The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-21
MORMON REVELATIONS
Made Subject of Inquiry at Smoot
Investigation.


Washington, Jan. 21.-Attracted by
the announcement that Senator Smoot
would continue today his testimony
before the senate committee on priv
ileges and elections, which is investi-
eating h protests against the senator
retaining his seat, a crowd gathered
early today.
The senator took the witness stand at
lO;SO and before proceeding he made
a correction In his testimony concern
ing trials of apostles. He said the
quorum of apostles has the right to
depose one of it's members, and h
twelve apostles is the only quorum
that has that right. Several other cor
rections We're made. In carrying out
the instructions of the quorum the
senator said he does not understand
that the minority must join with the
majority.
The first time he heard of the plu-
raj marriage of Benjamin Cluff, presi-
dent of the Brigham Young university.
said the senator, was in 1902, when he
was told by Jesse knight. The sen-
ator said he had heard from Mr..
Knight that Cuffs new plural wife
was the daughter of George Reynolds.
Except for the investigation OF the
subject looking to the dropping of
ICluff from the university presidency,
which was explained at the hearing
yesterday, the senator said he had
made no further inquiry. He said
Cluff was removed a year later and
was succeeded by George Brimhall,
who, the senator admitted, was then
living with a plural wife. He said he
was not present, but would ave voted
for Brimhall if he had been at the
meeting.
There are some polygamists I would
not vote for" said the senator, land
some that I would. / would vote
for a man like Brimhall for a state Of
fee" The distinction was made that
Brimhall had taken nc plural wives
since the manifesto but was living with
a plural wife for the reason that his
lawful wife was in an insane asylum.
He admitted first that he believed Mr..
Brimhall was violating the spirit of
the law and pressed by Chairman Bur-
lating the letter OF the law. However,
the condition of the first wife was IN
extenuating circumstance.
What" gain asked Chairman Bur-
rows, do you think it is an extenuat-
ing circumstance for a man to marry
another woman and have children by
her because his legal wife is in an in
sane asylum"
mo, hardly hin that"
Have you any doubt about it? Do
you think 1t vas an extenuating cir
cumstance because the first wife was
insane2"
that. I think it would be-"
Senator knox took up the query
here.
sDo you say this would be an ex-
A. &AAAAoA4A4@( AA I'll CTS ~
a polygamist, or only in cases before
the manifesto p"
"Only before the manifesto. Fol a
man to marry a wife in that way since
the manifesto would be pOlygamy."
The elevation of Joseph F. Smith to
the presidency of the church was
brought up by Mr.. Tayler and the
witness said he voted to sustain him
and had SO voted at other conferences
to sustain Smith as president.
do you believe the church still re-
ceives revelations from God?" asked
Il believe the church can receive reve-
Who receives them?''
revelations, but President Smith is the
only man who can receive revelations that
do you believe that any revelation
which might be given could be superior
to the laws of the land?" asked Senator
j do not believe it would be superior
to the laws of the land"
"Then if you got a revelation from
heaven yourself, would you have to
II believe if it was from God it would
be compulsory upon us to obey it. But if
it was contrary to the laws of the coun-
try in which 1 lived 1 would move to some
other country where 1 could obey the
. you believe that revelations ever
well. I ave heard men testify so, but
l could not say"
What is your belief?"
Il believe that God could do such things.
He did it in former days and could do
it now"
Explaining further the extent to which
revelations were lived up to, Senator
being received for the establishment of
the united order" and that Brigham
Young following out the instructions of
that revelation went from one end of the
state to the other preaching the estab-
lishmenS of that order.
and I know. he ~cocluded, that it
was never attempted nor lived up to by
the people and today virtually is a dead
letter."
Continuing Senator Smoot referred to
the law of tithing. He knew there were
many member OF the church who disre-
garded it although it was a law of the
church.
Healthy Mothers.