The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-03-11
'R|||E;'F|UTl|ES Claims Of
PRESIDENT Smith.
SENATOR DUBOIS PRODUCES
CENSUS FIGURES REGARD =
ING POLYaAMISTS.
OVER ONE-FlFTH OF
MORMONS OFFENDERS

"OUNSV~sS~ ~
Saws No Material Reduction Has
Taken Place - Second Week Of
smoot Investigation Begins with
Head Of Church Still on Stand.
washington, March S-With Presi-
dent Joseph F. Smith, of the Mormon
church, again on the stand for the de-
tense, the second week Of the 1nvestiga-
ton of the Smoot case opened Monday
before the senate committee on privi-
leges and elections. Senator Dubois put
into the record the census figures for
Utah, taken in 1890, to show that IN
stead of only three or four per cent.
in polygamy, as Mr.. Smith had said, In
reality there were about 23A per cent.
Of the Mormon population Of an age en-
abling them to be po1ygamists who were
in that state in 1890. Senator Dubois
gave it as his opinion that there has been
no material reduction in the number OF
polygamists since 1890.
Mr.. Worthington conducted an exam
nation of Mr.. Smith, to ascertain the
process undergone in cases OF excom-
munication. The witness explained the
manner in which the church Is d.
vided into wards and stakes and
the machinery of the organization
through which charges against any per-
son have to be brought and passed Up.
He said the apostles have nothing 70
do with the judicial affairs of the church.
They preach the gospel and send mis-
sionaries to other fields. The president,
the apostles and high counselors form
ing what is known as 1.-THE fifteen" meet
once week for prayer and consultation
on matters generally relating to the
church.
A futile effort by President Brigham
Young in 1875 to have Bishop Jacob W.
Weyler removed from the leadership OF
ward was related by Mr. Smith to
show that the presidency does not exer"
else power over the wishes of the peo-
pie and that the members of the church,
by the freedom of their vote. in reality
form the power of government Several
other like instances were related lot
the same general purpose.
Power of Members. /
Mr.. Worthington read the revelation
by Joseph Smith, Jr., January 10, 1S41,
nominating Brigham Young as pres
ident, and all of the members OF the
high council and the apostles. In this
revelation was a command to accept
the nominations or reject them in gen.
eral conference. Mr.. Smith declared
that even in the original revelation
naming a successor to the first pres
ident it was in the power Of the men,
bers to accept or reject.
Mr. Smith, in reply to an inquiry,
said Reed Smoot became an apostle
April 9, 1900
Mr.. Worthington inquired whether
at any of the joint meetings of the first
presidency and the apostles the Ques-
ton of polygamous cohabitation had
been discussed. Mr.. Smith said it had
not in either advisory talk or in re-
gard to taking official action to pre-
vent the practice. He declared thar
when Mr. Smoot became an apostle,
the status of most of the polygamists
had been fixed many years before. In
answer to questions by Mr.. Worthing-
ton and Senator Burrows, Mr.. Smith
said Senator Smoot had never advised
for or against continuance of polyga-
nous cohabitation.
In relation to convictions, Mr.. Smith
hoon cinno hr
manifesto of 1890; that all of the con-
victions under the Edmunds law were
while Utah was a territory Senator
Dubois referred to Mr.. Worthington as
counsel for Mr.. Smith.
II protest." said Mr.. Worthington
II am not the attorney for the witness.
If l was the examination would have
been far different
A list of the first judges elected since
Utah was a state showed that the
former territorial Judges were chosen
without exception, and that all of them
had formerly sent Mormons to prison
for polygamous cohabitation. The pur-
pose of this was to deny the. inference
that the Mormon church dominates
the courts.
Mr.. Worthington read the list of
senators and representatives elected
from Utah since the MANIFESTO OF 1890,
to show the percentage of Mormons to
Gentiles. The witness was asked in
regard to each: Was he a Mormon
or a Gentile?"
In regard to Frank J. Cannon, who
was elected to the senate, Mr.. Smith
said:
"He was classed as Mormon, but
he was poor one'
At the conclusion of the examination
in regard to the courts and the per-
sonnet of the men on the bench, the
hearing was adjourned until two p: m.
Booth-Tucker Not to Retire.