Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-02-11

called my attention to 1t. | told him
that ! did not believe II was true, for |
did not believe II was possible TO be
done by anyone in the Church, and
that If they did IL thought II was
done without the sanction of the
Church In any way Jesse Knight told
me that he was going to investigate II
and see II It We're true. On several oc-
caslons we talked about II, and ! re-
member that on one occasion he said
he had asked Mr. Clum II IL was true,
that Mr. Cluff laughlngly remarked
that there were lots Of reports that
were not true, ana Jesse took IT, and
also took II, from the remark, that he
evaded the question. II was spoken Of.
| remember OF speaking Of II to MIR.
Holbrook, another member Of the COM
mttee, and also to MI Duseuberry,
and II was discussed more or less. At
the next meeting of the trustees the
question came W, and was brought up,
| think by Jesse Knight He made a
motion that George Brlmhall be the
president OF the faculty for the coming
year. II was at a meeting when the
faculty was made up for the year pre-
ceding the one that the school was I'm
session. / suppose il would be the lat
ter part Of the second semester IL
brought up a discussion
Mr.. Worthington--Di you say. made
up the faculty for the year preceding
or sdcceedlng?
Senator Smoot--Succeedng.
Mr.. Worthington--You said preCed-
ing.
Senator Smoot--I meant succeeding,
The question came up then for discuss
sion, and Jesse Knight made the state
ment there that he understood Clun
had married another wife, and II was
talked over, ] know President Smith
was there and he said that such "A
thing could not be, with the sanction
Of the Church, and that II Clun had
done II he had done something that he
had no authority to do We talked the
matter over. and they were going to
put George Brimhall In as president of
the institution for the coming year.
George Brimhall was then sick in Cali
fornia, and we expected him to be
president of the institution. When he
came back from California we found
that he had taken a relapse, and that
he could not do the work, and he had
to go up to Canada lie went to Cam
ada, regained his health there, and the
next January | Think am not posi-
tive as to the date because as soon as
he was well enough ! was down here at
Washlngton--he was put in as presi-
dent of the institution and Cluh was
dropped
Mr. Tayler-That was about a year
ago?
Senator Smoot--I think that was
about a year ago, az | remember.
Mr.. Worthington--Then the delay I'm
putting Brimhall I'm Cuffs place was
owing solely, as ! understand you, TO
Brmhalrs condition Of heath?
Ga11atnr Gf1ppt--At that time
Mr.. Worthngton-Just one moment,
The young woman TO whom It is said
Cluff had been married was Florence
Reynolds? That has been testified to
here,
Senator Smoot-Yes. I understood so.
Mr. Worthington--Wa she a teacher
in that school or academy?
Senator Smoot-I do not think she
ever was a teacher,
Mr.. hington-Something has
been said about her going to Mexico In
kindergarten work, DO you know, by
reputation or otherwise, whether she
went down to Mexico in kindergarten
work before Cuff went down on his ex-
petition Of which you have spoken?
Senator Smoot--I never met the lady
in my life, and from my own knowl-
edge, of course, II would be impossible
for me to say; but ! learned, though,
that she used to go to the school at
Provo, and from the school she went
TO Mexico to teach in the kindergarten,
Mr. Worthlngton--And before he went
on this expedition?
Senator Smoot--Before he went on
this expedition.
Mr.. Worthington--So that whatever
took place between them, In the way
Of forming the marriage relation or
pNla ,,alu ton hot Tor
place, took place down there while
they were both away?
Senator smoot-l should Judge 50,
Mr.. Worthington-Mr Brimhall was
elected TO succeed Cluff?
Senator Smoot--Mr, Brimhal was the
most popular man and teacher we ever
had at the institution In other words,
Mr.. Brimhall has been, and | rather
think Is today the idol of the young
men, He Is a very forCeful speaker,
He Is a very convincing man in his
speech, and he Is an exceedingly bright
teacher, and everybody, old and young,
likes him II was thought proper that
Mr.. Brimhall should be placed as the
president Of the faculty Of that instltu-
ton, for the good of the institution,
and | do not think there was a dissent
ing voice in the board Of trustees; and
while | was not there, 1 wish to state
this, that from my knowledge of Mr.,
Brlmhall, knowing him as I do,
Knowing how popular he Is, and for
the good of the institution, "A
trustee of that institution l certainly
would have voted for Mr.. Brimhall to
be president of the faculty.
Mr. Worthington-Did you know at
that time about his exact status in re-
latlon to his marital relations that he
has testified to here?
Senaor Smoot--Yes; / knew,
Mr. Worthlngton-Let me see II I re-
call It correctly. He had had a wife
who, I'm 1883 went to a hospital and has
been there ever since, and In 1885 he
took a plural wife and has lived with
her since, but never with the first wife,
Senator Smoot--Well, | believe that
is the true statement or his condition,
| doubt very much whether many peo-
pie know that George II. Brimhall Is
poygamist. / never heard him speak or
IT In my life, and | suppose the COM
mittee here noticed how very careful
George Brimhall was In even having
that brought out by the chairman.
His wife has been Inv the asylum, as |
know. ever since the opening OF the asy-
lum. and OF course II Is true that he
lives with the wife he has now. His
first wife has been In that condition
for great many years.
Mr.. Worthington-Well, you knew
about his situation, as to his marital
relation, at the time h. was discussed
as a successor to Cluf?
Senator Smoot-Well, | would have
done, II It had been called to my atten-
ton. There would not be any doubt
about that | never thought about It,
Mir. Worthington-It would not have
made any difference I'm your action2
Senator Smoot--Not at all
Mr.. WorthinSton--As matter Of
fact, understand you never thought OF
II Mt all?
Senator Smoot-Not at all IT would
not have made particle OF difference
I'm my action II | had,
II. I 4