St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-03-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
[From our regular correspondent
The Amoof Trial.

The smoot Trial.
Upon March End the committee on
privileges and elections began the inves-
tigation, as to the right of Reed Smoot
of Utah, one of the twelve apostles to
hold seat in the United States senate.
A long table extended through the center
of the room around which were grouped
the senator's. The committee is COM
posed of Is members from as many diff
ferent states, of which Senator ]. c. Bur-
rows of Michigan is the chairman. The
following is the list of Is members: Sena-
tors Burrows. Hoar, McComas, Foraker,
DePew, Beveridge Dillingham;, Hopkins,
Pettus, Dubois. Bailey, Oyerman and
Clarke. The senior Republican senator
Hoar sat on the right of the chairman
and the veteran Democratic senator Pet
tus on his left. Ex-Secretary John 6.
Carlisle and Representative Robert w.
Taylor of Ohio and the assistant attor-
neys for the prosecution and A. S. Wor-
thington and w. Van Colt, the counsel
for Reed Smoot on the opposite side of
the table. Also F. S. Richards, counsel
for the Mormon church was there. 1t
was said Mr.. Carlisle was there only the
first day. Senator Smoot sat behind the
senators with the witnesses from Salt
Lake City. Members of the press, the
cartoonists and the ladies of the w. c. T.
U. and other organizations were seated
near the door. AS the room was not
l.
mitced.y The senator's were a remarka-
bly, fine looking body of men. The Nor
mon witnesses seated behind formed a
striking contrast. Some looked like a
forlQrn hope. Senator Smoot has dark
eyes and hair, and was the ta1lest and
brightest looking man amongst them.
Joseph F. Smith, president of the Nor
mon church, was the first witness called
upon to testify. He was dressed in black
and is nearly 65 years old. He has dark
brown eyes, high forehead and his taper
ing iron-gray beard is marked feature
of the man. He wore small button on
his coat containing the picture of his pa
triarchal father" He preferred ''to af-
frm,'' rather than to take an oath. All
of the witnesses sat opposite chairman
Burrows.
Representative Taylor brought by his
questions some interesting information.
President Smith has lived in Salt Lake
City since 1S4S and is called prophet,
reveIator and seer" He is not only pres
ident of the Mormon church, but also is
%nG
ations and institutions it Utah; such as
the State Bank OF, Utah, Zion's Savings
Bank, Cooperative Mercantile Institu-
ton, Utah Light and Power Co, Salt
Lake and Los Angeles Baltimore Co.,
Utah Sugar Co., and a great many
others. His uncle, Joseph Smith, IT.,
was the founder OF the Mormon church,
and was the person who discovered the
plates for the Mormon book, and
had revelations, and the book, pearl OF
Great Price," is record of those revela
tons and is one of the four standard
works of the Mormons; the other three
are the Bible, the Book of Mormon and
the Book of Doctrines and Covenants.
They have the same divine authority as
the Bible they think. The 'Deseret
News" is owned by the church and is
supposed to be the church organ of.
news and has been published since 1851.
Mr.. Smith only impaired information
when constantly piled with questions.
They learned something of the internal
organization of the church and its off,
GERS. After the president, comes the
three councillors, the II apostles and
other lesser lights. In 1876 he was an
apostle and afterwards a councillor to
President Taylor, finally became pres
ident, I think. in 1901. Senator Hoar
has rather taken the lead in asking
searching questions to bring out facts
and data and this has pleased the ladies
of the w. c. 7. .. very much, although
he stated that he did not wish in doing
so to take sides either way now. Pres
ident Smith said the apostles were chosen
by revelations; revelations to whom ?''
was asked and "To Joseph Smith, was
the reply. Every member is entitled to a
revelation, but none is announced only
through the president. Mr.. Taylor asked
if apostles did not receive direct revela-
lions from God Yes was the answer.
sThen MIR. Smoot receives revelations
direct from God ?" EYES, again. Some
memb ers did not accept these revelations
and SO unchurched themselves. Senator
Hoar asked, do you not consider your
revelations come from God ?" Yes
again. "Then," continued the senator,
members of the church can disregard
the voice OF COD, through you, and still
remain in good standing in the church ~
President Smith instead of giving direct
reply, chose to Illustrate his meaning
by explaining the doctrine of plural
marriages. A great many Mormons
dissent from this teaching, but are not
put out of the church tor this belief.
President Smith has never had an inspir-
alton except that Mormonism is divine
revelation. Representative Bailey OF
Texas interrupted by saying he did not
care to hear about their religious belief
only so far as it related to the conduct in
political and civil matters.
Attorney A. S. Worthington in the
REORGANIZATION of President Smith
brought out the following statements:
That $4,000 polygamists were not al
lowed to vote, when the Utah commits
sion was created in 1882 and took charge
of the laws of the territory. Women
Cd - he 49, 4,1x