The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-04

Answer Shut OF.
do you consider it an abandonment
OF your family not to maintain mar
riage relations2" Mr. Tayler asked.
MIR. Smith faced Mr.. Tayler and in a
low, hut penetrating, voice said:
I don't like TO be Impairment, but
l should like you 10 ask any woman
who is a wife
At that point Mr.. Foraker and Mr..
Beverage objected. and in discussing
the question, both expressed the opin-
ion that the witness had stated fully
that he had violated the laws, and that
he had been frank in regard to his rea-
sons, and hnally, that the committee
was advised on that subject. MIR. For
aker said that after such a statement
as had been made by Mr.. Smith it was
unnecessary 10 ask the witness con-
corning his opinions on the subject Of
good morals.
Mr. Hoar moved that such questions
be not allowed at this time. but if at
future time II was found that Mr..
Smiths statement was not tull and
complete the committee might question
him.
T Duty of Polygamists.
Mr. Dubois then asked Mr.. Smith if
/ it was not understood by those in au-
thority that il was the duty of the
polygamist to continue to provide for
and support his plural family after the
manifesto of 1890.
Mr.. Smith answered that it was gen
orally so understood"
Resuming the inquiry concerning Mr.
Smiths personal polygamous relations,
Mr.. Tayler asked: How many children
have you had since the manifesto Of
1892"
Mr. Worthington objected on the part
of the defense, and both Senators Bev-
safn lrstF
they thought as the witness said MS
wives had borne children since the
manifesto it made no difference how
many such children had been born to
him.
81 contend that it does make differ
ence." said Mr.. Tayler. 1T makes a
difference how we'll the fact was ad-
vertised that he was violating the law.
1t makes a difference whether it was
two or twenty-five in the effect his eX-
ample might have upon others in the
church.
Has Five Wives.
Mr.. Burrows asked Mr.. Smith if he
had married any wives between the
first and the last he had mentioned
during his statement to the commit
tee.
Il have said Mr.. Smith.
How many2"
Three"
Then You have five wives now?'
said Mr.. Burrows.
That is correct" was the response.
MIR. Burrows ruled that the question
objected to was in order and directed
the stenographer to read the question::
How many children have you had
since the manifesto of 1892"
Eleven Children Since 1890.
Eleven since $780, said Mr.. Smith.
Continuing, he said; Each of my five
wives has borne me children"
Since that time?" asked Mr.. Bur-
rows.
''Since that time" the witness re-
peated in answer.
Il rather think" he added that one
Of them has had three children-I could
tell you little later
He said. in reply to Mr.. Tayler, that
he had attended the dedication eXer-
cises at the st. Louis exposition, and
| had been accompanied by his plural
wife. Edna Smith by name.
Senator Smoot had been with them
on that occasion. when they had been
I photographed in a group.
In reply to n question by Senator
SmOOt, he said: Each OF my families
| has a home of its own in Salt Lake
/ City, and comparatively near to each
other. Since the manifesto my custom
has been to live with my first wife at
] her home. but 1 have visited my other
families"
Roosevelt Met Plural"
He also said. replying to Mr.. Tayler.
/ that he had been present at the recep-
! ton to the president at Senator
! Kearns' residence at Salt Lake City.
] and that he had had one OF his plural
| wives with him. but that she was not
I the one whom he took TO St. Louis.
! My attitude toward my wives was
/ of general knowledge" he said.
Senator Shoots counsel objected.
( however, to the assumption that Sen
( atOr SmOOt knew all the circumstances
| connected with Smiths wives.
We prefer TO put Senator SmoOt on
| the stand and let him tell what he
/ knows" remarked Mr.. Van Colt
Being asked whether he had taken
/ the test oath in 1885 before voting. Mr..
l. Smith hesitated. and his counsel asked
1 that he be- confronted with the oath.
/ The question was temporarily with
! drawn.
/ Senator OVerman-Did Senator
/ Smoot ever advise you to persist in
/ your pOlygamOus eohabitauon?
! Mr.. Smith think not ] have never.
so far as / remember. discussed my
| private affairs with him.
! Are the apostles your advisers
4 receive advice from All good men,