Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-05
SMITHS MANY WIVES
Mormon Leader Under Sena- tors Persistent Queries.
HE STRONGLY OBJECTS TO SPIES
All His Predecessors In the Church Have Been PoIyEamists-Said He Would Put Revelations Before
 the Law of the Land.

Would Put Revelations Before
 the Law of the Land.
 WASHINGTON, March 5.-Interest in the investigation before the senate committee on privileges and elections of the protests against Senator Reed Shoot of Utah is unabated. although most of the time was devoted to intro duction of documents subscribed to as the law of the Mormon church. In that connection President Joseph F. Smith, who again was on the stand, testified that if the principle of plural marriages should be attacked it would be defended by the church.
 Intense feeling was exhibited by President Smith against individuals who, he said, had spied on the domes- tic and marital relations of the high officials of the Mormon church, and for that reason he had favored the passage of the Evans bill to prevent prosecu- tions, for polygamous coha bit9tion un- less complaints were entered by hus- band or wife against the other. This bill was passed, but vetoed by the gov ernor of Utah.
 IL was DIOuBnL OuL buAI dl1 ol MA [" Smiths predecessors as president of the Mormon church had been polyga- mists and that the man chosen to sue ceed him has more than one wife. MT. Smith was asked which he would obey, the law of the land or revelations from God if the two were in conflict He said he might obey the revelation, though it was not compulsory. He added: ''I should not like to be put in a position where I would have to de- sert my children. I could not do that"
 President Smith was so keenly ques- toned that he grew restive more than once.
 The status of plural wives. their husband to add to their number and other peculiar conditions in the Nor mon church were intimately, probed.
 Senator Foraker persisted in know ing when, where and how the injunc- tion in favor of polygamy had been received by the Mormon church so as to find out whether the practice was compulsory or merely permissive.
 It was set forth that if one wanted to espouse second virgin he could do so by obtaining the consent of the first, but that if the consent of the first was withheld he was at liberty to proceed without it. 1t is set forth also that where the first refuses consent to share her husband with another wo- man she would be destroyed
 Senator Pettus asked the meaning of the word ''destroyed'' in that sense.
 MT. Smith answered that she would be destroyed by the Lord, but that he was not informed "just how the Lord would go about it."
 ''Then it does not mean that the husband could destroy herT Senator Pettus asked. s~ 'a @...@ @
 "No; never'' F.. N"
 ''I take it then that the question of getting wife's consent to marry again might. just as we'll be eliminated entirely?" said Senator Beveridge.
 Just as well,'' answered the wit ness.
 Senator Dubois asked MT. Smith how many of his predecessors had been monogamists, and Mir Smith said he believed that all of them had had plu- ral wives.
 And I believe you said that your successor to the throne has more than one wife"' said Senator Dubois.
 T wish to correct the senator,'' re- sponded Mir. Smith. There is no suc- cessor to the throne"
 Senator Dubois said he would with draw the offensive term; that he mere ly wanted to ascertain that the success 1n*o he is now polygamist The witness admitted that this was the case.
 In quoting from the New Testament Senator Hoar said there is a command that bishop shall be sober and have one wife''-
 "At least one wife" Mr. Smith inter- rupted.
 "Well, we don't construe it that way in our church." said Senator Hoar amid laughter. What wanted to get at is this: Now, ] know several bishops in our church who are bachelors Do you regard it divine command that the bishops shall have one wife or more? ? What 1 want to know is how you con- strue that commando
 q believe the practice of polygamy was general among the Jews at the time the Scriptures were written" said MT. Smith. Il believe that 1t was coml manded that bishop should be a mar ried man because his duties made it necessary that he should be an expert enced man"
 Here the chairman had to rap loudly to restore order in the committee room What would you do If the principle of plural marriages was publicly at tacked?' Senator McComas asked.
 We would defend it," said Ar. Smith WASHINGTON, March 1.- Atto.- neys for the protestants i'll the Smoot Investigation said they expected to prove that the defendant is associated with a hierarchy which practices po- lygamy and connives at violations of the law and that his very vote as 8 senator of the United States is sub- ject to the wish and command of the oh,,