The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-18
POLYGAMY PEERS
OUT OF THIS FACE
The Election of Penrose
to the ApostIeship.
SMOOT WAS PRESENT
And it is Admitted That He Took Part
in the Ceremony of Lifting to Or
flee Penrose an Open
and AvoWed P0Iyg-
anist.
CBv the Associated Press.l }

ant testimony was brought out to-day
in the investigation of protests against
Senator Reed Smoot that at any time
in the present session of Congress.
The witnesses were Charles II. jack
son, chairman of the Democratic
State Committee. of Idaho John Mich
olson, chief recorder in the Mormon
Temple at Salt Lake City; Charles w.
PenrOSe, editor of the Desert News
and an apostle of the Mormon Church;
William Bulge, president of the Bear
Lake Stake in Idaho, and apostle John
Henry Smith, of Salt Lake.
Mr.. PenrOse was elected an apostle
last July, and the attorneys for Sena-
tor Smoot admitted that the Senator
was present and participated in the
election of Penrose. Mr.. Penrose test-
fed that he is a polygamist and was
known to have been such at the time
he was made an apostle.
AS an illustration of the local
church issue in the last election. Mr.
Jackson said the vote for Gooding. Re
publican candidate for governor. ran
behind the vote for Roosevelt in Cen
tile counties and ahead of Roosevelt III
the Mormon counties: while the vote
for Heitfeld, Democratic candidate for
governor, ran ahead of Parker in the
Gentle counties and behind Parker in
the Mormon counties.
On croSS-eXamination Mr.. Jackson
said that Apostles Matthias, Cowley
and John Henry Smith were among
those who went into Idaho and told
the people that there had been a reve-
lation that they should vote the Re
publican ticket. Questioned by Attor-
ney Vancott, representing Senator
Smoot the witness said he never had
heard these apostles declare that there
had been such revelations.
Mr.. Vancott brought out the fact
that there were about 10000 Mormon
votes out of a total of $4,000 votes In
the State. He asked the witness if 1t
was not true that although the Gen
tiles were in a large majority. and
that the Democrats put an anti-Mor-
mon plank in their platform and the
Republicans refused to put in such a
plank, the Republicans carried the
State by very large majority.
THAT is bald fact" responded the
witness but he added that the infer
ence drawn by the attorney from the
question was not justified.
Mr.. Jackson contended that there
were Jack -Mormons," or Gentiles
who are Mormon in political affairs.
who are able to control elections.
Much time was spent trying to get
from Recorder Nicholson information
as to the whereabouts of the temple
marriage records. particularly the
book where sealings were recorded.
Witness would not admit he knew
where to find the latter.
He said he would not give up the
book even if he were arrested ana put
in Jail.
Mr.. Penrose said he was a poIyga-
mist with two plural wives living. He
has children by his first plural wife,
but none born since the manifesto.
Did you receive speaic lamnesty
at the hands of President Cleveland
in which one of the conditions was
that you should thereafter obey the
laws relating to living in polygamy?"
asked Mr. Taylor.
Yes. sir"
"And have you lived up to that
amnesty?"
mo, sir"
Chairman Burrows said he wanted
20 have it made clear whether Apostle
SmoOt was present at the conference
which elected Mr.. Penrose an apos-
tie. Not receiving an imme date an
swer Mr.. Worthington, counsel for
Senator Smoot said they would admit,
that Mr.. Smoot had been present.
!0Gbar TPen789 $07890$ 1890 7S9999
William Bulge testified that he has
three wives, and that he has had
three children born since the mani
festo of 1890. All of his wives live in
Paris, and he testified that he does
not live with one to the exclusino of
the others. Most of the children are
grown and live in Idaho. OF these
children he testified that one son is
a judge of the district court one son
attorney in Bear Lake
county, one son-in-law, Fl. Smith
Wooley, is chief assayer of the mint
at Boise City; and one daughter is
postmaster at Paris. OF himself lie
admitted that he is the most promi-
nent Mormon in Idaho, having served
in the State Senate and otherwise ta-
ken a leading part in church affairs
John Henry Smith became an apOs-
tie of the church in 1888 and is the
second in rank. He has two wives
and fifteen living children. four hav-
ing 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
application for amnesty Asked con-
cerning his failure to practice the
q agreement thus made, he said:
Nobody can take from me my
family. l am responsible to them and
God alone and If my countrymen
choose to punish me | shall have TO
suffer the consequences
Asked If ne had ever concerned him
self about the fact that an apostle of
the church had taken a fourth wife
six years after the manifesto, Mr.
Smith replied that he felt that every