The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-06
Makes Further Admissions as to His Violations of the
 Laws of Utah
RESENTS INSTALLATIONS
 MADE BY QUESTIONERS
Says Congress Is Interfering With Ills Private Affairs and That He Is Answerable Only In
 State Courts.

Washington, March 5-Admissions drawn from Joseph Smith, president of the Mormon church, respecting his con- tinued violations of the law forbidding polygamous cohabitatlon, again constitut- ed the feature of the proceedings today before the senate committee on privileges and elections against Reed Shoot of Utah.
 The witness angered by the persistent efforts of some of the members of the committee to obtain from him every de- tail of his remission in obeying the law, turned on congress and charged that body with interfering with his private and do- mestic affairs, and usurping the powers of the Utah courts, which alone, he said. possessed the right to hold him to account for his conduct
 While the witness had been taken in hand by the defense for the purpose of cross examination, the members of the comimttee in reality consumed the great CT portion of the time and matters were prosecution in the three first days of the hearing. The hearing will be continued Monday morning.
 Smiths Testimony.
 In the course of his testimony Presi- dent Smith said:
 We hold that the president of the church is entitled to receive revelations inspired by Almighty God President Woodruff sought guidance of the Lord, and the Lord made it manifest to him that 1t was his duty to stop plural mar riages. He proclaimed that revelation, and it was submitted to the entire church and thus became binding and from that day to this the law of the land has been kept so far as plural marriages are concerned. But there is great difference between taking a plural wife contrary to law and taking care of the wives taken before It was a violation of the law. I would not abandon my children. I will run my risk before the law"
 Voice Shakes With Emotion.
 President Smiths voice shook with emo- ton. He showed more feeling than he had at any previous time exhibited as he leaned forward and said.
 But 1t Is to the laws of Utah that I am answerable; it is the law of my state iiidl heio tHe iiBul to puDlSn me. The courts of Utah are of competent juris- diction. Congress has no business to in- terfere with my private affairs.
 If the courts of my state do not see fit to call me to account for my con- duct I cannot help 1t. Congress has no right to interfere-day or night-to pry into my marriages"
 Chairman Burrows at this point dues- toned the witness. He asked: You say you would not abandon your wives or your children. Why do you consider it necessary to have issue from your plural wives in order to clothe and care for your children that had been born before un- lawful rehabilitation became A crime?''
 Like All Other Women.
 Because my wives are like all other women. It is necessary to maintain peace, harmony and good will between myself and my good wives. That is the kernel in the nut. That is why I have children, not to disobey the laws of the state prohibing polygamous cohabtation."
 "The church gave me my wives and do not think the church could be con- sstent in taking them" said MT. Smith, in answer to a question as to why he did not agree to the Woodruff manifesto.
 "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" quoted Senator Bailey, from the scriptures.
 Continuing the senator said that It ap- peared that polygamous cohabitation Is forbidden by both the law of the land and the law of the church as laid down In the Woodruff manifesto, and address ing the witness he asked:
 Violating the Rule.
 Then as head of the church you are violating the laws of the land and the ordinances of your church as we'll"
 Not the ordinances" said MT Smith, Well the law then"
 No; the rule" said the witness
 me rule after all is the law for the conduct" said Senator Bailey. q was only trying to emphasize what the revela- tions are. l don't know as much about the nice distinctions in religion as I hope II do about the law, but it seems that both the rule of the church and the law of the land forbade polygamous co-habita- ton, and you as the head of the church violated both"
 T will not quarrel with the senator about that" the witness said Later he said Senator Bailey's assumption was fair.
 How could you better teach polygamy than by practicing it?" Mir. Burrows asked.
 am not practicing polygamy. I am practicing polygamous cohabitation which Is not polygamy. Polygamy Is plural mar riage and I have not taken any plural wives since the manifesto of 1S90.' was the reply.
 Published By Church's Aid.
 Replying to a question of Senator Over man MT. Smith said the pamphlet con taining the manifesto did not state in terms that it was revelation from God but that the statement was made that 1t was published by the aid of the church. It then appeared that the manifesto had not been put in evidence and MT. Taylor then introduced 1t with other documents. A few minutes before the time of adjourn ment arrived, a photographer appeared with a huge camera and was about to focus 1t upon the committee and it's dis tinguished witnesses, but Senator Dilling- ham objected.
 Chairman Burrows said no photograph would be taken without the consent of the committee. The photographer then left. The committee then adjourned until Mon- day morning.