The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-21

disparaged the doctrine of polygamy' but
that it did not disparage the practice.
Mr.. Smoot in answering a question re-
garding the cause of the manifesto said
that in his opinion the manifesto came
partly from a pressure fro m within the
church prompted by desire to obey all
the laws of the land.
II have never been taught anything in
my life but to obey the laws OF my coun-
try" asserted Mr. Smoot.
Senator Smoot later on said that he
thought President Smith would be con-
demned If he abandoned his wives and he
thought President Smith in an address
had intimated that he intended to con-
tlnue to be a husband to all his wives
The statement was prefaced, however, by
a declaration that President Smith had
violated the law if he had cohabited with
more than one wife since the manifesto.
Familiar With Church History.
Senator Smoot said he was familiar with
the Escheat case the plea for amnesty and
other history of the church. He thought
the plea was signed by most of the high
officials of the church at that time, and
that number of the signers were now
officials of the church. Mr.. Tayler asked
Senator Smoot If he did not understand
the most of those who signed the plea
continued to violate the law. The names
were read and the Senator indicated his
belief as to whether they did or did not
violate the laws, the answers intimating
.. that majority of the signers were re-
puted to have been violaters of the law.
Mr. Tayler asked Senator Smoot If he
had done anything to show his disap-
prevail because these people violated their
pledge to the government.
Mr.. Smoot replied
Mr. Tayler, the reasons I have not
done that are the conditions that existed
when I went into the quorum of apos-
ties l found existing conditions there
tolerated by the people of our state. I
dld not think 1t would hasten matters
to bid them to conclusion quicker by
setting myself up as judge and interior
ing"
Senator smo,t took exception to the
statement of John Henry Smith in regard
to his position in the eyes of the law
so far as polygamy was concerned. The
Senator said he knew of many polyga-
mists who were not living with their
plural wives.
Il believe that the men who took plural
wives before the manifesto, took them
with the sanction of God. No law of
the land could dissolve the relations. but
it could not interfere with the carrying
o. OF the marriage cOntracIs, ne SAID.
Opposed to Brigham Roberts.
REWRITING to the election of Brigham
Roberts a member of Congress, Mr..
T. yler asked If the witness was inter-
ested in public affairs at the time that
the case was disposed of. An affirmative
answer was given, and Mr.. Smoot added
that Roberts would not have been elect
ed If he could have helped it.
We'll, he was a Democratic candidate,
and you were !, Republican,
Yes
Senator Smoot said he had heard it
stated that the church favored the can
didacy for the Senate of Senator Kerns,
but he had never heard that the church
had now asked any one to support Sena-
tor Kerens. AS to his own candidacy.
President Smith had not advised him to
or not to be q candidate at that time.
although he had talked the matter over
with President Smith. He asked for
leave of absence.
Suppose the president had refused?"