The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-03-08
SMITH, MORMON,
HAS AZ CHILDREN
Mrs. Clara Mabel Kennedy
Tells Secrets of Utah
Church.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March. L.
After having Joseph F. Smith, presl-
dent of the Mormon church, on the
stand for nearly five hours today pc
fore the senate committee on priv
leges and elections, both the prose-
cution and the defense announced that
they were through with him and an
other witness was called. This was
Mrs. Clara Mabel Kennedy, who told
some secrets of the Mormon church
which if not broken down will prove
as important as the statements OF
President Smith that he and other off-
Gals have been persistently- cohablt-
ing with plural wives in violation OF
law Mrs. Kennedy said she was mar
ried by Brigham Young, an apostle OF
the church, to James Francis Johnson,
a polygamist, since the manifesto OF
$780, and that she has had two chill
dren by that husband. The marriage
was performed in Mexico, according to
the witness, at the home of high
official of the church.
Mr.. Worthington conducted an ex-
animation of Mr.. Smith to ascertain
the process undergone in cases of ex-
communication. The witness ex-
planned the manner in which the
church is divided into wards and
stakes and the machinery Of the or
ganization through which charges
against any person have to be brought
and passed upon.
He said the apostles have nothing
to do with the judicial affairs Of the
church. They preach the gospel and
send missionaries to other fields. The
president, the apostles and high coun-
Fifteen" meet once a week for prayer
and consultation on matters generally
relating to the church.
Real Power of the Church.
Young in 1876 to have Bishop Jacob
w. Weyler removed from the leader
ship Of a ward was related by Mr.
Smith to show that the president does
not exercise power over the wishes
of the people, and that the members
of the church, by the freedom Of then
vote, in reality form the power OF
government.
Mr. Worthington read the revelation
by Joseph Smith Jr., Jan. 10, 1841
nominating Brigham Young as presi-
dent and all of the members of the
high council and the apostles. II
this revelation was a command to ac-
cept the nominations or to reject then
in general conference. Mr.. Smith de-
clared that even in the original reve-
lation naming a successor to the frs
president, it was in the power of the
members to accept or reject.
Mr.. Smith, in reply to an inquiry
said Reed Smoot became an apostle
April 9, 1900.
Right here, let me ask you wher
your last child was born,' said Mr.
Worthington.
81 believe 1t was on the day Mr.
Smoot became an apostle"
There have been none since?'
asked Mr.. Worthington.
mo, sir"
Mr.. Worthington inquired whether
at any Of the joint meetings of thu
first presidency and the apostles thu
question of polygamous cohabitatio1
had been discussed
Mr.. Smith said it had not, in eithe
advisory talk or in regard to takin:
official action to prevent the practice
He declared that when Mr.. Smoot be
came an apostle the status of mos
of the polygamists had been fiXe,
many years.
No Suggestion From Smoot.
In answer to questions by MI
Worthington and Senator Burrows
Mr. Smith said Senator Smoot ha,
never advised for or against continu
ance of polygamous cohabitation. L
relation to convictions, Mr.. Smith sal
there have been none since the mani
festo of 1890; that all of the convic
tions under the Edmunds law wer
while Utah was a territory.
A list of the first judges electe
since Utah was a state showed tina
the former territorial judges wer
chosen without exception, and that a.
of them had formerly sent Mormon
to prison for polygamous Capitalization
The purpose of this was to deny tn
inference that the Mormon churc
dominates the courts.
Mr.. Worthington read the list @
senators and representatives electe
from Utah since the manifesto of 1873
to show the percentage of Mormon
to Gentiles.
The witness was asked in regar
to each: WAS he Mormon or
Gentile?"
In regard to Frank J. Cannon, VIII
was elected to the senate, Mr.. Smit
said: HE was classed as a Mormon
but he was poor one"
Mr.. Smith said that, according t
his best understanding, President
Woodruff and Snow conformed to tn
formers manifesto and obeyed tn
law. He said that of the six apostle
appointed since the manifesto of Pres
ident Woodruff, only one, M. F. Cow
ley, is a polygamist. He declared tina
so far as he knew no one in the churc
had been appointed an official in tn
church because he is polygamist
that such appointments have bee
based on merit alone.
Referring to the many institution
in which Mr.. Smith is interested Nj
Worthington inquired what companie
are controlled by the church.
"Only one," said Mr.. Smith. "Tha
is the theater, which was started b