The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1904-03-22

Smith, First President of the Mormon
church his furnished some of the most
sensational of the current news of this
session Of congress. This testimony
was given before the committee to
which was referred the protest a
gainst Reed Smoot being allowed to
take his seat as senator from Utah.
EX-C Congressman Tayler, who success
fully carried on the contest that un-
seated Brigham Roberts, appears for
those who protest against seating
Smoot.
Tayler asked a number of questions
which brought out a statement from
Smith regarding his own position I'M
der the laws covering polygamy. He
acknowledged that he had violated
them continuously since the manifesto
of 1890, and is ready now and always
has been ready to face the laws of the
land.
Tayler asked: rs cohabitation with a
plural wife contrary TO the rules Of the
church,"
Smith asked and received permission
to make a statement and then answered
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 in Chancerv I 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
a State. Under that act the only pro-
hibition was that plural marriages
should cease. Nothing was said about
cOhabitation with our wives"
with the wives you had married
previous to the manifesto you mean?"
| interrupted Hoar.
THAT is what I meant" said Smith.
Il understood that plural marriages
were to cease and ever since the mani
festo until the present time there never
has been a plural marriage in the
church performed in accordance with
its teachings or with the connivance of
the church" and he added with great
er emphasis: Il know whereof I speak"
| PREFERS TO TAKE HIS CHANCE.
Then, in answer to the question whe-
Their polygamous Cohabitation was re-
garded by the church as contrary to
! law, he answered.
1T was. This was the case and is
the case now. I had a family-a plural
| family, if you please. I married my
| first wife more than thirty-eight years
| ago, and my last wife more than TWEEN
| ty years ago. BY those wives I have
/ had children and I have preferred to
] col H. -
and suffer anW consequences the law
might visit upon me rather than a.
bandon those 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. l was fully aware of what l
was doing. / knew l was amenable
! to tho law but as I say, I preferred
to face that situation rather than to
desert them. l have not cOhabited with
these wives openly or Haunted the
| fact, but l have acknowledged these
wiz es and children as my family. The
people of Utah have regarded the sit
uatiOn as an existing fact. These peO-
pie as a rule are broadminded and Ii
Lcral in their views, and have cOndOned
! the offense-if offense it is-rather than
/ Interfere with my situation as they
found it. 1t has been known what I
have been doing. 1 have not been in
/ terfered with. nor disturbed in any
way. If l had been, I was there to
answer the charges. 1 was willing to
face them, and submit to the penalty
| whatever it might be-"
STICKS TO HIS LARGE FAMILY.
Smith paused for a moment but as
! Tayler prepared to ask another ques-
! ton he again proceeded with his state
ment:
you must draw a distinction be-
tween unlawful cOhabitation and plural
marriage" he said. THE state law in
regard to the latter has been complied
with. No marriages have been per-
formed with the sanction, approval,
! consent, knowledge or connivance of
the church or it's officials. But the other
law is the one have presumed to dis
regard and which, as 1 have said, 1
am ready to face rather than disgrace
myself or degrade my family by turn
ing them Off"
Tayler resumed his questioning.
you say there is a state law forbid
ding polyEamous cohabitation and you
have been continuing to violate it in
utter disregard of the consequences"
he asked.
'I think I have" was the answer.
you have caused your plural wives
to bear children in violation of the law
you know to exist?"
THAT is correct" said Smith.
"Why have you done so?" persisted
Tayler.
For the reason I have told you.
preferred to face the law. 1 could not
disgrace myself 1 could not degrade
my family"
do you consider it an abandonment
of your family not to maintain mar
riage relations?" Tayler asked.
Smith faced Tayler and in a low but
penetrating voice said: 81 don't like
to be impertinent, but l should like you
to ask any woman who is a wife"
At that point Foraker and BeveridgC
objected, and in discussing the ques