The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-10
Witnesses Before the Senate Com
mittee Tell of Defiant Viola
tiOnS of the Law.
SMITH ON STAND AGAIN
TeStiheS as to the Endowment
House Ceremony of Sealing
Wives for Eternity.
ONE OF SHOOTS FRIENDS
Ex-Bishop Harmer Thinks the Ac-
cuSed Utah Senator Was Re-
spOnsible for His Arrest.

WASHINGTON. March 9-SeveraI Off
cials Of the Mormon Church to-day testi-
fed in the Senator Reed Smoot case before
the Senate committee on privileges and
elections that they had plural wives and
had continued 10 practice pOlygamous CO.
habitation since the manifesto Of 1890 Just
before adjournment for the day the COM
mittee held an executive session for the
purpose OF having read the unprintabIe
testimony in the TeasdaIe divorce case The
prosecution stated that it had no moro
witnesses ready to put on the stand on ac-
count of the failure of several summoned
officials of the Mormon Church to appear
President Joseph F. Smith was asked to
use his influence with the witnesses and
promised TO get into communication with
them if it was possible to do
Loren Harmer. formerly bishop in the
Mormon Church, to-day gave the first tes
timOny in favor of then Ndefense that has
been offered thus far in the eight days OF
the hearings He said he was convicted
of the crime of adultery and that he be-
Heved Reed Smoot was responsible for his
arrest The charge against Farmer was
unlawful relations with a woman who was
not his wife and not a prosecution on ac-
count of living with his plural wives Presi-
dent Joseph +. Smith and number of
officials Of the church. who have been wit
nesses in the case. to-day were excused
from further attendance and they will re-
turn to Utah
When the hearing opened to-day Attorney
Tayler. for the prosecution. recalled Presi-
dent Joseph F Smith TO the stand Mr..
Smith was questioned as to the interview
he gave to a representative of the Associ-
ated Press in 1902, giving statistics in re-
gard TO the church and the number of
pOlygamists in Utah. Mr.. Smith had said
the entire interview consisted of statistics
and that in that statement he had said
nothing for the purpose of supporting the
candidacy of Reed Smoot for the United
Upon hearing the interview read Mr..
Smith admitted that he had been quoted
correctly in regard to Mr.. Smoot and had
urged his election.
REPUTED TO BE POLYGAMIsTS.
Mr. Smith said he was acquainted with
Benjamin Clough. jr., president of the
board faculty OF the Brigham Young Acad-
envy and that he is reputed TO be a polyg-
amist. He also was asked about Abraham
Cannon. and if the general charge had not
been made that he took plural wife, Lii
lian Hamln, since the manifesto of $780,
Mr. Smith said that had been newspaper
charge and he had paid no attention to it.
THE officers OF the Mormon Church are
sensitive in regard to CHARGES that pIuraI /
marriages have been performed since 1890,
are they nOt2' Mr.. Tayler asked.
Mr.. Smith said he thought they were very
sensitive that subject.
He was asked then whether he had taken
any steps 10 Investigate stories that the
laws had been violated by church officers.
He answered that the public charge did not
concern him and he had taken no such
steps
Reference was made specifically to the
IaIo
tie. and Mr. Smith asked If he did not
feel called upon in that particular case TO
make some inquiry in justice to the reputa-
tion Of the church 1T Is not my business
to do So the witness replied with empha-
sis
The question is do your" said Chairman
Burrows.
Mr.. Smith then explained that it is the
duty of the bishops court to pass upon
Does that include officials of the
1T includes all members"
When asked if the rule applies TO Of
fcials. who above the bishops in au-
thOrity. MIR. Smith said it did not.
Then. in the interest of the church you
would feel inclined TO investigate such
cases. would you nOt?
Not such vicious charges as have been
made against us
NOT \ sUPPosABLE CASE.
well. now. suppose it charged that
Francis NJ. Lyman, president of the
apostles. had performed a plural marriage
ceremony since 1880. would you in
vestigate that?'
1T is not a supposable case. and if il
was 1 could not answer it, he said
Chairman Burrows insisted upon knowing
from the witness whether he would investi
gate such charges against any of the
apostles and the witness answered again
1T is not my business TO do it," Then h'
said al the charges made were of case.
which said TO have occurred before
became president and know nothing abOu
But now that YOU are president. wha
would you do il such charges were made?
Mr.. smith said he would not Investigate
the cases because that was the duty o
lesser officials.
Chairman Burrows asked in regard TO tn
marriage ceremonies performed in tn
church. He spoke Of the marriages for time
the marriages for time and eternity. ans
the marriages for eternity only, and aske'
II the latter is not called Sealing"
They are all called sealing," was tn
"Is this scaling for eternity ever per
formed for Ewing persons2
Il believe I have heard of one tw'
| Fuch cases said the witness.
Are any polygamists ever sealed 70
No sir"
carry the right OF maintaining earthl.
mortal relatiOns?"
no.
is the practice ever exercised as
TIght?'
Not that know of"
REVEALED BY GOD.
Chairman Burrows asked the witness I
identify the book Of Mormon and the
turning 10 the revelation of the prophet
Joseph Smith, he asked specifically in re
gard TO the manner it was revealed and wa
Informed that it was revealed TO him b
GcC
Chairman Burrows asked If pOlygamy wa
taught in that book and Mr.. Smith an
swered il was emphatically forbidden
Reading from the book. which is calle
the Mormon Bible Chairman Burrow
called attention the words OF God !
reference to David and Solomon and HI
dspleasure because of the fact that the
kept more than wife and many cor
cubines The chairman asked if tnat al
not prohibit poygamy and II that was IN
case when the law of the Lord change
in order TO permit the practice
Mr. Smith said the book or the law ne
rot been modified and that the Chairma
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