Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-19
POLYGAMISTS HEARD
EMINENT MoRNoNs BEFORE THE
sMooT COMMITTEE.
Apostle Smith Declares That He Will
Not Be Separated From His
Family.

News who was elected one of the twelve
apostles of the Mormon Church last July.
testified before the Snoot investigating
committee Saturday afternoon. He said
he was polygamist with two plural wives
living. He has children by his first plural
wife. but none born since the manifesto.
When elected to an apostleship. Mr.. PEN
rose said he was not present. but was sent
for by the first presidency and informed of
the election. He said he could not say
whether Reed Smoot was present or not.
Did you receive special amnesty at the
hands of President Cleveland in which one
of the conditions was that you should there
after obey the law relating TO living in
polygamy?" asked Mr.. Tayler.
Yes SIR"
And have you lived up to that am
nesty?'
Mr.. Tayler announced that completed his
examination and Chairman Burrows then
said he wanted to have il made clear wheth-
er Apostle Smoot was present at the con-
ference which elected Mr.. Penrose an
apostle. Not receiving direct answer Mr.
Worthington, counsel for Senator Smoot.
said that would admit that Smoot had been
present.
Heard of No Protest.
Mr.. Penrose then said. in answer to a
| question: that he never had heard of any
one making a protest against his election
on the ground that he was a polygamist.
WAS it known that you were polyg-
| amist?' asked Mr.. Burrows.
Il did nothing to conceal the fact but 1
had never Haunted it, the witness re-
piled.
Mr.. Penrose said he had not heard that
it was necessary for a person to pass
through the Endowment House before he
could be elected as apostle. but that he
had taken the ceremony. He thought II
very probable that all of them had been
through the Endowment House.
In regard to general knowledge as to his
polygamous relations Mr.. Penrose said that
Mr.. SmOot would have the same knowledge
and that the testimony of President Joseph
Smith, before the Senate committee last
spring would have given him this informa-
ton. 1t was shown that the election of Mr..
Penrose as an apostle took place in July,
this year, since that hearing.
Asked in regard to those who take the
endowment Mr.. PenroSe said il is not OBJ
ligatory, but from his acquaintance with
the church he would be greatly surprised if
any official high in authority. including Mr..
Smoot, should say he had not taken the
ceremony.
Idaho's Leading Mormon.
William Bulge of Paris. Idaho testified
that he has three wives and. that he
has had three children born since
the manifesto of 1890 All of his wives live
in Paris and he testified that he does not
live with one to the exclusion OF the others.
Nest of the children are grown and live in
Idaho. OF these children. he testified that
enc son is judge of the district court,
one son prosecuting attorney in Bear Lake
county. one son-in-law. H. Smith Wooley,
is chief asSaYer of the mint at Boise City,
end one daughter is postmaster at Paris.
OF himself he admitted that he is the most
prominent Mormon in Idaho. having served
IN the state senate. and otherwise taken
leading part in church affairs.
Mr. Tayler put into the record a long
open letter written by Mr.. Bulge on the
subject of the fight made by Senator Du-
bois against the Mormon Church. This let
ter attacked Senator Dubois for IAN I'M
warranted persecution of the church. and
charged him with disappearing condi-
tons In the state.
l. Senator Dubois asked great many ques
tons relating to the present conditions in
Idaho and the Mormon participation in
politics.
This resulted in a discussion between the
senator and the witness concerning these
subjects and the positions they had taken.
Mr.. Bulge reminded Mr.. Dubois that he
had promised to work to repeal the Idaho
test oath. and the senator replied that it
was true. because he then thought the
manifesto was sincere.
Testimony of Apostle Smith.
John Henry Smith of Salt Lake City tes
titled that he became apostle Of the
church in 1888 and is the second in rank.
He has two wives and fifteen living chill
dren, four having died. He could not say
how many of the seven living children of
his plural wife were born since the mani
festo, but thought four. He testified that
he was one of the signers of the application
for amnesty.
Asked concerning his failure to practice
the agreement he thus made. he said
Nobody can take from me my family. I
a n a
and II my countrymen choose to punish me
I shall have to suffer the consequences
The testimony of Apostle Smith in regard
to his duties toward the laws and his fam-
lies was similar to that given by President
Joseph Smith when he appeared before the
committee last spring.
The witness said he realized that those
who diSObeyed the laws were amenable to
the courts. He quoted President Smith as
saying that he had not married Abram
Cannon and Lillian Hamlin.
Asked IL he had ever concerned himself
about the fact that an apostle Of the
church had taken a fourth wife six years
after the manifesto, Mr.. Smith replied that
laws; that the courts have jurisdiction, and
that he was not responsible for the acts of
his associates. moral or otherwise.
Mr.. Tayler told the witness that the an
swer did not appear candid. Mr.. Smith an
swered: IF l were grand juryman and
satisfactory evidence were presented to me
OF the facts you have stated 1 would have
1naic.ed the de1endant Further than this,
Mr.. Smith said he could not answer.
Apostle Smith told of his visit to Idaho
for the purpose Of having the test oath re-
moved from the constitution.
The committee adjourned the hearing
until today.
CAR WILL SUPPORT REFORMS
Tndoreec M Vu;<+a,. D,.~.,.... r.