The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-06
Then Attacks Congress
as a Paul Pry.
KEEP OUT, He CRIES
| am AnswerabIe Only to the Courts
of Utah. Do Mormons rs Rule
Share This Mans Exalted"
Opinion Of Women
as Wives?
CIV the Associated Press.)

Washington, ID. c., March 5.--Admis-
sions drawn from Joseph Il. Smith, prcsi-
dent of the Mormon church. respecting
his continued violations of the laaw for
bidding polygamous cohabltation again
constituted the feature of the proceed
ings today before the Senate Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections against
Senator Reed Smoot, of Utah. The wit
ness, angered by the persistent efforts
Of some members of the committee to
obtain from him every detail of his re-
mission IN obeying the law. turned upon
Congress and charged that body with IN
terfering without authority in his pri.
vate domestic affairs and usurping the
powers of the Utah courts, which alone,
he said, possessed the right to hold him
to account for his conduct.
White the witness had been taken In
hand by the defense for purposes of
CT oss- examination, the members of the
committee in reality consumed the great
er portion of the time and matters were
brought cut along the line followed by
the prosecution in the three first days
of the hearing Some OF the testimony
proved hlgnly SENSATIONAL.
At the beginning OF today's session Mr..
Smith gave figures showing the proper
ton OF polygamists in the Mormon popu.
lation. saying the number of poygamisis
originally excluded from voting was A.,
00o Mr.. Smith said that in 1902 only
s97 were still living.
Referring to Senator aBley's questions
yesterday in regard to the manifesto, Mr..
Worthington read from sermon Of
President Woodruff delivered a year after
the manifesto against plural marriages
in which President Woodruff declared that
he was moved. and 10000 Latter Day
Saints were moved by the spirit of God.
to abandon the practice of plural mar
riage.
Senator Bailey contended that it was in
obedience 10 the demands OF the law or
fear OF the consequences Of the law that
provoked the revelation. Continuing, he
said:
For my part / don't have much faith
IA a doctrine that doesn't get revela-
tion commanding change of conduct
until there is statute compelling it,"
when the laws were passed which
were not in harmony with the teachings
OF our church." said Mr.. Smith. I'VE held
that they were unconstitutional. or
course our own rules commanded that we
obey the Constitution OF the land, but we
fought the validity of the new laws from
the lowest TO the highest court. and when
it was settled by he Supreme court OF
the United States that plural marriages
could no longer be INDUCED IN, OF course
we were inclined to obey.
But We had a revelation on our own
statute books in regard to plural mar
riages and it was necessary to obey that
in order to obtain certain blessings that
could not be received without obeying it.
Whether we should obey the law of the
land or continue to practice the law OF
the church was serious question.
I'VE held that the president OF the
church is entitled to receive revelations
inspired by the inighty God. President
Woodruff sought guidance from the Lord
and the Lord made it manifest to him that
it was his duty 10 stop plural marriages
He proclaimed that revelation. and it
was submitted Ia the entire church and
accepted by the church. and thus it be-
came binding. and from that day to this
the law OF the land has been kept so far
az plural marriages are concerned. But
there il a great difference between taking
a plural wife contrary to law and in
taking care of the wives taken before
it was violation of the law. / would
not desert my wives, I would not aban-
don my children will run my risks be-
fore the law
President Smiths voice chokcd with
emotion. HIT, showed more feeling than
he had any Nprevious time exhibited as
he leaned forward and said
But IL Is TO the laws of Utah that
am snswerabe, il Is the law of my State
that has the right to punish me. The
courts OF Utah arc OF component iurisdic-
ton. Congress has no business 10 inter-
fere with my private affairs.
IF the courts OF my State do not see
At TO call me To account for my conduct
I cannot help t. Congress has no right
TO interferc--it has no right to pry int,
my marriage relations and call me p az.
count
Chairman Burrows at this point cues.
toned the witness. lie asked:
''You saw you would no. abandon your
wives or your children. Why do YOU
consider it necessary 10 have issue from
your rlural wives in order to clothe and
care ior your children that had been
BORN before unlawful cohabitation be
came erime2?"
"Because my wives arc like all other
women. II X necessary to maintain
reace. harmony and cool will between
myself aud ny good wives That IL ths
kernel in the nut That Is why I have