Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-21
MORE M0RMONISM.
Second Round in the Smoot
Case at Washington.
Brigham H.. Roberts on Stand al
Wednesdays Session.
R..umption of Matter Which Interests
Whole Country.

Washington. April 20.-With the re-
ouening Of the investigation IN 'he
Reed Smoot case, before the senate
committee on privileges and elections
rhe prosecution devoted considerapie
time to drawing from Brigham II.
Roberts the character OF the oathS
which are said to be necessary lot
Mormon to take in order to have the
support Of the church for political Oh
flee Member of the committee snoWeu
an equal interests in the obligatloiiS
which are said to be taken by Nor
mon who go through the Endowment
house,
Along both lines much evidence was
brought out. 1t was shown ny MI
Roberts testimony that without 'o'
sent Of the Mormon church ne iaiieu
Of election to a seat in Congress, anu
later with church recognition OF MS
candidacy he was elected In reiatioii
IN tho endowment house Oblisatloh' MI.
poherts was extremely retlcent. lie
said that the sacredness OF the cefe-
,nopv was such that he could not re-
ve,I If to the world and that II ne did
On he would lose caste with the church
az having betrayed trust.
Portions OF the testimony given by
Mr. Roberts, especially in regard to ms
reasons for maintaining polygamouS
coha bitatiOn with his plural wives, was
almost a duplication of the testimony
given by other pOlygamists VINO nave
haen on the stand. lie said he regarded
inc laws Of God as higher than the
l,ws of the land and that his moral
obligation to his wives was greater
than both the laws of God ana man.
Washington. April 2O.-What may be
termed the second round of the Reeu
Smoot contest opened, today. before IN"
Senate committee on privileges ana
elections. 1t was announced mat se'-
eral witnesses would be heard from the
adjournment of Congress and II is
practically certain that the committee
will then adjourn to convene IN SAT-
Lake. Utah, July IS. AT that time VIII
no examined witnesses who We're I'M
able to come to Washington and others
who could not be reached with sum-
monses to come here.
Brigham a. Roberts, called 10 the
stand by Mr.. Taylor. was questioned
tn hiring ont a statement of his official
connection with the church. Mr.. RoD-
erts said he was elected to the position
of one of the first seven presidents Ill
1888 and entered politics about lSS".
His interest was manifested in making
speeches, hut he was not a candidate
for office until 1894.
lie was then elected as member OF
the constitutional convention which
met in 1895. He explained his candi-
dacy for Congress and the opposition
that had developed from Mormon
sources. He said the church had OPP
posed the election of high officials of
the church to membership of the con-
stitutional convention and that he had
accordingly consented not to urge his
candidacy He was nominated during
his absence and WAS Informed that the
order had been rescindpd. He said
that Joseph +. Smith was the member
Of the first presidency who said the
ruling had been modified. He fully ex-
planned certain criticisms which had
been made of an alleged influence
which the first presidency and apostles
had brought to bear against the polti-
cal aspirations of himself and Moses
Thatcher because their attitude was
not in harmony with the Democratic
convention which adopted a declaration
of principles against the church intlu-
ence.
Mr.. Roberts said he protested and lat
or the church took up his protests. Mr..
Roberts was defeated the first time
heran for Congress, but was elected
the second time, owing the the with
hrawal of the church opposition. Mr..
Roberts said ne has three wives, one
married in 1877. the second in 1856 and
the third in 1890. He said he has had
first plural wife since his election to
Congress. He thought the last child
was born three or four years ago.
In response to questions of Mr.. Tay-
Tor. Mr.. Roberts said his first plural
marriage was performed by ID. II.
Wells. counsel to the apostles and he
thought the ceremony was performed
ut the home of Mr.. Wells's son.
Senator Overman inquired of Mr..
Roberts whether his first wife and his
second wife had consented to his third
wife.
No sir said Mr. Roberts. Continu-
ing he haid they did not learn of the
marriage for three or four years.
How was that" asked Senator Bev-
eridge. 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 the marriage concealed
from them" asked Chairman Burrows.
Because I did not want to embar-
rass them"
"How embarrass Them"
We'll. 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.. Roberts said his third wife was
the divorced wife of DIR. Shipp and in
regard to his courtship. he said he al
ways had met her at the house of mu-
tual friends and had never called on
her at her home. He also said that she
continued to live in her home but that