Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-03
NOW HAS FIVE WIVES
Admission by President
Smith Of Utah.
THE HEARING RESUMED
A GREAT RUSH TO ATTEND THE
SMOOT INQUIRY.
Policemen Stationed at the Door to
Keep Out Those Not Directly Inter-
ested-Adjacent Corridor Crowded.

today to post policeman at the door of the
room of the committee on privileges and
elections. where the hearings are progress
ing. All persons except those directly inter-
es'ed were kept out of the room, though
outside the door 1t was impossible almost
to maintain passageway through the cor
ridor of the Capitol.
Just before the hearing was begun today
Mr.. Smoot received telegram from Provo
Utah, stating nat his sister Mrs. George
s. Taylor, is dead as the result of an opera
ton. He had no previous knowledge OF
her illness and exhibited plainly the effect
of the sudden shock.
When the commit was called to order
seven senators were present. Chairman
Burrows gave the ruling on the questions
asked of President Joseph F. Smith relating
to thu polygamous cohabitation of George
F. Teasdale. Mormon apostle. Objections
to such questioning had been made by the
defense The committee ruled that testi-
mony bearing upon plural marriages of any
members of the twelve apostles, of which
Mr.. Smoot is one, is competent so far as it
relates to such polygamous cohabitatlon
Since September 26, 1890 the date of Pres
ident Woodruffs manifesto withdrawing
the order of the church commanding plural
marriages.
The Charges Against Mr.. Smoot.
Senator Beveridge stated that there had
been a misunderstanding as to whether Mr..
Smoot was being tried on the charges Of
polygamy and with having taken an oath
incompatible with his oath as United
States senator. Now, he said, 1t is ap-
parent that these charges are not pending
in this investigation.
Senator Dubois dissented from the state
ment that there had been such a misun-
derstanding and said the real charge is that
Mr. Smoot is a member of Mormon hier-
archy. which subscribes to vows In confilct
with the laws of the country, and was
bound to support such vows. For the first
time in fifty years." said Mr. Dubois the
relations of this organization toward the
United States are to be tried.
Senator Pettus made protest against
the debate between members of the COM
mittee, and Chairman Burrows directed
Mr.. Tayler to proceed Questions were
then directed to ascertain Mr.. Smiths
knowledge of the polygamous marriages
of A. H. Cannon and whether Mr.. Smith
had performed the service uniting Mr..
Cannon and Lillian Hamlin.
Mr.. Smith said he had seen newspaper
reports saying that he had done so. but
he denied the truth of the statements.
Then Mr.. Tayler asked a number of
questions which brought out statement
from Mr.. Smith regarding his own atti-
tude under the laws covering polygamy.
He acknowledged that he had violated
them continuously since the manifesto Of
1890 and is ready now, and always had
been ready, to face the laws of the land.
Mr. Tayler asked: rs cohabitation with
a plural wife contrary to the rules of the
church,"
No Plural Marriages.
Mr.. Smith asked and received permis-
sion to make a statement and then an
swer the question in his own way. He
spoke with great feeling and directness,
just the reverse of his attitude on the
stand at yesterdays hearing, saying: In
regard to the status of polygamy at the
time of the manifesto, want to say that
after the hearing before the master OF
chancery / understood that We should
abstain from relations with our plural
families, and that rule was observed up
to the time the enabling act went into
effect admitting Utah as state. Under
that act the only prohibition was that
plural marriages should cease. Nothing
was said about cohabitation with our
wives"
"With the wives you had married pre-
vious to the manifesto. you mean?' inter-
rupted Mr.. Hoar.
''That is what 1 meant" said Mr.. Smith.
"I understood that plural marriages were
to cease and ever since the manifesto un-
til the present time there never has been
q plural marriage in the church performed
in accordance with its teachings or with
the connivance of the church." and, he
added with greater emphasis: II know
whereof I speak,"
Then, in answer to the question whether
polygamous cohabitation was regarded by
the church as contrary to the law, he an
swered: "It was"
Continuing. he said: This was the case
and is the case now.
Willing to Take Chances.
'But was placed in this position said
Mr.. Smith. IT had family-a plural fam
lily, If you please. 1 married my first wife
more than thirty-eight years ago, and my
last wife more than twenty years ago. By
these wives / have had children, and
have preferred to take my own chances
with the law and suffer any consequences
the law might visit upon me rather than
to abandon these children and their moth
ers.
'I have continued to cohabit with them
since the manifesto of 1890. and they have
borne me children since that date. / was
fully aware of what was doing. ] knew
/ was amenable to the law. but, as say,
preferred to face that situation rather
than to desert them. have not cohabited
with these wives openly or Haunted the
fact, but have acknowledged these wives
and children as my family. The people OF
Utah have regarded the situation as an
existing fact. These people, as rule, are
broad-minded and liberal in their views.
and have condoned the offense-if offense
1t is rather than interfere with my situa-
tion as they found 1t. 1t has been known
what 1 have been doing. have not been
interfered with nor disturbed in any way.
II Hdo pceii' Wao eiisi " oiis "oi e1io
charges. / was willing to face them and
submit to the penalty, whatever 1t might
be-
Mr.. Smith paused for moment, but as Mr..
Tayler prepared to ask another question he
again proceeded with his statement You
must draw distinction between unlawful
cohabitation and plural marriages." he said
"The state law in regard to the latter has
been complied with. No marriages have
been performed with the sanction, approval,
consent, knowledge or connivance of the
church or its officials. But the other law
is the one / have presumed to disregard.
and which, as have said, / am ready to
face rather than disgrace myself or degrade
my family by turning them on"
Why He Violated the Law.
Mr.. Tayler resumed his questioning. "You
say there is state law forbidding poIyg-
amous cohabitation. and yeu hevs been