The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-22
Drawn from Him as by a
Cork Screw.
Continued from First PageD

| family. I have not paraded my families,
but in honest ~riGe | have nourisheG
! them.
THE press of the country has carica
tured President Smith for the testimony
he gave III regard to plural families ana
am asked to make similar exhibitions
of my family 7 appeal for protection
| from any consequences that may be the
result OF the tes,Imon-'. | Will answer all
| questions In regard to myself or the
church if l am assured that l will not
| be Placed in peril By reason OF the resti-
| mony.
hartman Burrows said the witness was
at liberty to decline to answer any quc:
desire answers to any questions which
ton he chose.
Mr. Taylor observed that he did not
desile answers to any questions which re-
lated 10 marriages that were not fully
exempted from prosecution under the
statute OF limitation Mr. Cannon then
told of his marriages to Sarah Maria ana
Ann Amanda Mousiey in 1858; to Mrs.
I Clara G. Mason in 1875, Martha Hughes
in 1884, Maria Bannon in 1886, Johanna C..
Donelson in 1885 and said he had not
been married since that time and all his
wives were living.
do you live with all of your wives
now?" Mr. Taylor asked.
Il am sorry to say that l don't.
Why"
Because OF an agreement made by the
church which compels me to he as modest
as I can
Chairman Burrows asked in regard &c
this agreement and the witness said he
referred to the manifesto OF 1880 declar>
ing against continuation OF polygamous
cohabitation.
What has been the effect OF that man
ifesto upon your"
have been only as attentive as | lei:
common humanity required me TO be.
What do you mean bv that!
Il mean that this church order mas
made me more cold in my treatment OF
them than l should be-
Mr. Burrows asked many questions con
corning the attitude Of the witness toward
the laws of the land and the laws OF
God. both of which declared against po,
iygamous cohabitation, and his obligation
TO his families Mr. Cannon said he wa
meeting the situation to the best OF his
ability and trying as nearly as possible
10 equalize his loyalty to all OF his o.
legations.
Chairman Burrows asked the witness
how it was that the resolutions adopted
at the recent Salt Lake Conference hat
rot declared against polygamous cohap:-
tation and din ,.aclare against golygamy.
The witness replied that the question OF
polygamous cohabitation had not been
mentioned; lnat was understood tnai
those wno had plural wives shouS not
parade them extensively but should care
ter them.
do you mean that you will go ON Nv
ing with your plural wives? the chair
man asked.
Il will have to improve greatly II !
don't l follow the dictation OF my con
science in the matter
! Does your conscience control you
more than the laws Of God and man!
Witness replied he had family oollga,
tions which could not be ignored.
Mr Cannon declined TO reveal the oatns
| taken in the endowment house, sayin&
into with their Maker He said that only
The very pure are permitted to enter me
endowment He said finally that he had
made 1t known that the sacred covenants
should not be spoken of to the world.
he would not say that there was any
penalty attached to such disclosures OF
! whether promise was given that the qucs'
tons should not be answered. In answer
| to Senator Overman, Mr. Cannon said the
/ twelve apostles had taken the endowment
| house oath.
! Great interest was manifested by mem
, bers CT the committee concerning TIE
character of the endowment house mar
| Rage ceremonies but littla could be OBJ.
tanned from Mr.. Cannon When pressed
closely he said that he could not re-
member
| The committee adjourned until tomor-
row.