Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-04
THE SMOOT INQUIRY
CONTINUATION OF THE EXAM
NATION OF PRESIDENT SMITH.
Obligations of Officials of the Church
Candidates for Office Must
Obtain Consent.

Quiry at the Capitol closed yesterday the
examination of President Joseph F. Smith
| of the Norman Church was continued
| Mr.. Tayler asked concerning Brigham H
| Roberts position as first president of 1.-The
| seventy's,'' and asked If Roberts was not
elected to that high position after he was
elected to Congress. Mr.. Smith said he
| could not remember.
| In answer 70 questions by Senator Dubois
the witness said that Mr. Roberts was elect
| ed by "the seventy, and he had no knowl-
| edge that any objection had been made to
| his retention in that high position.
Continuing. he said II could not con-
sistently object to Mr. Roberts myself, and
| l do not know of any member who could
have done so better than / could
| Then you place all of the seventy in the
| same category with yourself?' said Senator
| Dubois.
| "Yes, suppose so,' said Mr.. Smith.
| DO you mean that because all members
| of the seventy are polygamists they could
| Foraker.
mo not at ALL said Mr.. Smith
You say that when you place yourself
in the same category as the seventy
] said Mr.. Foraker.
| THAT was Senator Dubois word, not
mine" said Mr. Smith.
When you answered you adopted the
word responded Senator Foraker.
Senator Dubois went over the ground
again and brought out the fact that objec-
| ton had not been made to Mr.. Roberts
continuing in office after 1t had been proved
he was a polygamist.
Object of Mr.. Tayler's Questions.
Inquiry having been made by several
members of the committee as to what Mr..
Tayler expected to prove by certain ques-
tioning the latter said II expect to prove
that Mr. Smoot could not by any possibility
pnt jpnca his associates in his
actions
Not even in his vote as a United States
senator?' asked Mr.. Beveridge.
mo. not even in his vote as a senator
responded Mr. Tayler.
Mr. Tayler said Mr.. Smoot would be
bound to follow the direction of the church
not only in spiritual affairs, but also In
temporal Things because under the defini-
lions of the church 1t is impossible TO dis
tinguish between the two. He would have
to obey resign his apostleship. Mr. Tay-
Ter asked Mr.. Smith where his property
would go in case of his death.
My property would go to my heirs, said
he, land the property which l hold In trust
for the church would go to my successor.
He was asked concerning the manage
ment of the Deseret News, and said there
was no more independent newspaper in
Utah and that it was not governed by the
church.
'.Who is the editcr?' he was asked.
Charles W. Penroie,' answered Mr.
Smith. In answer to other questions. Mr..
Smith admitted that Mr.. Penrose is poiyg-
amist
+ In answer to questions concerning revela-
tions, MIR. Smith reiterated former state
ments that such revelations were accepted
or rejected at will; that there is no re-
straint upon any member except his or her
voluntary wish. He said he did not always
obey the revelations from God. zone can
obey or dsobey with inpunity," he added.
<"Then that is the kind of God you be-
lieve imp said Mr.. Tayler.
Yes, that is the kind of God believe
in declared Mr.. Smith, with emphasis.
A rule of the church was quoted in
gard to the release from duties of certain
members of the apostles or others in high
positions in order to perform other duties,
and Mn Tayler asked:
WASN'T necessary for Mr.. Smoot to get
consent to run for senator?"
He had to get the consent of his assoc
ciate apostles and the first presidency"
said Mr.. Smith. in order to go before the
legislature. He obtained that consent
When asked If any one else was given
consent to run for office. Mr.. Smith said
no one had asked for such consent. An eff
fort was made to show that Mr. Smoot
could not act of his free will, but Mr. Smith
declared the consent amounted to nothing
more than release from his duties in the
church in case he was elected.
Senator Hoar asked if Mr.. Cannon was
given consent to come to Congress, and Mr..
Smith answered that Mr.. Cannon never had
been an official of the church and there
fore did not require consent.
Mr.. Smith said if Mr. Smoot had persist
ed in running for Office without the con-
sent Of his associates he would not have
lost his official position, but would have
been out of harmony with 1.-THE twelve
The Moses Thatcher Incident.
The Moses Thatcher incident was taken
up, and Mr.. Smith said he had remained
for many years an apostle of the church,
though not in harmony with his associates
He remained in that position until finally
removed by the apostles. When asked the
reasons for the difference of opinion be-
tween Mr. Thatcher and the other apostles,
air. Smith said there were various causes
Was it because he desired to become a
candidate for United States senator?''
For United States senator or something
or that Kind, answered the witness
The expression ''or something of that
kind created amusement among the sena
tors present
Mr.. Tayler asked concerning James Tan
ner, formerly president of the Agricultural
College of Utah, who, it was Stated re-
signed his position for the reason that the
United States threatened to withdraw its
support on the ground that the head of the
school was poygamist Mr. Smith said
Mr. TANNER was a pOlygamist.
Inc recent controversy at Brigham City
over musicians was declared by Mr. Smith
70 nave been "a tempest in teapot. and
only newspaper furore,' to connect the
church with matter in which it was not
interested officially
chairman Burrows addressed a number
Of questions to Mr.. Smith concerning a
visit which Mr. Smith and Mr.. Cannon
made to Catalina Islands a number of years
ago in company with their wives Mr. Bur-
rows wanted to know whether Mr. Smith
had performed any marriage ceremonies
while on that trip, and he stated positively
that he had not. In answer to other aues-
tons he declared he had performed no
polygamous marriages since 1890 anywhere
on earth.
Mr.. Dubois asked II any OF the apostles
had performed such service, and Mr..
Smith said II they had they would have
been fined and imprisoned if found guilty.
and, in any event, if the charge could be
proved the offender would be excommuni-
Gated.
Senator Hoar made another request for
1.-The four books which had been described by
Mr.. Smith as the standards of authority.
saying that they would be needed in consid-
ering the case. but" interposed Senator
Dillingham;, Il suppose we can furnish our
own bibles
Mr.. Smith volunteered to supply all Of the
volumes himself. even the bibles, if the
committee desired to have copies Of that
book.
MI. ~