The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1904-03-05
SrIITH'S
MANY WIVES
Senate Committee Puts the Nor.
mon Leader through the
Sweat Box"

In the investigation before the senate
committee on privileges and elections
OF the protests against Senator Reed
Smoot of Utah is undated, although
most of the time was devoted to intro
duction of documents subscribed to as
the law Of the Mormon church. In
that connection President Joseph f..
Smith, who again was on the stand,
testified that if the principle of plural
marriages should be attacked it would
be defended by the church.
Intense feeling was exhibited by
President Smith against individuals
who, he said, had spied on the domes-
tic and marital relations of the high
officials Of the Mormon church, and for
that reason he had favored the passage
Of the Evans bill to prevent prosecu-
| tons for pOlygamous cOhabtation I'M
less complaints were entered by hus-
| band or wife against the other This
bill was passed, but vetoed by the gov
ernor Of Utah.
1t was brought out that all of Mr..
Smiths predecessors as president Of
the Mormon church had been polyga-
mists and that the man chosen to sue
! coed him has more than one wife. Mr..
Smith was asked which he would obey,
the law of the land or revelations
| from God if the two were in conflict.
He said he might obey the revelation,
though it was not compulsory. He
added Il should not like TO be put in
a position where l would have to de-
sert my children. l could not do that"
President Smith was so keenly ques-
toned that he grew FESTIVE more than
once.
The status Of plural wives, their
| helplessness against the desire Of the
husband TO add to their number and
other peculiar conditions in the Nor
mon church were intimately probed
Senator Foraker persisted in know
ing when, where and how the injunc-
ton in favor Of polygamy had been
received by the Mormon church so as
to find out whether the practice was
compulsory or merely permissiye.
1t was set forth that If one wanted
to espouse second virgin he could do
so by obtaining the consent Of the
first, but that il the consent Of the
first was withheld he was at liberty to
proceed without it, 1t is set forth also
that where the first refuses consent to
share her husband with another wo-
man she would be destroyed"
Senator Pettus asked the meaning
Of the word destroyed" in that sense
Mr.. Smith answered that she would
be destroyed by the Lord, but that he
was not informed lust how the Lord
would 20 about It,"
"rhen it does not mean that the
husband could destroy herr" Senator
Pettus asked
mo; never"
Il take it then that the Question of
getting a wife's consent to marry
again might just as well be eliminated
entirelyf" said Senator Beveridge.
Just as WELL" answered the wit
ness.
Senator Dubois asked Mr.. Smith how
many Of his predecessors had been
monogamists, and Mr.. Smith said he
believed that all OF them had had plu-
raj wives.
"And I believe you said that your
successor to the throne has more than
one wife" said Senator Dubois.
81 wish to correct the senator" re-
sponded Mr.. Smith. There is no sue
cessor to the throne"
Senator Dubois said he would with
draw the offensive term: that he mere
ly wanted to ascertain that the success
sor has been determined upon and that
he Is now a polygamist. The witness
admitted that this was the case.
In quoting from the New Testament
Senator Hoar said there is a command
that "blshop shall be sober and have
one wife,
AT least one wife" Mr. Smith inter-
rupted.
"Well, we don't construe IT that way
in our church." said Senator Hoar amid
laughter. what l wanted to get at Is
this: Now, l know several bishops in
our church who are bachelors. Do you
regard 1t a divine command that the
bishops shall have one wife, or more?
What want TO know is how you con-
strue that command"
II believe the practice Of polygamy
was general among the Jews at the
time the Scriptures were written" said
Mr.. Smith. II believe that II was COM
manded that bishop should be mar
ried man because his duties made It
necessary that he should be an expert
enced man."
Here the chairman had to rap loudly
to restore order in the committee room.
what would you do ii the principle
Of plural marriages was publicly at
tackedT' Senator McComas asked.
I'VE would defend It," said Mr.. Smith.