle Smith said he had known A.
+. Mcdonald (whO died during the
present year,, who was charged by one
witness with having performed a plu-
raj marriage in Mexico
Had Never Heard of It.
CO.. had come to the attention of
F5QsiSsuJ Lorenzo Snow that McDon-
az hs6 Sss2 exercising the right to
marry or sSsL pegs07Ie a plural mar
Tiages,' SAID the Wssssess. President
Snow instructed me to cali Mcdonald
TO account I went to Mexico but did
not learn that any plural marriage
had been performed. 1 never heard of
any president of the church author
izing plural marriages since the mani
festo."
Denial was made by the witness that
the Mormon church owned a majority
of stock I'm the sugar manufactures
Of Idaho. He was examined concern
ing his participation i'm politics in
Idaho. and his testimony chiefly was
I'm contradiction of the testimony Civ
en- by Chairman Jackson of the Idaho
day. He denied that he had said that
there had been revelations that Ger
tain political tickets should be sup-
ported.
John Henry in Politics.
Apostle Smith. however. admitted
taking part in bringing about the re-
peal of the territorial test Oaths which
practically excluded Idaho MOrmons
from voting. He said ne had made DO
litical speeches in Idaho in 1867. but
appealed to the voters as a citizen and
not as "A member of the Mormon
church.
When Mr.. WOrthingtOn concluded
his Ss-eXaminatiOn Senator Dubois
asked Apostle Smith is an apostle
could take a plural wife now and re-
tain his standing.
Unless perchance he were handled
response.
You mean that some Gentle would
have TO make complaint"
NO, sir. If submitted to his council
I think il would deal with him know
] would"
Pressed for a more definite answer.
the witness said if the fact of "A plural
marriage should be demonstrated i'm
the courts, an apostle contracting such
a marriage would lose his sraEding.
Case of Lillian Hamlin.
Attorney Tayler, for the protestants.
examined Apostle Smith concerning
his knowledge Of the alleged marriage
of Apostle Abraham Cannon and Lii
Ian Hamlin, charged by witnesses to
have been performed By President Jo-
seph Smith on the high seas, near Los
Angeles. in 1896.
The witness said he went 10 Presi-
dent Smith and asked him if he had
performed such a ceremony. and tn
reply was that he had not He admit
ted that If the president of the church
had wanted 10 perform a ceremony Of
that kind he would he at liberty to do
so. But l believed him absolutely"
concluded the witness.
Apostle Smith said he had made in
quiry as 10 who performed the Cere-
mOny, but obtained no information on
the subject. The witness said he had
serious doubts whether Abraham Can
non had married Lillian Hamlin.
Then what is the explanation YOU
made TO yourself as 10 the status of
your brother apostle and Lillian Ham
linz" he was asked.
No Concern of His.
He said he had not concerned him
self on the moral question, as Abra-
IF you knew President Smith had
performed a plural marriage cere-
mony, then what would you dO?"
Il would 20 before a grand jury and
give my testimony"
Then your only interest would be
to see that the guilty person was pun
ished2 What about the effect upon
the church,"
"The church would have to take care
Of itself"
The witness said he would take no
action IN such case unless he saw
the ceremony performed
Apostle Smith said there was much
contention between members OF the
church on the subject Of the legality
OF plural marriages. until polyeamv
was prohibited by the church i'm Pres
ident Woodrun's manifesto. &
Mormon Colonies.
Chairman Burrows drew from the