The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-08
A Mormon Woman Placed
on the Stand.
These Will Prove as important as the
Statements by Smith That He
and Others Have Repeatedly
Violated Anti-PoIygamy
alMc
(Bv the Associated Press.l

tBy the ASSoclateu PreSS.)
Washington, March 7.-After having
Joseph F. Smith, president of the Nor
mon Church, on the stand for nearly five
hours today before the Senate Committee
on Privileges and Elections which is in
vestigating the right of Reed Smoot to sit
as a Senator, both the prosecution and
the defense announced that they were
through with him and another 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 by President Smith, that he
and other officials have been persistentiy
cohabitating with plural wives in viola
ton of the law. Senator Dubois put In
to the record the census figures for Utah
taken in 1890, to show that instead of
only or 4 per cent. in polygamy as Mr..
Smith had said, in reality there were
about 23A per cent. of the adult Mormon
population living in state of polygamy
in 1890 Senator Dubois gave it as his
opinion that there has been no material
reduction in the number of polygamists
since 1920.
N1G. CullLn SdNl that dtGOfuiilS W HIS
best understanding, Presidents Woodruff
and Snow conformed to the formers man
ifesto and obeyed the law. He said that
cf the six apostles appointed since the
manifesto of President Woodruff, only
one NJ. f. Cowley, is polygamist. In re-
gard to Joseph NJ. Tanner, president of
the board of trustees of the Utah Agricul-
tural College, Mr.. Smith said it was "un-
4 h. bo1 4I,or ifo
He declared that so far as he knew no
one in the church had been appointed an
official in the church because he is
polygamist that such appointments have
been based on merit alone.
Mr. Tayler then asked if four out of
seven of the trustees of the agricultural
college are not Mormons. Mr. Smith said
he believed that to be the case Senator
Foraker asked Mr.. Smith if he had any
objection to Mr.. Smoot becoming a can
didate for Senator, and Mr.. Smith said:
81 gave my consent to his becoming a
candidate"
why did you think your consent ne
cessary?" asked chairman Burrows.
Because it is a rule that any one of the
general authorities of the church desiring
to engage in any business outside of his
church duties must get the consent of the
first presidency and twelve apostles be-
fore he can do so, said Mr.. Smith.
Mr.. Tayler asked for detailed schedule
of Mr.. Smiths children born Since 1890,
and over the protest of MIR. Smith Chair
man Burrows directed that the question
be answered.
Mr.. Smith gave list of children by the
wives in the order in which he married
them. The list follows:
by Julina-Emith and Rachel.
by Sarah-Asenth and Jenneta.
BY Edna Martha. and one child which
d:ed
BY Alice-F'ielding, Jesse and Andrew.
BY Mary-Silas, Agnes, James and May
be Calvin.
He said he did not know the age of the
last named.
Chairman Burrows inquired:
How many children have you now?'
'Forty-two," was the answer, twenty
one boys and twenty-one girls, and am
proud of every one Of them"
Senator Overman said that he had
pamphlet saying that Jesus Christ was a
polygamist. TurningS to Mr. Smith he
asked:
''Is that what your church teaches?"
No, sir, was the response. "What
we teach is that Jesus Christ
was descended through long line of
polygamists through David and down
to Abraham With that Mr.. Smith
left the stand, having been the only wit.
ness in the five days hearing had pro-
gressed
The prosecution then called to the stand
Mrs. Clara Mabel Kennedy, of Sewer
county Utah, who testified to having been
married into a plural marriage since the
manifesto of 1890. she said the ceremony
had been performed by an apostle Of the
Mormon church Mrs. Kennedy said she
was born IN Albany, twenty-seven years
ago of Mormon parents The family
moved to Diaz, Mexico, when she was
about four years old. where she lived until
she was II years old, when she was mar
ried to James Francis johnson. who al
ready had one WIFE Mrs Kennedy said
che met the first wife and they had ga
slight interview" about joining into the
family as second wife The first wife
gave her consent to the arrangement.
According to arrangements Mr. and Mrs.
Johnson and the baby. and the witness
drove from Diaz to Jaufez. Mexico. to be
married They remained there two weeks
before the ceremony was performed.
Where were you married?" asked Mr..
Tayler.
"At the home of A. c. Mcdonald. the
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