Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-03-07

tense, the second week or the invesu-
cation OF the Smoot case opened today
before the senate committee on priyi-
leges and elections, Senator Dubois
put into the record the census figures
for Utah taken In 1890 to show that In
stead OF only three or four per cent I'm
polygamy as Mr. Smith had said IN re-
ply there were about 2SA per cent Of
the Mormon" population OF an age en-
ablng them 10 be polygamists who
were In that State In 1890. Senator Du-
bois gave II as his opinion that there
has been no material reduction In the
number OF polygamlsts since 1890,
Mr.. Worthington conducted an exam
ination OF Mr.. Smith to ascertain the
progress undergone In cases OF excom'
munication. The witness explained the
manner IN which the Church IL divided
into divisions OF wards and stakes and
the machinery OF the organization
through which charges against any per-
son have to be brought and passed up
on He said the Apostles have nothing
to do with the judicial affairs OF the
Church. They preach the Gospel and
send missionaries 10 other fields.
The President, Apostles and High
Councillors, forming what Is known as
"the fifteen" meet once a week for
prayer and consultation on matters
generally relating to the Church,
The futile effort by President Brig
ham Young In 1875 to have Bishop ia
cob Weller, removed IRON the leader
shin of ward was related by Mr..
Smith to show that the presidency does
not exercise power over the wishes OF
the people and that the members oil the
Church by the freedom OF their vote IN
reality form the power of government
Several other like instances were re-
lated for the same general purposes.
REVELATION OF JAN. 10. lSil.
Mr.. Worthington read the revelation
by Joseph Smith, Jr, Jan. ~, 1871,
naming Brigham Young as president,
and all the members Of the High Coun-
81 and the Apostles, In this revelation
was a command TO accept the nomina-
lions or to reject them n general con-
ference. Mr.. Smith declared that even
I'm The original revelation naming the
successor to the first president II was
In the power Of the members to accept
or reject Mr.. Smith in reply TO an in
quiry said Reed SmOot became an
Apostle April Q, 1900,
fright here let me ask you when
your last child was born asked MI
Worthington.
II don't know whether that has any
bearing on the case said Mr., smith
but | believe II was on the day MI
Smoot became an Apostle
Then there has been none since,
said Mr.. Worthington.
"No, cir"
'~rhen. so far MS you and Mr. Smoct
were concerned. you were In harmony
remarked Mr.. Burrows
DIDN'T DISCUSS PoLYGAMY.
Mr.. worthington inquired whether
at any OF the joint meetings OF the nrst
presidency and the Apostles the ques,
ton of polygamous cohabitatlon had
been discussed. Mr.. Smith said II had
not I'm either advisory talk or in regard
TO the taking OF the action TO prevent
the practise. He declared that wheh
MIR, smoot became an Apostle, the
status OF most OF the polygamists had
been fixed many years before,
In answer to question by Mr. WORTH
ington and Senator Burrows, Mr., smith
said Senator Smoot had never advised
for or against continuance OF polyga-
nous cohabitation.
EDMuNDs LAW CONVICTIONS.
In returning to convictions, Mr.. Smith
said there had been none since the
manifesto of 1890, that all OF the con-
ylctIons under the Edmunds law were
while Utah was a territory, Senator
Dubois referred TO MI Worthihgtoh as
counsel for Mr.. Smith.
81 protest" said Mr.. Worthlngton'
81 am not the attorney for the VIII,
ness. II | were the examination would
have been far different
A list OF the first judges elected since
Utah was state showed that the tor-
mer territorial judges were chosen
without exception, and that all OF them
had formerly sent "Mormons' to prison
for polygamous cohabitation. The pur"
nose nj this was to deny the Inference
that the Mormon" Church dominates
the courts.
Mr.. Worthington read the list Of sem
ators and representatives elected from
Utah since the manifesto In 1870 10
show the percentage OF "Mormons' 10
Gentiles. The witness was asked III
regard TO each twas he a Mormon OF
q GentleP D.
In regard to Frank ]. Cannon, who
was elected to the senate MT sm''h
said 49,.
'np was classed as a Mormon, but
he was a poor one"
Recess until afternoon