Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-21


was not the sentiment Of the Mormon
people generally.
Senator smoot said he thought that
President Smith would be condemned
II he abandoned his wives, and that
President Smith In an address mad IN
timated that the intended to continue
TO be a husband OF all his wives.
Senator smoot said he was familiar
with the osCheat case, the plea for am
nesty and other history Of the Church.
He thought the plea was signed by
most Of the high officers OF the Church
at that time and that a number OF the
sIgners were now officers OF the Church.
Mr.. Tayler asked Senator Smoot II he
did not understand that most OF those
who signed the plea continued to yio-
late the law
The names were read. and the senator
indicated his belief that q majority OF
the signers were reputed to have yio'at-
ed the law. The witness said he UNI
derstood that the sgners and the peo-
pie, 80 far as they could influence them
would obey the law regarding poly
gamy,
Mr. Tayler asked Senator smoot n he
had done anything to show his disap-
prOya' because these people violated
their pledge to the government.
Mr. Smoot replied. "Mr Tayler the
reasons / have not done that are the
conditions that existed when / went 20
the quorum OF apostles. found exist
ing conditions there tolerated by the
people Of our state. ! did not think II
would hasten matters or bring them 10
conclusion quicker by setting myself
up as Judge and interfering
Senator smoot took exception 20 the
"a a % nh n
gard 10 his position in the eyes of the
law 80 far as pOlygamy was concern
ed, The senator said he knew OF many
pOlygamists who were not living with
their plural wives.
II 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 II could interfere with the carrying
out OF the marriage contract" he said.
Revertng to the election Of Brigham
H. Roberts as a member of Congress
Mr. Tayler asked II the witness was in
terested In public affairs at the time
that case was disposed o. Mr. Smoot
said yes and added that Roberts would
not have been elected II he could have
prevented Il.
"Wsll, he was a Democratic candl-
date and you were a Republican,"
yes"
Senator smoot said he had heard Il
said That the Church favored the can
! didacy for the senate OF Senator Kearns
but he had never heard that President
| Snow had asked any one to support
Senator kearns As to his own caini-
dacy President Smith had not advised
him for or against being a candidate at
that time, although he had talked the
matter over with President Smith. lie
mad asked for leave Of absence,
suppose the president had refused.
what would you have done2" asked
Senator Overman.
II don't know; / would have consult
cd my friends, and If had concluded
IN run ! would have resigned from the
aposteship."
would that have put you our of
harmony with the church," asked
Senator Burrows
More than likely It would. The
same as II ! would absent myself
without leave from my duties at the
Provo Wooden mills answered Sena~
tor Smoot
But not II you resigned your amos
tleship; then you would not have been
out of harmony" Mr. Van Colt inter-
rupted to ask
on no, sir, have the privilege of
reslgnlng'
Senator Oyerman asked II there was
any reason why Mr.. Smout should get
leave Of absence rather than resign his
aposteship
There was no reason why / should
! resign MI Smoot replied
lie would have been out OF line for
| the presidency Of The Church" inter-
| iected Mr. Worthington
Where do you stand In the line OF
succession asked Chairman Bur
| rows
"Woll there have been three apostles
appointed since | vas answted Mr..
Smoot THAT would make me
twelfth IN line"
Senator Burrows wanted to know n
action would have been taken against
| him II he had been "A candidate for the
| senate without leave OF absence.
The witness did not think action Of
| amy kind would have been taken. II
| might have put him out OF harmony
| with the Church but he did not con-
| slider this course
Has any Apostle been doposed ex-
| cept Thatcher within 10 years." asked
| Mir Tayler
u think Apostles Darlington and
| Lyman were depused Mr. Lyman
was the father Of the present president
| OF the Twelve Apostles lie was de-
posed for aposiacy' replied the sena-
! tor.
"Thc Inquiry concerning tho Viola
| lions Of law by Apostle Taylor was
| asked for by me before the last October
! conference" said Senator Smoot.
where is Apostle Taylor nowY' he
was asked
u don't know believe ne Is IN
| Canada
Senator smoot would not say that
| the head OF the Church knew where
| Taylor was lie believed Taylor could
60 where ne pleased without consult
| ing the Church. Answering questions
| by Chairman Burrows, Senator Smoot
said IL was customary Il an Apostle
| had not been accused, 10 inform the
| head OF the Church az 90 his where
| nbouts. The witness said no ana not
| know whether Taylor had q leave OF
| absence. but that he should have one.
How long has no been away?' asked
| Senator Oyerman.
About a year, or since this invcstl-
! CATION started" said MIR, Smoot II
| felt very deply the charge that Apog-
tie Taylor had taken two plural wives
since the manifesto"
Mr.. Taylor asked what action the
| president Of the Church had taken to
| secure the attendance Of Apostles
| TAYLOR and Cowley. and Senator Smoot
| called attention to letters from both
! these Apostles, saying that they did
not regard the investigation as relig-
! ious and therefore did not feel thot
| they should be expected TO come. lie
said he could not remember the exact
| form OF these letters, but that he had
shown them 20 Chairman Burrows,
AZ $3.50 o'clock an adjournment was
| taken. out OF consideration for the
witness. who has been suffering from
indigestion for several weeks,