The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-19
He Gives Testimony in tn,
SmOOt Investigation.
Denies Charge That Church
Meddles I'm Politics.
NOTHING is FORCED.
Revelations Are Forthcoming
Whenever They Are Needed
But of No Force Unless the
People Accept Them.

Henry Smith of the Mormon church,
was recalled as the first witness today
in the Senator Smoot investigation and
was cross-examined by A. S. Worthing-
ton. counsel for Mr.. Smoot. Apostle
Smith said he had known A. F. McDon-
aid, (who died during the present year,
who was charged by one witness with
having performed a plural marriage in
Mexico.
1T had come to the attention of Pres
ident Lorenzo Snow that Mcdonald had
been exercising the right to marry or
seal persons in plural marriages. said
the witness. President Snow instructed
me to call Mcdonald to account. 1 went
TO Mexico, but did not learn that any
plural marriages had been performed. 1
never have heard of any president of
the church authorizing plural marriages
since the manifesto"
Denial was made by the witness that
the Mormon church owned a majority
of stock in the sugar manufactures of
Idaho. He was examined concerning
his participation in politics in Idaho and
his testimony chiefly was in contradic-
ton of the testimony given by Charles
H. Jackson. chairman of the Democratic
state committee, who testified Saturday.
He emphatically denied that he had said
there had been revelations that a Ger
tain political ticket should be supported.
Apostle Smith, however, admitted
taking an active part in bringing about
the repeal of the territorial test oaths
which practically excluded Idaho Nor
mons from voting. He said he had
made political speeches in Idaho in 1902,
but appealed to the voters as a citizen
and not as a member of the Mormon
church.
When Mr.. Worthington concluded his
cross-examinations Senator Dubois ask
ed Apostle Smith if an apostle could
take a plural wife now and retain his
standing.
Unless perchance he, were hampered
by the laws of the country was the
response.
You mean that some Gentle would
have to make complaint"
No, sir; if submitted to his counsel
1 think it would deal with them.
know l would
Pressed for a more definite answer the
witness said if the fact of a plural mar
riage should be demonstrated in the
courts. an apostle contracting such
marriage would lose his standing.
Attorney Tayler, for the proteStants,
Examined Apostle Smith concerning his
knowledge of the alleged marriage OF
Apostle Abram Cannon and Lille Ham
lin, charged by witnesses to have been
performed by President Joseph Smith
on the high seas near Los Angeles, in
1896.
The witness said he went to Presi-
dent Smith and asked him if he had
performed such a ceremony and the re-
ply was that he had not He admit
ted that if the president of the church
had wanted to perform a ceremony of
that kind he would be at liberty TO DO
so. But 1 believed him absolutely"
concluded the witness.
Apostle Smith said he had made in
quiry to who performed the cere-
mOny. but obtained no Information on
the subject The witness said he had
serious doubts whether Abram Cannon
had married Lillian Hamlin.
"Then what is the explanation you
made to yourself as to the status of
your brother apostle and Lille Ham
limp he was asked. He said he had
not concerned himself on the moral
question as Abram Cannon was dead.
IF you knew President Smith had
performed a plural marriage ceremony
yesterday. what would you do?'
Il would go before a grand jury and
give my testimony"
Then your only interest would be
to see that the guilty person was
punished? What about the effect upon
the church,"
''The church would have to take care
of ITSELF
The witness said he would take no ac-
tion in such a case unless he saw the
ceremony performed.
Apostle Smith said there was much
contention between members of the
church on the subject of the legality
OF plural marriages until polygamy was
prohibited by the church in President
Woodruff's manifesto.
Chairman Burrows drew from the
witness some statistics relating to the
church. but no register of the total
membership. In regard to colonization
Apostle Smith said there is a large set
tlement in Mexico and that one-third
of the population of Idaho and one
fourth of the population of Wyoming
are Mormons. Other states and territories
having large settlements are Nevada
California, Arizona, Colorado and New
York. while Iowa has large settlement
of the Reorganized Church of Latter
Day Saints. which drew away from the
other church because it did not believe
in polygaDly.
Apostle Smith said that the suspen-
sion of the practice of polygamy was
the result of a revelation and that it
would take another revelation to put in
force.
Then the president of the church
might put polygamy in practice by re-
ceiving a revelation ~
mot unless the people should receive
1T. Nothing is forced on the Mormon
people," he replied