The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-04
Has Five Wives and Would Rather Face Law Than
 Desert Them
HEAD OF MORMON CHURCH
 ON THE STAND ALL DAY
Protests at Times That MT. Taylor's Questions Are Very Embarrassing and Does Not Wish to
 Tell Privae Atfairsg

Washington, March s.-Attorneys for the | Protestants in the Shoot investigation said they intended to prove that the de- l fendant is connected with a hierarchy which practices polygamy and connives at violation of the law, and that his very vote as senator is controlled by the Nor mon church. President Joseph H. Smith confessed that he himself had continued to co-habit with his plural family since the manifesto of 1890, and that he realized fully that he was violating state laws. President Smith also testified that Reed Shoot had to get the consent of his asso- cite apostles in the church before he could become a candidate for senator. The confession of President Smith was the sensation of the proceedings today be- fore the senate committee on privileges and elections. MT. Smith said the mani festo of 1890 had left him and others with plural families in the unfortunate situ- ation of being compelled to defy the law or desert their families. For himself he | had preferred to take chances with the law rather than to disgrace himself and degrade his family by abandoning his wives and the children they had born to him. He admitted that he had had ehil- I manifesto, and he protected them among the people of Utah, whom he character ized as liberal and broad-minded.
 Policeman at the Door.
 So great has become the interest in the investigation that it was decided to post policeman at the door of the committee room of privileges and elections where the hearing is progressing. All persons except those directly interested VIII De kept out of the room though outside the doors it was impossible almost to main- tain a passageway through the corridor of the capitol
 Inst before the hearing was begun to- day MT. Shoot received a telegram from Provo. Utah, stating that his sister, Mrs. George S. Taylor, is dead as the result of an operation. He had no previous knowl- edge of her illness and exhibited plainly the effect of the shock.
 When the committee was called to or der seven senators were present Sentor Burrows gave the rulings on questions asked of President Joseph Smith relating to the polygamous co-habitation of George R. Teasdale a Mormon apostle. Objec- tions to such questioning had been made by the defense.
 Testimony Is Competent.
 The committee ruled that testimony bearing upon plural marriages or any members of the twelve apostles. of which Mir Shoot is one, is competent so far as 1t relates to such polygamous cohabita- ton since September 26. 1890, the date of President Woodruff's manifesto, with drawing the order of the church com mandng plural marriages.
 Senator Beveridge said there had been a misunderstanding as to whether MT. Shoot was being tried on the charge of polygamy or with having taken an oath incompatible with his oath as a United States senator Now he said, 1t is appa- rent that these charges are not pending in this investigation.
 Bound to Support Vows.
 Senator Dubois dissented from the state ment that there had been such Q misun- derstanding, and said the real charge is that MT. Shoot Is member of Mormon hierarchy which subscribes to VOWS in conflict with the laws of the country and was bound to support such VOWS
 For the first time in fifteen years,' said MT. Dubois, "the relations of this organi- zation towards the United States are to be tried"
 Senator Pettus made a protest against the debate between members of the com mittee and Chairman Burrows directed MT. Tayler to proceed.
 About cannon's Marriage. Questions were then directed to ascer- tain Mir. Smiths Knowledge of the polyga-