The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-03-05


dress at that time was intended TO
correct the impression that Brigham
Young had inaugurated the practice
of plural marriages and to show that
the doctrine originated with Joseph
Smith. 1t was a matter of history and
not of teaching.
Avoided Teaching PoIyGamy.
MIR. Smith said he had avoided
teaching polygamy, but that the Wood
ruff manifesto had not in any man.
ner changed his convictions on the
questions of plural marriages.
Senator Hoar asked why he had
avoided practicing what had been held
to be a divine command. and the wit
ness answered that it was because of
the more recent manifesto stopping the
practice.
Senator Beveridge desired to know
whether the church considered that the
laws were being obeyed when polyg-
amous cohabitation had continued since
the manifesto of 1890, and Chairman
Burrows made the question more per-
sonal. He said:
You have said to-day that YOU
were obeying the laws in not teach
ing polygamy since the manifesto. Do
you think you were obeying the law
in having eleven children from diff
ferent mothers since that time?'
Il obey the law so far as teaching
is concerned. / have not said that 1
have obeyed the law in my practice.
Polygamy has not been taught in the
church. by any of the officials The
church has obeyed the laws even if
have not' said Mr.. Smith.
Senator Foraker asked whether the
practice Of polygamy was permissive
or compulsory.
Mr. Smith called for copy of the
l. - ma and
read a, part of the revelation, which he
said, had been accepted in the nature
of permission to take plural wives and
was not mandatory upon the members
of the church
Senator Overman asked Mr.. Smith
if he knew whether any one of the six
polygamist apostles had disobeyed the
law in regard to polygamous cohabita-
tion since the manifesto of 1880.
No spOtter or InfOrmer.
II do not know" said Mr.. Smith
II only know that they were in the
same status of polygamy at the time
of the manifesto as l was myself.
do not pry into their family affairs
1 am happy to say that l am not
'spotter' or an informer.' l am not d
paid spy"
Yet you might know without being
a paid spy. persisted Senator Over
man.
Il know nothing about it. AS
have said before l am not spotter
or informer," answered the witness.
The words "spotter" and "informer'
were Kissed rather than spoken.
Neither am / a paid spotter or in
former" retorted Senator OVerman.
"Yet I know that in my town people
have children. 1 think you might an
swer that question without using the
words 'spotter' and informer' in that
manner"
Il beg the Senator's pardon" the wit
ness responded.
Senator Dubois asked several ques-
tions to determine the correctness of
the statements that not more than 3
or per cent. of the Mormons were
polygamsts. and said he believed he
could show that a greater per cent.
than that had been convicted of the
charge. He asked Mr.. Smith, how
many of his predecessors had been
monogomists, and Mr.. Smith said he
believed that all of them had had
plural wives.
and l believe you said that your
successor has more than one wife?'
asked Senator Dubois.
The witness admitted that was the
case
Not Since the Manifesto.
the Mormon Church Mr. Smith had
ever rebuked the apostles of the church
for teaching polygamy since the man.
ifesto of 1890, and Mr.. Smith declared:
mo member of the church has taught
polygamy since that time"
What would you do if the principle
of plural marriage was publicly at
tacked?" Senator McComas asked.
I'VE would defend it, said Mr..
Smith.
At the beginning of the afternoon
session passages were read from Nor
mon writings and incorporated in the
record Mr.. Taylor said he expected
TO prove that many plural marriages
have been solemnized in Utah since
1890 He continued:
Il expect to show that these mar
riages have been consummated among
officers of the church and that Sena
tor Smoot as a member of that hier-
archy must have had knowledge of the
fact"
Mr. Smith was taken in hand by the
defense and questioned by Mr.. Worth
ington.
why is il that the manifesto does
not appear in the doctrine and cove
nants with the other revelations?"
asked Mr.. Worthington.
1T is an oversight, l should judge,
! believe now from what l have heard
il should be in it and l certainly will
use my influence to have Ii inserted in
the next edition published" answered
Mr. Smith
Reference was made to the Evans
bill providing that no prosecutions for
polygamous cohabtation should be in
stituted except on complaint of hus-
band or wife. The bill was vetoed by
Gov. Wells. Mr.. Smith had said he
was in favor of the bill and was asked
why.
Was "a Personal Matter.
well, it was rather a personal mat
ter with me. I was one of those I'M
fortunate--or otherwise-men who had
a numerous family, and we were made
the prey Of a prying individual who
relations. 1 thought if such ~ law
was passed it would be a boon to my
eOlf as well as a relief to those in a
similar position. and put an end to
this continual spotting' OF our private
affairs.
Senator Hoar asked a number of
questions 20 determine the relative
weight of Revelations and the law Of
the land He wanted to know what
Mr. Smith would do If the revelations
confiicted with the law. (which would
you obey?' he asked.
With me. perhaps. the revelation
would be uppermost-"
Can you say perhaps to such a
question: asked Mr.. Hoar severely
Continuing, he asked: Suppose you
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