New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-20
THE SMOOT INQUIRY.
More Testimony About Pofygamy
Giren by Il p0stle Smith.

washington, Dec. 19.-The Senate Committee
Privileges and Elections to-day developed nothing
sensational In the Senator Smoot investigation.
Interest shown by members of the COM
mittee in statements by A. C. Nelson. superintend
ent of public instruction for Utah, concerning the
use of school buildings for the teaching Of Nor
monism Apostle John Henry Smith was on the
stand hours. Other witnesses were Isaac
Birdsal. a Mormon. who said that his daughter
was communicated because she would not obey
a decision OF a bishops court. which had deprived
her OF piece of property to which she held the
lawful title and William Baldersnn Editor of The
Boise Statesman" who testified regarding poItlcal
affairs his State.
Apostle Smith said he had made political
speeches in Idaho i'm 1902. but appealed to the
voters a citizen and not member of the
Mormon Church.
Senator Dubois asHed if apostle could take
n plural wife now and retain mis- standing.
Unless perchanCe he were handled by the laws
Of the country was the response
You mean that some Gentle would have to
make complaint
NO sir II submitted to his council I think it
would deal with aim. | know / would"
Pressed for mere definite answer tho witness
said # the fact of plural marriage should De
demonstrated In the courts apostle contracting
such a marriage would lose his standing.
..If Won know President Smith had performed a
plural marriage ceremony what would you doE'
Il would go before grand jury and give my
testimony"
guilty person was punished? What about the ef-
feet upon the Church,"
The Church would have to take care OF itself.
The witness said he would take no actloh IN
such case unless he the ceremony performed
Apostle Smith said the suspension of the pracuce
Of polvgamy was the result of revelation, ana
II would take another revelation TO put it in force
Then the president of the Church might punt po-
lvgamv in practice by receiving a revelation
Not unless the people should receive IL N9th-
ing is forced on the Mormon people, ne repHe1i.
4 c Nelson. of Salt Lake, State superintendent
He is now making an investigation OF the extent
to which religious classes are maintained IN tne
schools Answers have been received, ne sald from
ali county superintendent except three C!asses
are held in about three hundred buildings In9se
ella sses are assembled after the adjournment OF IIe
regular school day which varies from 2oo 10 p M
MIR Nelson read a letter which he had sent 70 an
school sllperintendentS, calling attention 70 So
law prohibiting seCtarian teaching IN the PupIlc
schools So far he had informauon. MI INeIsoi
said the school teachers usually taught the re-
On examination Mr.. Nelson was asked II
Senator Smoot had been present when any or Ihe
matters relating religious classes had been as
tWejI answered the witness Il remember meet
begin my investigation. and that oeheved inc
use of the school buildings for religious purposes
was contrary TO law. and he SAID Oooo' am
glad hear It,. ..
rs that intended 20 be Senator Smoot answer
on the witness stand?" asked Mr.. Tayer
1T IS well enough in an investigation IN Whlch
he is the subject TO have Senator Smoot 5 name
mentioned least once week, replied MI
The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow