The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-30
MORMONS ROUT TIE
 SALVATION ARMY Utah "EIders" Get to Woodward
 Corner First HOLD THEIR GROUND, TOO AdIt. Dodd chagrIned-Talks About "Fakrs"-Mormo Elders Answer Questions About Polynamoua
 Relations In Utah.

Because they were five minutes late last night in getting to the Woodward corner that is, the intersection of First avenue and Twentieth street--the local Salvation Army band found themselves displaced there by four Mormon elders who are in Birmingham preaching the gospel of "the Latter Day Saint5-"
 The Norman elders stood their ground, kept the crowd that had gathered to hear them and made the Salvation Army peo- pie pick up their flags, drums. tambour- enes and bugle and go around on Twen- tieth street below First avenue. Then the two meetings went on simultaneously.
 The Salvation Army band had the best of 1t when 1t came to music. but the Nor mon elders caught and held the crowd.
 This Is our corner," said Adjutant Dodd, when the meetings were over. Mir. Parker has told us that he wanted us to have it. We have been meeting here a long time. It seems that every fakir' that comes to town--I say fakir' because that's what they are-has to come here and try to get this corner from us. We were a little late tonight. These peo- pie came up in our absence and got our corner. I hope 1t won't happen again" There were four of them-H. s. Parkin- son, J. D. Gee, G. W. Chapman and L.. E. orris-and each one of them helped to do the talking. All were armed with leaflets and booklets setting out the att tractive features of the Norman faith. The leaflets were distributed free. The booklets could be had lat the publisher 8 price-ten cents" The crowd took the tract leaflets. They failed to invest in the 10-cent booklets.
 The Mormon elders were pelted with questions about alleged polygamous prac- tices in Utah. They said polygamy was no longer taught, sanctioned or practiced by the Mormons.
 Isn't 1t true that President Smith of the Mormon church has five wives?'
 "Yes. 1t Is true.'
 Didn't he admit in Washington that he was living with all of them?
 "Yes, he did," said Elder Parkinson, ''but he explained that he hadn't con- tracted any marriages since the manifesto of 1890. He frankly said that he had been married to his wives and he couldn't cast them off"
 But didn't the manifesto prohibit poly gamous relations. and didn't the people of Utah promise the United States gov ernment that they would not practice polygamy when Utah was admitted as a state?"
 "Yes, they did"
 Didn't the late Senator Hoar of Mas sachusetts. in the Shoot Investigation. make President Smith swear that he (Smith). in living with his wives, was violating the laws of God and the laws of his country?"
 Elder Parkinson didn't remember that such-was the case.
 At one stage of the questioning, Elder Parkinson came near getting into a per sonal difficulty with one of his hearers. He was trying to explain away polygsmy. He said something about Abraham and Isaac and Solomon having several wives each, and added that when we get to heaven we'll either have to put up with them or get out. This angered a by stander who said 1t was sacrilige to com pare licentious Mormons to the Hebrew patirarchs.
 After some words the bystander, with up-raised arm. made spring at the Nor mon Elder. but was deterred by those who stood near him.
 We are at 2017 Avenue H." said Elder Parkinson, "and will be glad to answer any questions you may ask us''
 When the meeting broke up the Nor mon elders were each the center of a little group, and for half hour kept an- swering questions
 The elders will be here month. They came here from Gadsden, where they spent two weeks. "canvassing the town,' as they put 1t.