Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1904-03-03
TRIAL OF SENATOR
REED SMOOT BEGINS
To Decide Whether He Can
Retain Seat In Senate.
GREAT INTEREST is MANIFESTED
President Smith of the Mormon Church
Was Fist Witness and His Testi'
mony Proved lnterestIng-InVestiga

President Smith of the Mormon Church
Was Fist Witness and His Testi
mony Proved InterestIng-InVestiga
tion Will Consume Several Weeks.
Washington, March 2.-The investi
cation which is to decide whether
Reed Smoot, of Utah, is to retain his
seat III the United States senate and
incidentally to define the political sta
tus OF the Mormon church, was for
malIy begun today by the senate com
nlttee on privileges and elections.
Great interest attaches to the hear
ings because of the dual purposes OF
the inquiry. Other investigations
have been directed at the rights OF
certain contestants to seats in con
gress, but never before has there been
inaugurated an inquiry into creeds OF
political factors to determine whether
an unlawful influence is being exert
ed in the political affairs of the nation.
Such is the nature of the SmoOt in
qulry, and at the opening session today
it was conceded that the hearings
would extend over several weeks. In
tereSt increased with the announce,
Elent that Joseph F. Smith, president
of the Mormon church, would be the
first witness, and in all probability oc.
cupy the attention of the committee
for two or three days. The attOr
neyS for the defense, A. S. WOrthing
ton, of this city, and Waldemar Van.
NF Go1& oIy xIrI
and engaged in consultation with their
client. Judge Carlisle, former secre
tary of the treasury, and r. w. Tay
lOr, formerly representative in con
gress and the attorney who prosecuted
the successful protest against Brig
ham Roberts against retaining his seat
In congress, are counsel for the con
testants. Half a dozen witnesses
nearly all of them officials for the
Mormon church, occupied seats at tie
rear OF the large committee room.
Quite number of women were in
attendance and watched the proceed
ings with interest. Chairman Bur
rows, after ascertaining by ron call
that quorum Of the committee was
present, directed Mr.. Taylor to proceed
with the case. MP. Taylor inquired
the number of witnesses present and
Mr.. Borrows read the following list
of those on whom summonses had
been served.
Mr.. Taylor announced his readiness
to proceed, and asked that President
Joseph Smith be sworn. After that
Franklin 8. Richards, a Salt Lake
City attorney, said he was present az
an advisor Of the witness in the event
any Improper questions were asked.
The first questions brought out that
Mr.. Smith was president of the church
and was born in Utah, in 1848, and
always has been in the church.
Mr.. Taylor ascked Mr.. Smith II he
was prophet, seer and revelator.
The witness said he was $50 sustain,
ed"
Questions directed to ascertain the
business avocations of Mr.. Smith in
addition to the presidency of the
church brought out a long list OF
~SAANSAASI WIFI CdplLdA STOCKS running
into the millions. A list of the first
presidency or twelve apostles govern,
ing the church was read by Mr.. Taylor
which included the name of Reed
Smoot
Throughout the testimony Mr.. Smith
used such expressions as II think" 81
believe" and 4 presume" These ex
pressions proved unsatisfactory to the
members of the committee. and Sen
ator Hoar said he wanted to under
stand whether Mr.. Smiths forms OF
speech implied doubt or whether it was
simply an unfortunate mode of speech
Mr.. Smith said he used expressions
which were not positive when he re
ferred to matters from memory. but
that in all matters of the church. OF
revelations and the powers of the
church he was certain and did moi
want to be misunderstood.