The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-03-08
MORMON DEFIES LAW
Head of the Church Admits He Still
Practices POlygamy.
WON'T DESERT HIS FIVE WIVES

President Joseph Smith Confessed He
Knew He Was Violating State Laws
BY cohabiting With His Plural
Family
Washington, March l-Attorneys for
the protestants in the Smoot inYestl-
CATION said they intended 10 prove that
the defendant is associated with an
hierarchy which practices polygamy
and cOnniye5 at violations OF the law,
and that bis very vote as senator OF
the United States is subject To the wish
and command OF the Mormon church.
President Joseph T. Smith confessed
that he himself had continued TO CO.
habit with his plural family since the
manifesto " 1880 and that he realized
fully that he was violating state laws.
President Smith also testified tina;
Reed Smoot had to get the consent OF
his associate apostles in the church
before he could become a candidate for
senator
The confession OF President Smith
was the sensation OF the proceedings
before the senate committee on priyi-
legcs and elections. Mr.. Smith said
that the manifesto Of 1890 had left him
and others with plural families in tho
unfortunate situation Of being com
PEELED to defy the law or desert their
families.
Continuing. he said. This was The
,ase and is the case now But / wa
placed in this position" said Mr.
Smith: 81 had a famly-a plural fam
lily. if you please. ! married my first
wife more than IS years ago. and my
last wife more than 20 years ago. BY
these wives / have had children. and
have preferred 10 take my chances witt
the law and suffer any consequence
the law might visit upon me rather
than 10 abandon these children anC
their mothers.
81 have continued 10 live with then
since the manifesto OF 1890 and they
have borne me children since tina
date I was fully aware of what ] wa'
doing. / knew / was amenable 10 th'
law. but as ! say, preferred TO iac'
that situation rather than 10 deser
them.
III has been known what have beer
doing. have not been interfered with
nor disturbed in any way II haC
been was there to answer the charges
| was willing 10 face them and sub
nit 10 the penalty"
Mr.. Taylor resumed his questioning
You say there is a state law for
bidding polygamous cohabitation. anC
you have been continuing TO violate Il
in utter disregard OF the cOnse
quences?" he asked.
81 think | have" was the answer.
"You have caused your plural wives
10 bear you new children in violation
OF the law you knew TO exist?'
THAT Is correct" said Mr. Smith.
"Why have YOU done 500" persisted
Mr. Taylor. For the same reason
have told YOU / preferred TO face the
law. could not disgrace myself;
could not degrade my family"
do you consider II an abandonment
Of your family not TO maintain mar
rlage relations" Mr.. Taylor asked.
Mr. Smith faced Mr. Taylor. and In
a low but penetrating voice said 81
don't like to be impertinent but
should like you to ask any woman who
Is a wife"
Inquiry having been made by several
members OF the committee as 10 what
Mr Taylor expected to prove by GER
tain questioning. the latter said: Il ex-
pect to prove that Mr.. Smoot could not
by any possibility put himself uT
against his associates in his actions"
Not even in his vote as United
States SENATOR" asked Mr. Beyeridge
NO. not even in his vote as a SEN
ator." responded Mr.. Taylor.
Mr. Taylor said Mr.. Smoot would be
bound to follow the direction OF the
church. not only in spiritual affairs
but also in temporal things, because
under the definitions of the church 1t Is
impossible to distinguish between the
two. He would have TO obey or resign
his apostleship.
In answer TO questions concerning
revelations. Mr. Smith reiterated his
former statements that such revelations
were accepted or rejected al will; that
there is no restraint upon any member
except his or her voluntary wish. He
said he did not always obey the reyela-
tons from God One can obey or dis
obey with impunity,' he added.
Then that is the kind Of God you
believe in?' said Mr.. Taylor.
yes. that is the kind Of God be-
lIeve in" declared Mr.. Smith with en-
phasis.
A rule of the church was quoted in
regard to the release from duties of
certain members of the apostles or 9th
ers in high positions in order to per-
form other duties. and Mr.. Taylor
asked. Was It necessary for Mr. Smoot
to get consent to run for SENATOR"
ale had to get the consent OF his as
ISOLATE apostles and the first presi-
dency." said Mr.. Smith lin order to go
before the legislature. lie obtained that
consent"
The Moses Thatcher incident was
a
taken ND and Mr. Smith said he had
remained for many years an apostle or
the church, though not in harmony
with his associates. He remained in
that position until finally removed by
the apostles. When asked the reasons
for the differences OF opinion between
Mr.. Thatcher and the other apostles
Mr.. Smith said there were various
causes
WAS It because he desired to become
a candidate for United States SENATOR"
"For United States senator or some
thing OF that kind. said the witness.
The expression "or something OF that
kind" created amusement among the
senators present.