Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-04

ticularly the portions which prescribe the
manner of taking more than one wife. 1t
was set forth that If one wanted to espouse
second virgin he could do SO by obtaining
the consent OF the first, but that If the con-
sent of the, first was withheld he was at
liberty to proceed without 1t. 1t is set forth
also that where the first refuses consent to
share her husband with another woman she
would be destroyed"
Senator Pettus asked the meaning of the
word destroyed in that sense.
Mr.. Smith answered that she would be de-
stroyed by the Lord. blu. that he was not in
formed just how the Lord would go about
1T
Then it does not mean that the husband
could destroy herr" Senator Pettus asked.
No, never"
Il take it then that the question of getting
wife's consent to marry again might just
we'll he eliminated entirely" said Sena-
tor Beverdge
Just as WE'LL" answered the witness.
Senator Overman asked Mr.. Smith IL he
knew whether any one of the six polyga-
mist apostles had disobeyed the law in re-
gard to polygamous cohabitation since the
manifesto of 1890
Il do not know" said Mr. Smith. 81 only
know that they were in the same status of
polygamy at the time of the manifesto as
/ was myself. l do not pry into their fam
lily affairs. I am happy to say that 1 am
not "A 'spotter' or an 1nformer. l am not
d paid spy"
Yet you might know without being a
paid spy. persisted Senator Overman.
Il know nothing about it. AS / have said
before, am not spotter or informer,'
answered the witness.
The words "spotter" and "informer' were
Kissed rather than spoken.
Neither am l a paid spotter nor inform
err retorted Senator Overman, yet L
know that in my town people have chill
dren | think you might answer that ques-
ton without using the words 'spotter and
informer in that manner
Il beg the senator's pardon the witness
responded
Senator Dubois asked several questions
directed to determine the correctness of
the statements that not more than three
or four per cent of the Mormons were po-
lygamists, and said he believed he could
show that greater per cent than that had
been convicted of the charge.
Smiths Predecessors Polygamists.
He asked Mr.. Smith how many of his
predecessors had been monogamists, and
Mr.. Smith said he believed that all Of
them had had plural wives.
And / believe you said that your sue
cessor to the throne has more than one
wife," said Senator Dubois.
Il wish to correct the senator, respond
ed Mr.. Smith. There is no successor to
the throne"
Senator Dubois fixed the manner of sue
cession and said he would withdraw the
Offensive term; that he merely wanted to
ascertain that the successor has been de-
termined upon and that he is now a polyg-
amst. The witness admitted that was the
In quoting from the new testament Sena-
tor Hoar said it is stated that there is a
command that d bishop shall be sober and
have one Wife
AT least wife," Mr.. Smith inter-
rupted
We'll, we don't construe it that way In
church." said Senator Hoar amid
laughter What l wanted to get is this
Now | know several bishops in our church
who are bachelors. Do you regard it a
divine command that the bishops shall have
one wife or more? What L want to know
is how you construe that commando
Il believe the practice of polygamy was
general among the Jews at the time the
scriptures were written" said Mr.. Smith
Il believe that 1t was commanded that
bishop should be a married man"
Senator McComas took the witness in
hand to bring out whether as the head of
the Mormon Church Mr.. Smith had ever re-
buked the apostles of the church for teach
ing poygamy since the manifesto of 1890
and MIR. Smith declared: mo member of
the church has ever taught polygamy since
that time"
How about Apostle Grant?" he was
asked
Mr. Smith asserted that the incident over
which the anti-Mormon papers had made
such hubbub'' had been declaration
merely that Apostle Grant had two wives.
That declaration, the witness said, had
been made by Grant in private speech,
and he had not taught the practice of the
SYSTEM.
What would you do If the principle of
plural marriages was publicly attacked?"
Senator McComas asked.
We would defend it." said Mr.. Smith.
1t was noon when this point was reached
and as none of the senators desired to ask
any more questions of the witness Mr.. Tay-
Ter was instructed to put in the various
documents and books which he desired to
offer as exhibits. He said it would take
him half an hour to read them, and the
committee adjourned until pm.
Extracts From Doctrinal Works.
When the afternoon session of the COM
mittee opened Mr.. Tayler read from the
book, Doctrine and Covenants the first
reVela ton to Joseph the seer at Kirkland
Ohio. in 1881 declaring that he had been
chosen 10 receive revelations and that none
other should be chosen until he is TAKEN
and then to be chosen through him only.
Many other extracts from subsequent reve-
latiouS We're read. including that relating
to poiygamous marriages and the authority
to seal for eternity" or to perform celes-
tial marriages.
These passages were Incorporated into the
record as part of the testimony.