The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-04

Il - I Il
but no more from them than other ell
ders Of the church"
Did they ever advise you to desist
from the practice?"
Not that I know Of"
Has Mr. Smoot visited you at your
residences"
He has been to my first wife's house,
where / make what may be called my
official residence
Asked about Teasdale. one of the
apostles, Mr.. Smith said he knew moth
ing OF his present domestic relations.
he thought. however. that until two or
three years ago Mr.. Teasdale had two
wives Mr.. Smith also was asked about
Apostle John Taylor. and he said he is
reputed TO be pOlygamist.
Il could not say of my own knowl-
Have you the slightest doubt of it,"
i haven't much doubt of it,
Asked where Mr.. Taylor now is, Mr..
Smith said he did not know; that some
weeks ago Taylor had been sent to in
Vesugate tract Of land offered the
Mormons, and he had not heard from
him since. He had been in Mr.. Taylor's
home in salt Lake City only once.
Apostles as Polygamists.
Could an apostle be a polygamist
without your knowledge" asked Sen
ator Dubois.
NO. sir; not unless he violated the
rules of the church, and I don't think
any of them would do that"
Then why say I think and I sup
poser
Because" replied the witness. 81
never saw any of them married to any
woman"
Mr.. Smith said that Apostles Merrill
and Heber j. Grant are reputed to be
polygamists; he had seen two women
who We're pointed out as Mr. Grants
wives Mr.. Grant is now in Europe in
the interest of the church. He has with
him his second wife
John Henry Smith is. the witness
stated, the husband of two wives.
He is q kinsman of mine" he said,
land I know positively about him"
Did you ever advise him to desist
from the polygamous practice?"
Could Not Object.
81 never did; I could not consistently
90 so while I myself was practicing the
system"
Mr.. Smith was asked about other
apostles.
Mr.. Cowley is, he said, reputed
polygamist. Roger Clausen is not. He
was especially explicit concerning
Il -h. lg HAIL. pIeSlQenL Oh the apostles
and in the line of succession to himself
Mr.. Smith said that Mr.. Lyman being
present should answer for himself, but
the committee insisted and he replied
that Mr.. Lyman was reputed to have
two wives.
Have any of these men taken plural
wives since the manifesto of 1S90?'
asked Senator Beveridge.
4 repeat" said Mr.. Smith. bringing
haV y h. ~1hF Il, - l.
emphasis, that since the manifesto of
1890 no man has entered into plural
marriage with the knowledge or ap-
prevail of the church"
The Teasdale Incident"
He was asked by Mr.. Tayler about
Marian Scoles TeasdaIe, deceased, who
it was stated had never met Mr.. Teas
dale until 1903.
Mr.. Smith replied that he had known
the lady, but that he had understood
that Mr.. Teasdale had not known when
he married her that he had another
wife.
When your deacons go out and make
converts in other lands do they not
present the rightfulress of pOlygamy
as a religious virtue2'
This question was put by Senator
Hoar, and was answered in the mega
tive.
They never discuss polygamy," Mr.
Smith said, unless compelled to do so
to meet attacks. They do not advocate
polygamy in any way. Indeed, the ell
ders are instructed not TO advocate
plural marriages at all; it is a thing
of the past"
Mr. Tayler then asked concerning in
structions given to missionaries as to
the teaching of polygamy.
Polygamy Is Divine
Mr.. Smith said the book called
! Ready References" is used by mis-
sionaries. This book, he said. contains
a chapter on polygamy declaring that
practice TO be divine. He said the book
was an old one, ard he had no knowl-
edge Of recent publications. The mar
ginal note on the chapter on polygamy
/ was: "Polygamy right in the sight of
God
Mr.. Smith added. however, that the
use of this book is almost entirely
abandoned by the Mormon elders do
ing missionary work. The standard
works of the church. he said. were the
books taken with them. In reply to
questions from Chairman. Burrows, Mr.
Smith said he did not know whether or
not the missionaries take with them
copies OF the manifesto of 1890. suspend
ing polygamy as an order of the church.
Mr.. Tayler asked how many wives
Mr.. Smith had in 1890.
Five" said Mr.. Smith.
Presidents Divorced Wife.
He was questioned in regard to wife
LiViria. who was divorced from him
and died many years before 1890.
Mr. Smith protested that the ques-
tions were very embarrassing. and an
sWered:
i dislike TO announce my private and
| personal affairs. ! do IL reluctantly and
| solely because l am required to do 80
| by this honorable committee. This mat
ter is going before the public, and / do