Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-03
MORMONISM PROBED.
Head of Church Before Senate Com
 mittee.

Head of Church Before Senate Con-
 WASHINGTON, March 3.-An effort to air the innermost secrets of the Nor mon faith was manifested in the first days proceedings before the senate committee on privileges and elections, which is Investigating the protests against Reed Shoot retaining his seat as senator from Utah.
 The investigation is to decide wheth- CT Reed Shoot of Utah is to retain his seat in the senate and incidentally to define the, political status of the Nor mon church. Never before has there been inaugura ted an inquiry into creeds or political factors to determine wheth- CT an unlawful influence is exerted in political affairs of the nation.
 At the opening session it was conced- ed that hearings would extend over several weeks and that legal talent would fight every inch of the way. In- terest increased with the announce ment that Joseph F. Smith, president of the Mormon church, would be the first witness called and in all proba-
 
 committee for two or three days.
 When President Smith, the highest omcfal of the church, took the stand he, was questioned closely in regard to the principles of divine revelations. He said he adhered absolutely to all the eachings 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 pertaining to the welfare of the church, though no angels had come to him, as in the case of the revelation to his un- ele, Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the church. He subscribed to the standard of authority for the church in relation to the reveia ton commanding polygamy as made known to the first president in visit from '.an angel in black" He also said that he still be- nsved in poIygamy. The testimony was directed in a slight degree only at Senator Smoot, and no attempt was made by the defense to curtail the ad- mission of testimony until President Smith was questioned in relation to pclygamous eohabitRtion of certain offl- cials of the church before the mani festo of 1890. The attorneys then ob jected, and much time was devoted to the relevancy of such testimony.
 MT. Tayler asked MT. Smith a num- Der of questions relating to Abraham H. Cannon and others of the Mormon faith in order to bring out the witness knowledge of the question whether or not they were polygamists and wheth- CT they had married since the mani festo of 1890.
 MT. Tayler said he was pursuing the line of inquiry set out in the protest against MT. Shoot to the sffect that the president of the Mormon church and a majority of the twelve apostles were pract1c1ng polygamy. He referred to MT. Smith as the daily associate and superior in the church. of Mr. Shoot and said that MT. Smith is the hus- band of five wives and believes still in the principles of polygamy.
 "Do you expect to prove in that con- nection that the president and the twelve apostles form propaganda of polygamyT asked MT. Beveridge.
 eve do," said MT. Tayler.
 The committee went into executive session and after a full discussion de termined to allow the utmost latitude to the hearings, which means that court practices will be avoided. The protestants said they regarded this as a victory for them. The committee will hear practically all the prosecution has to offer and determine for itself what is competent testimony. The commit tee will hold daily sessions.
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