The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-21
into ROBERTS,
PERSONAL LIFE
COMMITTEE HAS A LOOK.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SENATOR
REED SMOOT.

Reopening OF the Investigation i'm
the SmOOt Case-Brigbam H.
Roberts Was on the stand and
Was Asked Searching Questions
Relative to the Attitude of His
Church-Its Relations to Politics
Are Rather Close.
Washington. April 20.-With the re-
opening of the investigation of the
Reed Smoot case before the Senate
Committee on Privileges and Elections
the prosecution devoted considerable
time to drawing from Brigham II
Roberts the character of the oaths
which are said to be necessary for a
Mormon official to take in order to
have the support of the church for
political Office. Members of the COM
mittee showed an equal interest in
the obligations which are said to be
taken by Mormons who "go through
the endowment house.
Along both lines much evidence was
brought out which is expected to have
considerable bearing on the fitness of
a Mormon church official to hold seat
in Congress.
1t was shown by Mr.. Roberts testi-
mony that without the consent Of the
Mormon Church he failed of election to
seat in Congress, and later with
church recognition of his candidacy ne
was elected. In relation to the endow-
ment house obligations, Mr. Roberts
was extremely reticent.
Mr.. Roberts said he has three wives,
one married in 1877, the second in 1886,
and the third in 1890. He said he has
had children by all of the wives and
by the first plural wife since his cleo
ton to Congress.
Senator Overman inquired of Mr.
Roberts whether his first wife and his
second wife had consented to his third
wife.
Didn't Tell the Others.
mo, SIR" said Mr.. Roberts. They
did not learn of the marriage for three
or four years.
How was that?" asked Senator
Beveridge. DO you mean to say
that the marriage was not known to
any one?"
1T was known to some Of my
friends, but not to my wives" was the
answer.
why was this marriage concealed
from them?" asked Chairman Bur-
rows.
Because I did not want to embar-
rass them"
How embarrass them?"
well, we knew the marriage was IL
legal and it might be embarrassing to
them if they should for any reason be
called on to testify"
Mr.. Taylor asked Mr.. Roberts why
he thought it incumbent upon him to
take plural wives.
From boyhood," replied the wit
ness, Il had been taught the rightful-
ness of plural marriages and believed
this practice to be the law of God. I
knew that this practice was contrary
to the mandates Of Congress, but be-
lieved that the law of God was the
highest rule, and 1 felt impelled to
obey it,
Practices PoIygamy,
Chairman Burrows asked number
of pointed questions, which brought
out the confession from Mr.. Roberts
that he still believes In, and Is prac-
ticing, polygamy. He said that ne
believes that the Woodruff manifesto
was divinely inspired. and that now in
practicing polygamy he knows he is
disobeying both the laws of the land
and the laws of God. He was asked
why he continued to disobey the laws
of God. IL he believed them to be the
highest laws and with resigned air,
he said: "Well, the manifesto left me
in the midst of obligations to these
wives. / am trying the best l can
to live within the laws, but these OBJ
legations / cannot shirk."
At the afternoon session. Mr.. Rob-
erts said no action had ever been taken
by the church in respect to his living
with more than one wife.
Questions we're asked respecting Mr..
Roberts views regarding the mani
festo of $780, against plural marriages
and living in polygamous cohabitation,
and the witness said he regarded the
manifesto as an administrative act of
continued on Fifth Page