The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-20
'SMOO1 ON STAND
IN OWN DEFENSE
Mormon Apostle Denies Taking
oaths Of Vengeance or
Disloyalty.

Il Il y
Disloyalty.
Washington, JAN 20.-Senator Reed
Smoot was put on the stand in his own
defense today in the investigation Of
the protests against the senator retain.
ing his seat in the senate. Senator
Smoot was at his ease as every eye in
the room was directed to him.
The first questions were as to the
senator's nativity. He said he was
born in Salt Lake City in 1862. His
father and mother are both dead. His
mother was a plural wife.
Concerning his own family, he said
he was married Sept. II, 1884, and has
but one wife. They have six children.
lie said that at the time of his mar.
riage he did not take the endowments,
Endowment house at the request of his
father, before taking trip to the Sand
witch islands with his father, for the
benefit of the latter s. health. He said
he told his father at that time that he
did not care much about taking the
ceremony. ~,.... ....
Took No oaths.
Senator Smoot said he had been en-
gagged in the mercantile business most
of his life. The only office in the church
that he has held other than that Of
apostle was counselor to the president
OF the Utah stake of Zion, and he de-
clared that he had taken no oaths Of
any character when he became coun-
selor, nor had he taken any oath when
he became an apostle.
Asked about the endowment ceremo-
ny, he replied:
~ foql do aet give it if I wanted to. +"
because [ have no distinct recol-
lection of the CEREMONY
Mr.. Worthington, Senator Smoot g
counsel read what witnesses have al
legged to be the "oath of vengeance
and asked Senator Smoot if there was
| anything Of that character in the cere-
mony.
'tThere was NOT
"Was there anything Of vengeance
| upon this generation9'
emo, SIR
No Vengeance Oath.
."Was there anything about aven-
ging the blood Of Joseph Smith7' r..
"There was not. And it would have
been very strange If there had been.
Joseph Smith was the instigator of
the endowment ceremony and it would
|
| his people to avenge his blood when
he was aive.'
'Was there anything in the ceremo-
ny which would affect your loyalty to
your countryq'
| 'There was not. -
Candidacy for Senate.
san mHOT came you to be a candidate for
"Well, I had been rather active in
on party lines. took the leading pa
Pers of both national parties and at first
| believed myself to be a democrat. But
as I studied politics, I found myself
gradually drifting to the principles of
| the republican party, and joined that
party when the division came.'
CURED the consent Of the church, Sena-
tor Smoot SO i'd it referred only to church
officials, and amounted simply to leave
of absence from church duties.
'That consent was given me some
time early in May, and / announced my
candidacy Nay -, 1909 - continued the
organize my forces for a campaign
edo you mean to organize repubi
can forces or your church FRIENDSHIP
asked Mr.. Worthington.
1.-THE republicans, most assuredly,"
was the reply.
"Was the Mormon church a factor in
politics in your candidacy for the SEN
ate9' asked Mr.. Worthington.
"Not in the least. No more than the
Presbyterian or the Methodist
churches'
els the leave Of absence received
candidacy2' ..-'..
"Not at all, and the people do not
SO regard it. ~
Would Balk at Dictation.
"What would be your position if the
to influence in your vote as senator?'
81, would not submit to it for a min
ute. -
The senator explained that he had no
intimate acquaintance with the families
| of the. other apostles at the time he be-
came an apostle in 1900. Asked about
| their general regulations and whether
he had made any. protest against those
! reputed to be living in polygamous re-
the United States had accepted the ex-
listing conditions; that there had been
no prosecutions and that the attitude
of the people was that of federation. He
declared that the people felt that the
best, and, in fact, the only way. to set
| Tie the cOndlt1Ons, was to let the pOlyg-
amists die off. .., ,:..: -,
Mr.. Worthington asked if that serti
ment Of liberation extended to plural
marriages: which have occurred since
the manifesto.
ooh, not at ALL replied the sena-
there is q god citizen Of Utah who
wuld condone new plural marriages. -
Senator Smoot said the apostles fire.
quently were called in to advise the
president Of the church, but that he
had the power to do as he pleased after
the advice was given. He was asked if
anything ever had come up at any of
these meetings that might be regarded
as furthering. polygamy and he replied
more emphatically than before:
| "Polygamy was never mentioned
STANDARD OFT ON