Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-08
MORMON LEADER
IS. AGAIN HEARD
PRESIDENT SMITH CONTINUES
TESTIMONY IN sMooT CASE.
OUTLINES LAWS OF CHURCH
Doctrine Of Polygamy Practiced But
Not Taught-If Principle Of Plural
Marriage Il Attacked Church
Would Defend It.

Washington, March president Jo-
seph f. Smith. Of the Mormon church,
was called to the stand by Senator HoAr
at the opening Of Fridays proceedings
before the senate committee on privi-
legss and elections in the investigation
Of protests against Senator Reed Smoot,
OF Utah. Senator Hoar desired informa-
ton on the subject Of the rights Of
women In the church and whether they
hold any priestly authority.
Defines woman's Plane.
Mr.. Smith said the women are regard
ed ~ the equals Of the men in ill mat
ters Of voting, but that In holding
''prisstly authority" women are not r.
garded on the same plane. He explained
that the women have q charitable asso-
citation known az the "Woman's Relief
Society,"" In which they have authority
to perform certain prescribed duties.
This authority is confined to the reliev-
ing Of distress. but women are not or
dained high priests, apostles or elders.
Mr.. Taylor asked about M. Y. Cowley,
one Of the apostles, and Cowley's talks
on doctrine. AID. in answer to questions
by Senator Dubois, Mr.. Smith said Mr..
Cowley was elected a. an apostle in
1897. Reading from the Desert News
Of June 20. 1903, regarding q speech BY
Mr.. Smith at the Weber state reunion.
Mr.. Taylsr asked Mr.. Smith II he wa
correctly reported In saying that the
doctrine Of plural marriages was Z
revelation by God to Joseph Smith, Jr.
and to reject that would be equivalent to
q rejection Of God Himself. Mr.. Smith
said he believed he was correctly re.
ported, and when list Of names Of
those present, including Senator Smoot
! was read, Mr.. Smith said the list wal
correct. He declared that he would no,
have had the article published IL he hat
i been consulted. Pressed for areason, hi
| said that he was under injunction not II
teach the rightfulness Of polygamy ant
| that he had refrained from so doing II
| public.
\ Mr.. Smith said he had avoided teach
ing polygamy, but that the manifest.
1 had not In any manner changed his con
| victions on the question Of plural mar
riages.
Church Will Defend.
In the afternoon, although most o
the time was devoted to introduction O
| documents subscribed to as the law 0
the Mormon church, in that connec
ton President Smith testified that
the principle Of plural marriage shout
be attacked it would be defended b
the church. Intense feeling was ex
hibited by President Smith against In
dividuals who, he said, had spled o
the domestic and marital relations 6
the high officials of the. Motmo
church, and for that reason he had "a
vored the passage Of the Evans bill t
prevent prosecutions for polygamou
cohabitation, unless complaints wer
entered by husband or wife again.
the other This bill was passed, bu
vetoed by the governor Of Utah.
It was brought out that all OF M
) Smiths predecessors, as presidents (
the Mormon church, had been polyg.
mists and that the man chosen to su,
coed him has more than one wife. M
Smith was asked which he would ODE,
the law Of the land or revelations frol
God, il the two were in conflict. Il
said he might obey the revelatio,
though 1t was not compulsory. H
added: Il should not like to be put |
q position whore I would have to d,
sert my children. could not do that