Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-12-19
From Washington.
(Cori espondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
Washington. ID. c., Dec. 10.

(Corl espondence of the Alexandra Gazette
Washington, d. c., Dec. 10.
Dir. Worthington, counsel for Senator
Smoot, began the cross examination of
APOSTLE Smith this morning. He said he
had known A. +. Mcdonald who died
recently and who had been charged
with performing plural marriages in
Mexico at came to the attention of
President Snow" said the witness, that
Mcdonald had been exercising the
right to marry or seal persons in plural
marriages. President Snow directed
me to call him to account. / went to
Mexico, but could find no evidence
that any plural marriages had been
soIemnized. told Mcdonald that if
information came to me that be was
authorizing plural marriages or attempt
ing to perform them would insist upon
the local authorities dealing with him. "
Under the established rule Of the church
no person could secure plural wife ex-
cept by the consent of the President, but
since the manifesto witness had never
known of a case in which any Pesident
had ever given such authorization.
Questioned about politics in Idaho
and the statement that he had on behalf
of the Mormon Church urged passage of
the beet sugar bounty law, Apostle Smith
said that he had taken no part in secur
ing the. laws passage. Personally he
bad taken strong stand on various
political questions, but never, in ad
dressing the people, had he claimed to
be delivering revelation or to be max
ing any application of his church au-
thority. To his knowledge no member
of his church had ever attempted to
make it appear that he vas represent
ing the church when he made political
speeches. Witness said that he had
taken part in the effort 10 repeal the
test law in Idaho because he believed as
the other Mormons did that the presence
of that law on the statute books
was constant menace not only to
their religious liberty but their rights
as citizens of the United States.
Questioned as to whether it would be
possible for an apostle of the church to
enter into plural marriage without the
knowledge of his associates, witness
said 81 don't know, but | absolutely
believe it would" "WOuld he lose
standing in the church if he had entered
into plural marriage since 1902
eff it should be absolutely demon
strated in the courts, he would.
Or. if it was demonstrated to his
it would deal with him and he
would be dismembered from the church"
The amended rules and regulations
for steamboat inspection published today
will be subject to the approval Of Secre-
tary Metcalf of the Department of Com
nerce and Labor, who held hearing
today, attended by representatives OF
various steamboat interests. Mr..
Metcalf will during the next ten days |
give his attention to the matter and then
approve such OF the new rules as he sees |
fit. Upon his recommendation they
will become law.
Secretary of the Treasury Shaw had a
narrow escape from death, or serious
injury, this morning as he was crossing |
the street in front of the department.
Car %, of the Capital Traction Company, |
westward, struck the Secre-
tary but luckily the fender worked |
and picked him up. He was
carried 25 or 30 feet and escaped |
Among the nominations sent to the
Senate by the President today is that of
Samuel S. Knabenshue, of Toledo, Ohio,
to be consul at Belfast, Ireland. Col. j.
]. OConnell retired to be a brigadier
general on the retired list.
The U. S. Supreme Court today |
advanced for argument the cases Of
Benson, Hyde and Dimond, the San I
Francisco land operators, who are OPP |
posing removal to the District of Colnm- !
bia where they were indicted Thesdaie
set was February 20: Solicitor General