The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1904-03-05
DEFENSE OF POLYGAMY
PRESIDENT OF MORMON CHURCH
UPHOLDS RIGHTFULNESS
OF ITS DOCTRINES.
CONTINUES ON STAND IN SM00T CASE
MANIFESTO OF 1890 HAS NOT
CHANGED HIS BELIEF IN
PLURAL MARRIAGES.

i PlOnAL WAnnlH0GS'
Washington, March president
Smith of the Mormon church was still
on the stand at the opening OF the
| third days session of the Smoot hear
| ing Reading from the Desert News
of June 20. 1903, regarding a speech
| by Mr.. Smith at the Weber State re-
union, Mr.. Tayler. for the protestants,
asked Mr.. Smith if he was correctly
reported in saying that the doctrine
| of plural marriages was a revelation
| by God to Joseph Smith, Jr., and to
reject that would be equivalent to
| rejection of God himself
| Mr.. Smith said he believed he was
| correctly reported and when list OF
names of those present, including Sen
atcr Smoot, was read Mr.. Smith said
| the list was correct He declared that
| he would not have had the article
published ii he had been consulted.
Pressed for a reason he said that he
was under injunction not to teach the
rightfulness of polygamy and that be
| had refrained from SO doing III pubic.
Mr.. Smith said he had avoided
teaching polygamy, but that the mani
festo had not in any manner changed
his convictions on the question of plu-
raj marriages.
Eeveridge Seeks information.
Senator Beveridge desired to know
whether the church considered that
| the laws were being obeyed when
polygamous cohabitation had contin-
ued since the manifesto of 1890 and
oir tho nunCf inn
| more personal. He said:
"You have said that you were obey
ing the laws in not teaching polygamy
since the manifesto. Do you think you
were obeying the law in having eleven
children from different mothers since
that time?"
II obey the law SO far as teaching
is concerned. | have not said that l
have obeyed the law in my practice.
AS ] have said before | preferred to
take my chances with the law rather
than to abandon my plural family.
Polygamy has not been taught in the
church by any of the officials. The
church has obeyed the laws even ii |
have not" said Mr.. Smith.
Senator Oyerman asked Mr.. Smith
il he knew whether any one of the six
polygamist apostles had disobeyed the
law in regard to polygamous cohablta-
ton since the manifesto of 1890.
II do not know" said Mr.. Smith.
II only know that they were in the
same status of polygamy at the time
of the manifesto as | was myself.
do not pry into their family affairs.
am happy to say that | am not
.spotter' or an 'informer. | am not
paid spy"
Dubois Questions Statement.
Senator Dubois asked several ques-
tions directed to determine the cor
rectness of the statements that not
more than or per cent of the Nor
mons were polygamists and said he
believed he could show that greater
per cent than that had been convicted
of the charge He asked Mr.. Smith
how many of his predecessors had
been monogamists and Mr.. Smith said
he believed that all of them had had
plural wives.
And | believe you said that your
successor to the throne has more than
one wife," said Senator Dubois.
IL wish to correct the SENATOR re-
sponded Mr.. Smith. There is no sue
cessOr to the throne
Senator Dubois fixed the manner of
succession and said he would with
draw the offensive term; that he mere
ly wanted to ascertain that the sue
cessor has been determined upon and
that he is now polygamist. The wit
ness admitted that was the case.
In quoting from the New Testament
Senator Hoar said 1t is stated that
there is a command that a bishop
shall be sober and have one wife"
AT least one wife," Mr. Smith in
terrupted.
Hoar Causes Laughter.
well, we don't construe it that way
in our church., said Senator Hoar.
amid laughter. What | wanted to
get at is this. Now | know several
bishops in our church who are bach
elors. Do you regard it as a divine
command that the bishops shall have
one wife or more? What | want TO
know is how you construe that com
mand?"
Il believe the practice of polygamy
was general among the Jews at the
time the Scriptures were written,
said Mr.. Smith Il believe that it was
commanded that bishop should be a
married man because his duties made
1t necessary that he should be an ex-
perienced man." Here the chairman
had to rap loudly to restore order in
the committee rooml.
What would you do If the principle
of plural marriages was publicly at
tacked?" Senator McComas asked.
I'VE would defend it, said Mr..
Smith.
II was noon when this point was
reached and as none of the senators
desired to ask any more questions of
the witness Mr.. Tayler was instructed