Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-22
SMOOT TELLS
OF REVELATIONS
TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATE
COMMITTEE
QUESTIONED ON PoLYGAMY
Senator Says He Would Leave the
Country II He Should Receive
Revelation Commanding Him
to Violate Laws
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-Under rig
orous examination concerning his beliet
in divine revelations, Senator Smoot to-
day, in the investigation before the
senate committee on privileges and
elections, said that If he should receive
a revelation from God commanding him
to disobey the laws of the land ne
would leave his country and go to some
country where the laws of the land
were not in conflict with the laws Of
God.
He was asked what he would do II
the revelations commanded him to re-
main In his country and violate the
laws, but he would not suppose the
case, saying:
1.-The God 1 worship is not such a
God.'
Nearly every member of the senate
committee took part in the examina-
tion of Senator Smoot on the subject of
revelations, and the witness views
proved highly interesting.
He declared that revelations may
come to the president of the church
but they were of binding force
only when they have been sustained
by the people at one of the regular
church conferences.
The examination today covered a
variety of subjects, including the belief
of. the people generally on the subject
of polygamy, the character of the
teachings at the religious classes and
the use of the public schools for the
conduct of such classes.
Senator Smoot on Stand
Attracted by the announcement that
Senator Smoot would continue his tes-
timony crowd gathered early. The
senator took the witness stand at 0:3O
and before proceeding he made several
corrections in his testimony concern
ing trials of apostles.
The first time he heard of the plural
marriage of Benjamin Cluff, president
of the Brigham Young university, said
the senator, was in 1902, when he was
told by Jesse Knight. The senator
said he had heard from Mr.. Knight that
Cuffs new plural wife was the daugh-
ter of George Reynolds. Except for
the investigation of the subject, look
ing to the dropping of Cluff from the
university presidency, which was ex-
planned at the hearing yesterday, the
senator said he had made no further
inquiry. He said 'Cluff was removed
q year later and was succeeded by
George Brimhall, who the senator ad-
mitted was then living with a plural
wife. He said he was not present but
would have voted for Brimhall If he
= had been at the meeting.
"Then the rule laid down by you,
which would have controlled your vote
for Apostle Penrose, a polygamist,
would apply to the election of Brim-
hall?"
Smoot Questioned Sharply
'I think the same rule would apply.
do not think would vote for him for
@ federal office"
The distinction he made was that
Brimhall had taken no plural wives
since the manifesto, but was living
with plural wife for the reason that
his lawful wife was in an insane asy-
Ium. He admitted first that he be-
lieved Mr.. Brimhall was violating the
spirit of the law and pressed by Chair
man Burrows, said that Brimhall was
also violating the letter of the law"
However, the condition of the first wife
was an extenuating circumstance.
what" again asked Chairman Bur-
ting circumstance for a man to marry
another woman and have children by
eribecause his legal wife is in an In
sane asylum"
mo, hardly think that"
Attorney Vancott interjected that a
man could not get divorce in Utah
because his wife was insane. Senator
Knox took up the query here.
do you say this would be an extenu-
ating circumstance in all cases of poly.
gamists. or only in cases before the
manifesto?
"Only before the manifesto. For a
man to marry wife in that way since
the manifesto would be polygamy."
Church Can Receive Revelations
The elevation of Joseph F. Smith to
the presidency of the church was
brought up by Mr.. Taylor and the wit
ness said he voted to sustain him, ana
had so voted at other conferences to
sustain Smith as president.
"Do Sou believe the church still re-
ceives revelations from God?" asked
Senator Overman.
IT believe the church can receive
revelations"
"Who receives them?"
81 believe any good man can receive
revelations, but President Smith is the
only man who can receive revelations
that would be binding upon the peo-
pie"
do you believe that any revelation
which might be given could be superior
to the laws Of the land?" asked Senator
oveFman