The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-03-23
THE MORMON VIEW OF POLYGAMY,
REVELATIONS, AND DUTY TO THE STATE

Interest in the investigation before
the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections of the protests against
Senator Smoot of Utah shows no abate-
ment from day to day. Much time has
been devoted to Introduction of docu-
ments subscribed to as the law of the
President Joseph Smith testified that if
the plea of plural marriages should be
attacked it would be defended by the
church.
Intense feeling was exhibited by
President Smith against individuals
who, he said, had spied on the domes-
tic and matrimonial relations of the
high officers of the Mormon church,
and for that reason he had favored the
passage of the Evans bill to prevent
prosecution for polygamous cohabita-
ton, unless complaints We're entered
by husband or wife against the other.
This bill was passed, but vetoed by
the Governor of Utah.
RIGHTS OF WOMEN.
Senator Hoar desired information
on the subject of rights of women in
the church and whether they hold any
priestly authority Smith said women
are regarded as equals of the men in
all matters of voting, but that in hold
ing "priestly Office" women are not re-
garded on the same plane. He eX-
planned that the women have a charit-
able association known as the
Womens Relief Society, in which they
have authority to perform certain pre-
scribed duties. This authority is con-
fined to the relieving of distress, but
women are not ordained high priests,
apostles or elders.
Tayler asked about NJ. F. Cowley,
one of the apostles and Cowley's talks
on doctrine and in answer to ques-
tions by Senator Dubois Smith said
Cowley was elected as an apostle in
1897 Reading from the Deseret News
of June %, 1903, regarding a speech by
Smith at the Weber stake reunion,
Tayler asked Smith if he was correctly
reported in saying that the doctrine Of
plural marriages was a revelation by
God to Joseph Smith Jr, and to reject
that would be equivalent to a rejec-
ton of God himself.
Smith believed he was correctly re-
ported, and when a list of names Of
those present, including Senator
Smoot, was read Smith said the list
was correct. He declared that he
would not have had the article pub
lished if he had been consulted
Pressed for a reason, he said that he
was under injunction not to teach the
rightfulness of polySamy and that he
had refrained from so doing in public.
SENATORS ARE ROLLED.
Senator Hoar asked Smith why he
avoided practicing what he had held
to be a divine command, and the wit
ness answered that it was because of
the more recent manifesto stopping
the practice. Hoar persisted that, ac-
cording to the witness own state
ments, the practice had not been
stopped, and Senator Foraker inter-
posed abruptly that the witness had
gone over that matter fifty times, and
he could see no purpose of the contin-
ued questioning along that line. Sen
ator Hoar resented the interruption
! and said Senator Foraker's statement
suggested that he had asked one ques'
ton fifty times and had received fifty
answers. He objected to the inference
and when Foraker arose to answer he
too, stood up. The two Senators faced
each other in what threatened to be z
serious clash. Foraker said the Sena
tor from Massachusetts could say
what he pleased, of course, but have
not said he asked fifty questions"
It accept the disclaimer from thu
Senator from Ohio" responded Hoar
but the aggressive manner in which
it was said failed to relieve the situa
ton After more heated words Sen
ator Beveridge, who occupied a posi-
ton directly between the two, re-
quested permission to ask a question
He said he wanted to address "Mr
Smoot," and Immediately substituted
the name Smith" In the laugh thaI
was provoked both Senators sat dowr
and the hearing continued.
Senator Beveridge desired to know
whether the church considered thai