Arizona republican., 1904-03-09
Confession by Prospective
 Successor to Smith
A VERY FLUENT WITNESS
He Admitted Ina. hr. Srnoot Was not Aware That He Had More Than One Wife and Probably Did not Know That President Smith Had More.

Washington, March 9.-The senate | committee in the investigation of the protests against Reed Shoot, of Utah. i brought out a variety of testimony, of ! which the most sensational was that given by Francis NJ. Lyman, president o1 the twelve apostles of the Mormon church and the man chosen as the sue cessor of President Smith. His ad- missions were similar to those pre- viously made by Smith pertaining to the church government. He is more free of speech than the president of the church and his testimony, though not materially differing, caused several of the apostles present to shake their heads a the witness for the purpose of compelling more discretion in an- swering questions. MT. Lyman is an- Gularly built, his face is covered with a growth of bushy red whiskers, and his | speech is blunt Four witnesses were on the stand today. They were Mrs. Kennedy, her mother, Mrs. Matthews, Charles Merrill, the son of Apostle ! Merrill and MT. Lyman.
 ! Mir. Lyman said he became an apostle in 1880 and that Smoot became an apos- tie in 1900 He said Smoot had never reproved him for living in polygamy,
 
 meetings.
 | "If I Gm thought worthy I will sue ! ceed to the presidency of the Mormon church, if I survive President Smith" |" said Lyman in answer to a question. ! Lyman said that he Is presiding officer Of the twelve apostles. 'I fully intend," { said Lyman, showing disposition to elaborate ito be true to the law of my ! country, to my God and to my obli- | gallons and covenants with my wives, and I have never done a thing that my , conscience did not approve
 "T want" he proceeded, ito make brief explanation if you will permit. My case is different from that of most . men. I was born in 1S40 and I can hardly remember when my father was not a rolyglmist. He was a friend and advisor Of Prophet Joseph Smith, and was taught by him the importance and the truth of the principles of polyCamy. He accepted the teaching and entered into the practice, marry ing six wives in the years 1S45 and 1S46. SJ that my earliest recollectiOns em-
 brace the life of polYgamy. Conse- lQuently have known nothing else, and have felt that it. was correct. l have always felt in my soul and heart that was correct. The situation has been very painful 10 me and l have been
 greatly pained to find myself in op-
 rositiOn to the law of the country and
 of the church. But I had made cove
 nant with my wives to love and endeaT
 them. and could not find it in my heart
 to separate from them SO long as they were true to me"
 Senator HOar:
 | sNr fhT rfal l
 who expect to succeed Mir. Smith in
 the presidency and in that capacity to
 receive divine revelations yourself con fess that you are now living and ex-
 pect to continue to live in disObedience
 to the laws of the country, the law ot your church and the law of God The witness replied Yes MT. Ly- iman said he had visited the home ot
 President Smith during the social func-
 tions. but he could not remember thst MT Smoot had ever accompanied hin to the home of the president. Apostle Shoot never knew I hat } more than one wife" said Mr Lyman ? i in answer to d question as to what tho $ defendant knows of the polygamou; state in which his brother officials ar' living. MT Lyman said he had seer more than one Of President Smith: | wives at the official residence of th' j president at the sane time, but on no1' of these occasions, had Mir. Smoots 1 been president.
 MT. Lyman said missionaries always are thoroughly warned not to discuss { polygamy because we have yielded t' l the requirements of the law not t' = teach the theory of polygamy. He sai' the missionaries never touch upon tn l subject unless the theory is assailed. Do they defend or denOunce it," h
 was asked:
 They would not denounce ii" Sai, ; MT. Lyman. He said that was the sitn . ation in regard to himself. In anSwe 5 to a question by Senator OTerman, Nil ' Lyman said that despite the manifest | of 1S!0. the president of the churcI could issue authority upon an elder L
 perform plural marriages
 The president holds the keys," saI' MT. Lyman.