The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-03-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 5th.
Dear Smoot of the alkaline harem!
Behold the trail out of the wood.
l send you this friendly alarum
Here's hoping your do as you should!
Set grass widows off with pension!
Send children to government schools;
Polygamys--It's the invention.
Of fools
Mr.. EDITOR AT any rate this is the
current opinion in Washington. There
is considerable excitement at the Capitol
The Mormon drama is on. Reed Smoot,
Senator, sits serenely in the centre of the
stage Joseph F. Smith. late Patriarch
and Apostle and now First President of
the "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
Day Saints" and nephew of that Joseph
Smith who found the "Urim and Thum
mim"-the stone spectacles.-on hill
side in Western New York-is the chief
defender of the Mormon Senator. 1t will
be remembered that two years ago,
President Roosevelt wrote to Republican
leaders in Utah and asked them not to
send Smoot to Westinghouse strange
and unwarrantable interference with the
political affairs of state. They sent him
Notwithstanding, and here he is on trial
for his right to his seat, the contention of
the Gentle women and other Performers"
who oppose him being that he was elect
ed by the church and not by the state.
Seventeen witnesses have been brought
here from Utah by government subpoena,
and four who could not be found are be-
ing hunted up. Those present receive
seven cents mile for travelling expenses
and 80 day for board,-a nice snH. all
told. One of the men brought is Critch
low, a lawyer, who, in addition to pay as
a witness, has good retaining fee as an
attorney in The case. Shoots examina
ton is he'd in an antique committee
room, with a ceiling Of groined arches
and folia'ions, walled with books, and
documents. and broad mahogany table
running down the middle. At one end of
the t,hle sits President Smith, the head
of the chu CHI and star witness, who was
an apostle before rising to his present
dignity-gray hair, gray eyes, gray beard,
flowing down both sides of his chin, a
tall, vigorous and emphatic man with
urbane manners and benevolent face
Around him are his lawyers and behind
him Senator Smoot with "a conspicuous
h I.r hrnxr -
brushed back from a square forehead.
At the other end of the table sit Senator
Burrows, Chairman, and Senators Hoar.
Beverage, Bailey, Dubois, Depew, Proc
tor, Foraker, and McComas. The first
four asked the witness good many
questions yesterday. But he was chiefly
prodded by the prosecution lawyer, Tay
lor, late Congressman from Ohio, an
alert, cadaverous, hatchet-faced man,
assisted by Elk Senator John G. Carlisle,
for the prosecution.
Mr.. Smith said in answer to questions
that the President of the Mormon church
and all high officials are chosen by revela-
ton from God and endowed with the
authority of the holy precedent. AS to
church doctrine, he could speake from in
spired kno Wedge, but in regard to bust
ness affairs he spoke from his best infor-
nation and was subject to Error. Being
asked if Mr. Smoot, like himself, receives
revelations direct from God, the witness
answered affirmatively. He explained
that there was much tolerance and lat;-
tude allowed; member might disbelieve
and repudiate revelation, but if he lived
correct life he need not be considered
outside the pale of the church. Very few
Mormons had more than one wife. He
had often heard prominent Mormons con-
denim plural marriages. Senator Bailey
objected to investigation of the Mormon
religion as such, holding that the govern
ment had nothing to do with a mans be-
lefs.
Utah people affirm that Mr.. Smith is
the father of forty-two children, and he
frankly and unhesitatingly told the com
mittee that he had five wives and had
eleven children by them since the publ
cation of the government manifesto for
bidding polygamy. When asked why he
violated the law, he said that rather than
desert his wives and abandon his children
he was ready to suffer any punishment
that might be inflicted upon him.
Senator Hoar asked him if he had
married any woman since publication of
the manifesto, and he promptly and
frankly replied that he had not and
earnestly affirmed, bringing his hand
vigorously down upon the table, that no
al wife since the pu bication of that
prohibition. This declaration he repeat
ed and reaffirmcd, in order, he said, that
there should be no further doubt about it.
Polygamy had not increased, he declared
since the Woodruff manifesto But Nor
mons had refuse to be so unmanly as to
desert their innocent families merely for
the purpose Of escaping punishment.
President Smiths estimony on Thurs
day and Friday was veritabie sensation,
and the omen among the auditors two
of them from Utah as witnesses) leaned
forward with breathless interest. Though
frank and earnest, it should be added that
the witness was not vehement or defiant.
His demeanor was that of courteous
gentleman Wiling to give information on