The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-07
WAS A POOR MORMON.
President Smith Classifies
Former Senator Cannon.

Washington, March with Presi-
dent Joseph Smith of the Mormon
church again on the stand for the de-
tense, the second week of the investiga-
ton of the Smoot case opened today
before the senate committee on priv
ilegeS and elections. Senator Dubois
put into the record the census figures
for Utah taken in 1890, to show that
instead of only three or four per cent
in polygamy as Mr.. Smith had said in
reply there were about 23A per cent of
the Mormon population Of an age, en-
abling them to be polygamists, who
were living in a state of polyganly 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
ination of Mr.. Smith to ascertain the
process undergone in cases of excom-
munication. The witness explained the
manner in which the church is divided
into wards and states and the
machinery of the organization
through which charges against any
person have to be brought and passed
up He said the apostles have nothing
to do with the judicial affairs of the
church. They preach the gospel and
send missionaries to other fields.
The president the apostles and hlgh
councillors, forming what is known as
the fifteen" meet once a week for
prayer and consultation on matters
generally relating to the church Ihe
futile effort by President Brigham
Young in 1875 to have Bishop Jacob
Weyler removed from the leadership of
a ward was related by Mr.. Smith-to
show that the presidency does not ex-
ercise power over the wishes of the
people 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 re-
lated for the same general purpose.
Mr.. Worthington read the revelation
nv Joseph Smith jr., January 49, 1S415
dent and all the members of the h1gh
council and the apostles. In this reVe-
lation was a command to accept the
nominations or to reject them in gen
eraI conference. Mr.. Smith declared
that even in the original revelation
naming the successor to the first presi-
dent It was in the power of the mem
bers to accept or reject. Mr. Smith, in
reply to an inquiry, SAID Reed ioee Smoot
Right here let me ask you when
your last child was born" asked Mr..
Worthington.
Z don't know whether that has any
bearing on the case" said Mr. Smith,
"but | believe it was on the day Mr..
Smoot became an apostle"
ssThen there has been none since?'
asked Mr.. Worthington.
mo. sir
were concerned. you were in harmony,
remarked Mr.. Burrows.
Mr. Worthington inquired whether at
any of the joint meetings of the first
presidency and the apostles the ques-
| tion of polygamouS cohabitatlOn had
been discussed. Mr.. Smith said it had
not in either advisory talk or in regard
to taking official action to prevent the
practice He declared that when Mr.
| Smoot became an apostle the status OF
most of the polygamists had been fixed
many years before. In answer to queS-
tions by Mr. Worthington and Senator
Burrows. Mr.. Smith said Senator Smoot
had never advised for or against con-
tinuance of polygamous cohabitation-
In returning to vonvictions, Mr.. Smith
said there had been none since the
manifesto of 1890: that all of the con-
victions under the Edmunds law wert
while Utah was a territory. Senator
| Dubois referred to Mr.. Worthington as
counsel for Mr.. Smith
L protest. said Mr.. Worthington- =
am not the attorney for the witness.
/ / were the examination would have beer
far different
a list of the first judges elected since
/ Utah was a state showed that the for
1 mer territorial judges were choseI
| without exception and that all of then
had formerly sent Mormons to prisoI
nurpose of this was to deny the infer
j ence that the Mormon chcurch domi
mates the courts
i Mr.. Worthington read the list of sena
tors and representatives elected from
ITtah since the manifesto of 1890, t.
show the percentage of Mormons t.
Il Gentiles The witness was asked in re
II gard to each: Was he Mormon o
a Gentle ?"
In regard to Frank J. Cannon, VIII
was elected to the senate. Mr. Smitl
!, said: HE was classed as a Mormon
but he was a poor one.
Recess till afternoon.
Temperatures Of Large Cities.
Chicago, March TT a. m. tempera
/ lures. New York. 46; Boston, "a; Phila
WaSIir ~. Chic7 pr