The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
SAYS He HAS FIVE WIVES
AND CONTINUES TO LIVE
WITH THEM, DESPITELAWS
Sensational Confession to Senators
by the President of the Nor
mon Church.
SMOOT CASE. TESTIMONY
Mr.. Smith Admits All His Wives
Have Borne Him Children
Since 1890.
PREFERS TO RISK ARREST
Rather than Disgrace Himself
and Degrade Women Who Have
Raised Families.
PREFERS TO RISK ARREST

the protestants In the Smoot investigation
said they intended TO prove that the de-
fendant is associated with a hierarchy
which practices polygamy and connives at
violations of the law, and that his very
vote as a senator of the United States Is
subject to the wish and command of the
Mormon Church. President Joseph +.
Smith confessed that he himself had con-
tinued marital relations with his plural
family since the manifesto of 1880. and that
he realized fully that he was violating State
laws. President Smith also testified that
Reed Smoot had to get the consent of his
associate apostles in the church before he
could become a candidate for senator
The confession of President Smith was the
sensation of the proceedings to-day before
the Senate committee on privileges and cleo
tions. Mr.. Smith said the manifesto of
1890 had left him and others with plural
families i'm the unfortunate situation of be-
Ing compelled 10 defy the law or desert
their families. For himself he had pre-
ferred to take chances with the law
rather than TO disgrace himself and degrade
his family by abandoning his wives and the
children they had borne him. He admitted
that he had had children by al! of his five
wses since the manifesto. and said he had
acknowledged them openly without inter
ference or disturbance from the people of
Utah, whom he characterized as liberal and
broad-minded. The defense will take the
witness tomorrow.
So great has become the interest in the
investigation that it was decided to post
a policeman at the door OF the room of the
committee on privileges and elections.
where the hearings are progressing. All
persons except those directly interested
were kept out Of the room, though outside
the door it was impossible. almost, to main
tain passageway through the corridor of
the Capitol
SHOOTS SISTER DEAD.
Just before the hearing was begun to-day
Mr.. Smoot received a telegram from Provo
Utah. stating that his sister. Mrs. George
S. Taylor. is dead the result of an oper-
alton. He had no previous knowledge of
her illness and exhibited plainly the effects
of the sudden shock.
When the hearing opened the committee
ruled that the testimony bearing upon
plural marriages of any members of the
twelve apostles of which Mr.. Smoot is
one, Is competent so far as IL relates TO such
polygamous cohabitation since Sept 26,
1870. the date of President Woodruff's man
ifesto Withdrawing the order of the church
Senator Beveridge said there had been a
misunderstanding as TO whether Mr.. SmOQt
was being tried on the charges of polyg-
aray and with having taken oath incom-
patible with his oath as a United States
senator. Now, he said, IL is apparent that
these charges not pending in this in
vestgation. Senator Dubois dissented from
the statement that there had been such a
m.sunderstanding and said the real charge
Is that Mr.. Smoot is member of Mormon
hierarchy which subscribes TO vows in con-
fiict with the laws of the country and was
bound to support such vows. For the
first time in fifty years., said Mr.. DIbois,
''tke relations of this organization toward
the United States are to be trieu
In reply to a question Mr.. Smith said
I'm regard TO the status of polygamy at
the time of the manifesto / want TO say
that after the hearing before the master
In chancery L understood that should
abstain from relations with our plural
families and that rule was observed up
10 the time the enabling act went into ef-
feet admitting Utah State. Under
that act the only prohibition was that
plural marriages should cease. Nothing
was said about relations with our wives"
with the wives you had married pre-
vious TO the manifesto, you mean:" inter-
rupted Mr.. Hoar.
Il understood that the plural marriages
were 20 cease. and ever since the manifesto
until the present time there never has becn
a plural marriage in the church performed
In accordance with its teachings or with
the connivance of the church." and, he
added with greater emphasis: II know
whereof / speak.
Then in answer TO the question whether
poygamous relations were regarded by
the church as contrary 10 the law he said
they were.
HAD A PLURAL FAMILY.
Continuing he said: This was the case
and Is the case now But l was placed in
this position said Mr.. Smith II had a
family-a plural family. If you please. /
married my first wife more than thirty
eight years ago and my last wife more than
twenty years ago. BY these wives 1 have
had children and 1 have preferred to take
my own chances with the law and suffer
any consequences the law might visit upon
me rather than abandon these children and
their mothers.
81 have continued to live with them
since the manifesto of 1890 and they have
borne me children since that date / was
I Y aware OF what L was doing. / knew /
was amenable TO the law, but, as / say, |
preferred to face that situation rather than
TO desert them. / have not cohabite with
these wives openly OF Haunted the fact. but
! have acknowledged these wives and chill
dren as my family. The people of Utah
have regarded the situation as an existing
fact These people as a rule are broad
minded and liberal in their views and have
condoned the offePsc-if oftense II is-rather
than interfere with the situation they
found IT, II has been known what have
been doing l have not been interfered
with nor disturbed in any way. III had
been / was there 10 answer the charges.
was willing TO face them and submit TO
the penalty whatever it might be.
Mr. Smith paused for moment, but as
Mr. Tayler prepared 10 ask another ques-
ton he again proceeded with his state
ment you must draw distinction be-
tween unlawful living with women and
plural marriages." he said. The statute
In regard the latter has been complied
with No marriages have been performed
with the sanction. approval consent. knowl-
edge, or connivance OF the church or its
officials. But the other law is the one
have presumed 20 disregard and which. as
/ have said 1 am ready TO face rather than
disgrace myself or degrade my family by
turning them on.
Mr. Tayler resumed his questioning. You
say there Is a State law fOrbidding pOlyga-
nous relations and you have been con-
tfnuing 10 violate in utter disregard or
the conseQuences2 ne asked.
Il think / have" was the answer.
''You have caused your plural wives TO
bear you new children in violation of the
law yOu knew to exist
That is correct" said Mr.. Smith.
why have you done sO?' persisted Mr..
Tayler
For the same reason have told you.
CONTINUED on PAGE 5. COL. 81