The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-03
President Joseph J, Smith of The Mormon Church Tells
 Of His Doctrines.
CASE OF REED SHOOT IS
 UNDER INVESTIGATION
Witness Says That He StIIl Believes In PoIygamy, Although Such Mar
 riaaes Are Not Now
 Contracted.

Washington March 2.-An effort to air the innermost secrets of the Mormon faith was manifested in the first days proceedings before the senate commit tee on privileges and elections. which is Investigating the proceedings against Reed Shoot retaining his seat as a sena- tor from Utah. President John D. Smith. the highest official of the church. was on the stand all day. He was questioned closely in regard to the principles of divine revelations.
 He said he adhered absolutely to all the teachings of the church in that regard. and thatihe. himself had been visited with divine inspiration from God directing him as to details in matters pertaining to the welfare of the church, though no angels had come to him. as in the case of the revelation to his uncle. Jospeh Smith Jr., the founder of the church.
 Subscribed to Standard.
 He subscribed to the standard of author- ity for the church relation to the revela- ton commanding polygamy as made known to the first president In visit from Ian angel In black" He also said that he still believed in polygamy.
 The testimony was directed In a slight degree at Senator Shoot. and no attempt was made by the defense to curtail the admission of testimony until President Smith was questioned in relation to poly gamous cohab ation of certain officials of the church before the manifesto of 1890. The attorneys then objected. and much time was devoted to the relevancy of such testimony.
 The committee went into executive ses- sion ard after full discussion determined to allow the utmost latitude to the hear ings which means that court practices will be avoided. The Protestants said they regarded this as a victory for them.
 Great Interest In Hearing.
 Great interest attaches to the hearings because of the dual purpose of the in- qulry. Other Investigations have been directed at the rights of certain contest ants to seats In congress, but never be- fore has there been inaugurated an in- quiry into creeds of political factors to determine whether an unlawful influence Is being exerted in the political affairs of the nation. Such is the nature of the Shoot inquiry, and al the opening ses- sion today it was conceded the hearings would extend over several weeks.
 Interest increased with the announce ment that Joseph F. Smith, president of the Mormon church, would be the first witness and in all probability occupy the attention of the committee for two or three days The attorneys for the de- fense, A. s. Warrington of this city and Wademar Vancott of Salt Lake, ar rived early and engaged in consultation with their client
 Carlisle One of Counsel.
 J. G. Carlisle, former secretary of tho treasury, and R. w. Taylor. former rep- resentative in congress and the attorney who prosecuted the successful contest against Brigham Roberts retaining his seat in congress. are the counsel for tho Protestants Half a dozen witnesses, nearly all of them officials of the Nor mon church, occupied seats of the large committee room.
 Quite a number of women were in att tendance and watched the proceedings with interest. Chairman Burrows after ascertaininR by roll call that quorum of the committee was present, directed Mir. Taylor to proceed with the case. Mir. Taylor Inquired the number of witnesses present, and Mir Burrows read the follow ing list of those on whom summonses had been served, as follows;
 List of witnesses.
 Mabel Parker Kennedy. Amos Charles Matthews Ogden lilies, Andrew Jensen. John Smith, Hiram M. Smith, Thomas H. Merrill, Charles F. Merrill, Alma Mer- Till Jorin Harmon. Moses Thatcher. M. w. Merrill. Joseph F. Smith and Francis M. Lyman.
 Mr. Taylor announced his readiness to proceed and asked that President Joseph F. Smith be sworn. After that had been done, Franklin s. Richardson, Salt Lake attorney, said he was present as an ad- visor of witnesses in the event any im- proper questions were asked.
 The first questions asked brought out that Mir Smith is president of the chruch and was born in Utah in 1s4S and always has been in the church. Mir. Tayler ask ed MT. Smith if he was a prophet, seer and revelator The witness said he was "so sustained" Further questions along the same line brought out the statement that he received his powers by reason of the position he holds In the church. He said the apostles of the church were "sus- tained" in the same power as prophets seers and revelators. He was asked to name his predecessors as president Of the church and give them in order, back 10 the first president Joseph Smith Jr The witness said he sustains the same powers al his predecessors.
 Questions directed to ascertain the bus mess occupations of MT. Smith In addi- ton to the presidency of the church brought out the following list of concerns of which he is president;
 List of Ills Companies.
 Zion Cooperative and Mercantile com pany, with a capital stock of more than a million dollars; State Bank of utah' Zion Savings bank. Utah Sugar company Consolidated Wagon and Machine com pany. Utah Light and Railroad company Salt Lake and Los Angeles Railroad com pany, Salt Air Beach company and Salt Lake Knitting company. He said he was president of number of other small concerns. the names of which he could not recall. and that he is a director of the Union Pacific Railroad company; editor of the Improvementer and Juvenile ln- structor, and director official of num- Der of mining companies.
 A list of first presidency or twelve