The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1904-03-10
SMITH TELLS OF
HIS BIG FAMILY
MORMON PRESIDENT Is CUES
TONED ABOUT OFFSPRING.
HAS FORTY-TWO CHILDREN
Is Proud of Every One of Them
Wife Of Polygamist Tells Some
of the Secrets of the Nor
mon Church.

Washington, March S.-After having
Joseph +. Smith, president of the Nor
mon church, on the stand for nearly
five hours Monday before the senate
committee on privileges and elections,
which is investigating the right of Reed
Smoot to sit as a senator, both the pros
ecution and the defense announced that
they were through with him, and anoth-
er witness was called. This was Mrs.
Clara Mabel Kennedy, who told some
secrets of the Mormon church which, If
not broken down, will prove Us impor-
tant as the statements of President
Smith that he and other officials have
! been persistently cohabiting with
plural wives in violation of the law.
, Mrs. Kennedy said she was married by
| brigham Young, an apostle of the
church, to James Francis Johnson, a
polygamist, since the manifesto of 1890,
and that she had two children by that
husband. The marriage was performed
In Mexico, according to the witness, at
the home OF high official of the church
Refutes Smiths Claims.
When the case opened Monday with
President Smith still on the stand, SEN
atOr Dubois put in the record the census
figures for Utah, taken in 1890, to show
that instead of only three or four per
cent. in polygamy, as Mr.. Smith had
said, In reality there were about 234
per cent. of the Mormon population of an
age enabling them to be polyamists who
were in that state in 1890. Senator Du
bois gave it as his opinion that there
has been no material reduction in the
number Of polygamists since 1890.
Consented to Shoots Candidacy.
Senator Foraker asked MIR. Smith If
he had had any objection to Mr.. Smoot
becoming candidate for senator, ard
Mr. Smith said:
Il gave my consent to his becoming
candidate"
why did you think your consent nee
essary?" asked Chairman Burrows.
Because it is a rule that any one
of the general authorities of the church
desiring to engage in any business out
side of his church duties must get the
consen. of the first presidency and the II
apostles before he can do So" said Mr..
Smith.
Not Absolutely Sure.
Mr.. Tayler returned to the testimony
In regard to the number OF children Mr..
Smith has had since the manifesto of
1890, and he repeated that there hal
been II, to the best of his recollection.
Are you sure of the number" asked
Mr.. Tayler.
Il cannot say that I am absolutely
sure"
Nov, | don't want to be impairment,
but isn't it fact that there have bees
20?" asked MI Tayler.
mo, nothing like that" was the an
swer.
Mr.. Smith then proceeded to give the
number and names of his children by
each of his wives. BY his wife Alice
there were three; by Mary, four. He
stated that he could not give his son
Samuel's age, or the age of his son
Calvin, and that by each of his other
three wives he had had a. least two
children since the manifesto. Mr.. Tay
Ter pressed the witness for detailed
statement of the children by the other
three wives, and the witness protested
vigorously.
Am | to understand that | am not
to be permitted TO have children by my
lawful wife," he asked of the chair
man. unless | am compelled to do
so | shall decline to answer any ques-
tons In regard to the number of chill
dren have had by my first wife"
What do you mean by lawful
wife," asked Chairman Burrows.
Il have a legal wife, answered Mr.
Smith. Il mean the woman | married
frst-the woman married many years
ago She is the mother of IL of my
children"
"Do you include the number Of chill
dren you have had by this woman
since the manifesto of 1890 in the mum
your wives since that time?" asked
Senator Hoar.
Il do" was the response.
Mr.. Tayler questioned the witness IN
regard to the ages of several others of
the children and Mr. Smith answered:
Il am not in the habit of carrying
birth records about with me"
Has Forty-Two Children.
Both the prosecution and the defense
announced that they were through
with Mr.. Smith for the present, but be-
fore he was allowed to leave the stand
Chairman Burrows inquired: How
many children have you now, Mr..
Smith,"
'Fortytwo," was the answer. "21
boys and u girls, and | am proud of
every one of them"
n, l. l.