The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-03-09
APOSTLE LYMAN TESTIRIES
MAN WHO WILL BE NEXT HEAD
 OF MORMON CHURCH

Never Considered by the First Frest-
 dency-smootN Never Asked Permisslom
 of yvitness to Become Candidate for
 Unised states Senator.
 Washington, March S.-The senate committee on privileges and elections to-day, in the investigation of the pro- tests against Senator Reed Shoot, of Utah. brought out variety of testi- mony, of which the most sensational was that given by Francis M. Lyman, president of the twelve apostles of the Mormon church and the man chosen to be the successor of President Smith. His admissions were similar to those previously made by MT. Smith pertain ing to the church government. He is more free of speech than the president of the church. and his testimony, though not materially differing, caused several of the apostles present to shake their heads at the witness for the pur-s pose of compelling more discretion in answering questions. MT. Lyman is angularly built; his face is covered with a growth of bushy red whiskers and his speech is blunt. Four witness | es were on the stand to-day. They were Mrs Kennedy, her mother, Mrs Matthews; Charles Merrill, the son of Apostle Merrill, and MT. Lyman. MT. Lyman said that he became an apostle in 1880, and that Reed Shoot became an apostle in 1900. He said MT. Shoot had never reproved him for iv- i ing in polygamy, either in public or in the apostolic meetings.
 If I am thought worthy will suc- ceed to the presidency of the Mormon. church, if I survive President Smith, said MT. Lyman in answer to a ques- tion. MT. Lyman said that he is the presiding officer of the twelve apostless The name of John Henry Smith, q po-s llygamist, was given as the second mem | Der of the twelve apostles and that of 1 George Teasdale, 8 polyganist, as the third apostle; Heber J. Grant, a poIyg- amist, fourth; John w. Taylor. a po- llygamist. fifth; Mir. Merrill, a polyga-
 mist, sixth, making five apostles who are conceded to be polygamists. i MT. Lyman said the members of the 1 first presidency and the apostles had never discussed the advisability of prosecuting persons engaged in polyga- nous cohabitation.
 | MT. Taylor asked in regard to wives Iof Abraham Cannon and George Teas dale, but nothing Of importance for or \ against MT. Shoot was developed by l the inquiry. MT. Lyman said he had l visited the home of President Smith l3during social functions, but he could not remember that MT. Smoot had ever accompanied him to the home of the l president
 Chairman Burrows asked in regard to the general conferences. MT. Lyman said his wife had never accompanied 1 him to the general conferences held in the tabernacle, but that he knew the women did sometimes attend He said he was acquainted with the wives of President Smith.
 MT. Taylor read from the church chronology, which is the record of the general conferences, in regard to the failure to uphold Moses Thatcher. Mr. l Lyman explained the incident, and in regard to Mir. Shoot he declared that 1.-the latter had never asked him for consent to become a candidate for sen- ator
 Apostle Smoot never knew that [ had more than one wife,, said MT. Ly- man in answer to question as to what the defendant knows of the polygamous state in which certain of his brother officials are living.
 1 MT. Lyman said he had seen more l than one of President Smiths wives at l the official residence of the president at the same time, but on none of these 1 occasions had Mir. Shoot been present. I MT. Lyman has charge of the work I of sending out missionaries, and he identified the books that are used in making converts. He said the apostles do not look upon the doctrine and cov- enants as one of the books for general circulation.
 MT. Lyman said missionaries always are thoroughly warned not to discuss that requirement. of the law not to
 teach the theory of polygamy." He said that the missionaries never touch upon
 the subject unless the theory is as- saulted.
 Do they defend or denounce it 2'' was asked.
 I They would not denOunce it" said Mr. Lyman. He said that was the sit uation also in regard to himself In
 answer to question by Senator Over- man, MT. Lyman said that, despite the manifesto of 1890, the president of the church could issue authority upon an elder to perform plural marriages. The president holds the keys" said Mr Ly- man.
 What do you rnean?"
 That he is the only one who has any
 authority"
 MT. Warrington asked how it was
 that the president could issue authority
 in conflict with the manifesto, which is I said to be the law of God, and conclud-
 ed his question thus: Is he above the Lord?"
 "Oh, no; he's not above the Lord
 Chairman Burrows inquired if any 1 one was opposed for a position as
 apostle because of polygamous colab-
 itation.
 Only in the event his plural mar
 riage occurred since the manifesto z
 said MT Lyman.
 How about Apostle Cowley?" asked
 Senator Dubois.
 He was polygamist and was elect-
 ed an apostle since 1890.' Mir. Worthington objected to the as-
 sumption that MT. Cowley's plural mar- riages were known.
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