The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-08
WITNESS PUMPED DRY.
Senate Committee Through With
President Smith.


washington. March with Presi-
dent Joseph f. Smith Of the Mormon
church again on the stand for the de-
tense, the second week OF the investi-
cation OF the SmoOt case opened today
before the senate committee on privi-
leEcs and elections Senator Dubois put
into the record the census figures for
Utah taken i'm 1890. to show that instead
OF only 3 or per cent in pOygamy as
Mr. Smith had said i'm reality there
were about 2314 per cent of the Mormon
population of an age enabling them TO
b. polygamists who were living in a
state of pOlygamy in 1880. senator
Dubois gave il as his opinion that there
has been no material reduction in the
number Of polygamists since 1890.
Wards and Stakes.
Mr. Worthington conducted an eX-
animation of Mr.. Smith 10 ascertain the
process undergone in cases Of eXcOm-
luuuicatiOu The witness explained the
manner i'm which the church is divided
irtO wards and stakes and the ma
Chincry OF the organization through
which charges against any person have
10 be brought and passed upon. He
said the apostles have nothing to do
with the judicial affairs of the church.
They preach the gospel and send mis-
scenarios 10 other fields.
councillors, forming what is known as
''the fifteen meet once a week for
prayer and consultation on matters
generally relating 10 the church.
The futile effort by President
brigham Young i'm 1875 to have Bishop
Jacob w. Weyler removed from the
leadership of "A ward was related by
Mr.. Smith 10 show that the presidency
does not exercise power over the wishes
OF the people and that the members Of
the church by the freedom of their
vote i'm reality form the power Of gov
crumeut. Several other like instances
were related for the same general pur-
pose.
Cen Accept OF Reject.
Mr.. Worthington read the revelation
81 Joseph Smith, ir.. January 10. lS4l
naming Brigham Young as president
and an the members OF the high coun-
Gil and the apostles. In this revelation
WAS command To accept the nominal
tiuns or TO reject them in general con-
ference. Mr.. Smith declared that even
in the original revelation naming the
successor 20 the first president IL was
in the power OF the members to accept
or reject Mr. Smith in reply 10 an in
quiry. said Reed SmoOt became an
apostle April o 1900.
Right here let me ask you when
your last child was bora" asked Mr.
WorthingtOn-
Il don't know whether that has any
bearing on the case" said Mr.. Smith
but I believe il was on the day Mr.
Smoot became an apostle"
Then there has been none since.
said Mr.. WOrthingtOn.
NO. sir.
"Then. so far as you and Air. Smo0t
were concerned. YOU were in harmony
remarked Mr.. Burrows
Status Had Been Fixed.
Mr. WorthingtOn inquired whether at
any of the joint meetings of the hrst
presidency and the apostles the Cues-
tion Of pOiygamOus cOhabitatiOn had
been discussed. Mr.. Smith said IL had
not In either advisory talk or in regard
T. the taking Of the action 20 prevent
the practice. He declared that when
MI SmOot became an apostle the
status Of most Of the pOlygamists had
been fixed many years before.
In answer TO questions by Mr. Worth
ingtou and Senator Burrows Mr.. Smith
said Senator SmOot had never advised
for or against continuance of polygam-
Gus coha bitation.
in returning 10 convictions. AR
Gmith said there had been none since
the manifesto OF 1890: that all OF the
envictions under the Edmunds law
were while Utah was "A territory. Sen
ator Dubois referred 10 Mr.. Worthing-
ton as counsel FOR Mr.. Smith.
Il protest" said Mr. Worthington.
"I ain not the attorney for the wit
ness. II 7 were the examination would
have been far different"
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