The Irish standard., 1904-03-12
MoRMoNs VIOLATE LAW.
President Smith, in snoot Inquiry,
Forced to Admit Polygamy
Is Practiced.

Washington, March 3.-The investi-
cation which is to decide whether Reed
6moot, Of Utah, is TO retain his seat in
the United States senate and incident
ally define the political status of the
Mormon church, was formally begun
Wednesday before the senate commit
tee on privileges and elections Great
interest attaches to the hearings be-
cause of the dual purpose of the inquiry.
An effort to air the innermost secrets
Of the Mormon faith was manifested in
the first days proceedings. President
Joseph 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 that he himself had been visited
with Divine inspirations from God, di-
recting him as to details in matters per-
tanning to the welfare of the church,
though no angels had come to him, as in
the case of the revelation to his uncle,
Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the
church. He subscribed to the standard
of authority for the church in relation
to the revelation commanding polyg-
amy, as made known to the first presi-
dent in visit from ian angel in black. "
He also said that he still believed in
polygamy.
Washington, March 4.-With startling
frankness, Joseph Smith, president of
the Mormon church, admitted-or rath-
er proudly declared to the senate COM
mittee conducting the Investigation OF
the Smoot case Thursday that he is a po-
lygamist, that he has continued to live
and cohabit with several wives, and has
had children born to him by his plural
wives in open violation of the law since
the manifesto of 1890.
; Washington, March 5.-President 10.
seph F. Smith, of the Mormon church
was called to the stand by Senator Hoa1
at the opening of Fridays proceedings
before the senate committee on priv.
leges and elections in the investigation
OF protests against Senator Reed Smoot
OF Utah. Senator Hoar desired informa-
tion on the subject of the rights OF
| women in the church and whether they
hold any priestly authority.
Mr.. Smith said the women are regard.
ed as the equals of the men in all mat.
, tiers Of voting, but that in holding
priestly authority" women are not re
garded on the same plane. He explained
that the women have charitable asso.
citation known as the "Womans Relief
Society" in which they have authority
to perform certain prescribed duties
This authority is confined to the reliev.
Ing OF distress, but women are not or.
dafned high priests. apostles or elders
Washington, March president
Smith, of the Mormon church, on the
stand in the Smoot inquiry in the sen.
ate admitted the laws were being vic.
lated in Utah. but intimated 1t was
not for congress to interfere. He said
he was amenable only to the state laws
of Utah. He also testified that there
/ were 879 polygamous families in the
state.
Washington, March s.-President
Smith. of the Mormon church, told the
/ senate Investigating committee in the
Smoot case that he has AZ children, II
/ or IL of which-he is unable to remem.
Der exactly-have been born since the
manifesto Of 1890. The evidence of Mrs
Clara Kennedy at the hearing showed
that she became polygamous wife in
1896.