The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-04
so while I myself was praeticing the sy tenn"
 Is a Reputed Polyaamist.

50 While I myself was praelclng the syS- tenn
 Is a Reputed PoIyeamist.
 MT. Smith was asked about other apos- ties. MT. Cowley is" he said, "a reput- cd polygamist. Roger Clanson is not.
 He was especially questioned concerning P. M Lyman, president of the apostles, and in line of succession to himself. MT. Smith said that MT. Lyman, being pres ent, should answer for himself, but the committee insisted and he replied that MT. Lyman was reputed to have two wives.
 Have any of these men taken plural wives since the manifesto of 1s90?n asked Senator Beveridge
 'I repeat" said Mir Smith, bringing his hand down on the table with some em- phasis, that since the man .festo, since 1890 no man has entered into Slural mar riage with the knowledge or approval of the church."
 When your deacons are sent out and make converts in other lands, do they not present the rightfulness of ploygamy as religious virtue?"
 This question was put by Senator Hoar and was answered in the negative.
 They never discuss polygamy" MT. Smith said, "unless compelled to do so to meet attacks. They do not advocate poly gamy in any way. Indeed the elders are
 
 riages at all; 1t is a thing of the past" The committee then took recess.
 Afternoon Session.
 Mir Smith resumed the stand when the committee convened at D. m. MT. Fay Tor began an inquiry concerning instruc- tions given to missionaries as to the teaching of polygamy. MT. Smith said the book called Ready References" is used by missionaries. This book, he said, con- tains a chapter on polygamy, declaring that practice to be divine. He said the book was an old one, and that he had no Knowledge of recent publications. The marginal note on the chapter on poly gamy was given as "Polygamy right in the sight of God'' Mir. Smith added, how ever that the use of this book Is almost entirely abandoned by the Mormon elders doing missionary work. The standard works of the church he said were the books taken with them.
 In reply to questions from Chairman Burrows. MT. Smith said he did not know whether or not the missionaries take with them copies of the manifesto of 1s90 sus- pending polygamy as an order of the church.
 MT Taylor asked how many wives Mir. Smith had in 1890.
 Five" said MT. Smith. He was ques- toned in regard to wife named Levira,
 
 many years before 1890
 Question Very Embarrassing.
 Mir. Smith protested that the questions were very embarrassing and trying to him. q dislike" he added ito announce my private and personal affairs. I do it reluctantly and solely because I am re- quired to do so by this honorable commit tee. This matter Is going before the pub lie, and l don't want 1t to appear that I am 'spotter' or an informer.'"
 He added:
 of there is anything I despise it Is an infamous 'spotter' and an 'informer' MT. Worthington objected but no atten- tion was paid to the protests though Mr. Taylor ceased asking the questions ob- tected to. He asked, however if Mr. Smith had not claimed in 1896 or 1897 that his wife Levlra was not divorced and whether he did not claim a part of her estate for that reason.
 MT. Smith declined to answer the ques- tion In regard to the property, but denied that he had said she was not divorced MT Taylor asked concerning Brigham H. Roberts position as first president of the Seventy" and asked If Roberts was not elected to that high position after he was elected to congress.
 Could Not Remember.
 MT. Smith said he could not remember. In answer to questions by Senator Dubois the witness said MT. Roberts was elected by the seventy" and he had no knowl- edge that any objection had been made to his retention in that high position.
 Continuing, he said "I could not con- sistently object to MT. Roberts myself, and I don't know of any member who could have done so better than I could"
 "Then you place all the seventy in the same category with yourself?" said Sena- tor Dubois.
 "Yes. I suppose so," said MT Smith.
 DO you mean that because all members of the seventy are polygamsts they could not object to Mr. Roberts?" asked Senator Foraker.
 "No; not at all" said Mir Smith.
 You say that when you place yourself in the same category as the seventyT said MT. Foraker.
 .'Those we're Senator Dubois words; not mine" said MT. Smith
 "When you answered you adopted the words" responded Senator Foraker
 Senator Dubois went over the ground again and brought out the fact that ob- lection had not been made to MT. Roberts continuing in office after 1t had been proved he was polygamst.
 Inquiry having been made by several members of the committee as to what MT. Tayler expected to prove by certain ques- tfons, the latter said:
 Could Not Oppose Associates.
 q expect to prove that MT. Shoot could not by any possibility put himself up against his associates in his actions"
 Not even in his vote as a United States senator?" asked MT. Beveridge
 ''No, not even as a senator responded MT. Tayler.
 MT. Tayler said Mir Shoot was bound only in spiritual affairs, but also in tenn to follow the direction of the church, not poral things, because, under the defini- tons of his church, 1t Is impossible to distinbush between the two. He would have to obey or resign his apostleship. MT. Tayler asked MT. Smith where his property would go in case of his death. My property would go to my helrs," said he and the property which I hold in trust for the church would go to my successor
 He was asked concerning the manage ment of the Desert News. and said there was no more independent newspaper in Utah, and that 1t was not governed by the church.
 ''Who is the editor?" he was asked.
 "Charles w. Penrose,' he answered. In answer to other questions MT. Smith ad- mitted that Mir. Penrose Is a polygamist. In answer to question concerning rev elations Mir Sml,n reiterated former