The San Francisco call., 1905-01-21

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-Interest in
the Smoot investigation before the
Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections was increased to-day by the
unexpected determination to put Sena-
tor Smoot on the stand In his own be-
half, without waiting for other wit
nesses now en- route from Utah. The
Senator was under direct and cross
examination all day and frankly an
swered most questions asked him. He
appeared to make a favorable impress
sion on the members of the committee.
Senator Smoot was at his ease, al
though every eye in the room was d.
rected 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. Con-
cerning his own family, he said he was
married on September IT, 1884, and has
but one wife. They have six children.
He said that at the time of his mar
riage he did not take the endowments.
but that in 1880 he had gone through
the endowment house at the request of
his father, for the benefit of the lat
ter's health. He said he told his
father at that time that he did not
care much about going through the
ceremony.
:: FORGETFUL OF 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 declared that he had taken no
oaths of any character when he be-
came counselor, nor had he taken any
y, y1nr1 he hn0 1n
Warrington asked Smoot about the
endowment ceremony and he replied:
az could not give it if 1 wanted to-
why not?"
Because I have no distinct recollec-
tion of the ceremony"
Worthington read what witnesses
{. have alleged to be the "oath of venge-
ance" and asked Senator Smoot if
there was anything Of that character
in the ceremony.
There was not"
WAS there anything of vengeance
upon this generation?"
No, SIR"
Was there anything about avenging
the blood of Joseph Smith,"
There was not. And it would have
been strange if there had been. Jo-
seph Smith was the instigator Of the
endowment ceremony and it would
have been very strange If he had
asked his people to avenge his blood
when he was alive
NOT CHURCH'S CANDIDATE.
Was there anything in the ceremony
which would affect your loyalty to your
country"
There was not"
How came you to be a candidate for
Senator"
We'll, I had been rather active in
nnlifioc hafnra he ir,ici
on party lines. 1 took the leading pa
pers of both national parties and at
first believed myself gradually drifting
to the principles of the Republican
party and joined that party when the
division came. 1 announced my candi-
dacy for the United States Senate In
1902. OF course / knew of the rule
which required me to ask the president
Of the church if ! could rum"
Here Worthington 0errupted and
asked him to explain this rule Senator
'Smoot replied that ii referred only to
officials of the church and amounted
simply to leave of absence from the
church duties.
Was the Mormon church factor in
politics in your candidacy for the SEN
ate?" asked Worthington.
Not in the least. No more than the
Presbyterian or the Methodist
churches. No man or woman can say
that I ever asked them to vote the
Republican ticket because I was an
apostle. Whatever did to promote nv
candidacy was based upon Republican
arguments alone"
What would be your position If the
president of the church should attempt
to influence your vote as a Senatu?"
OBJECTS TO APOSTLES.
I would not submit to it for a min
Ute"
What was the state of your knowi-
cage regarding the polygamous rela-
uons OF president Joseph F. Smith up
TO the time he testified before this com
mittee?"
Il knew that he had more than one
wife. but knew nothing of the man
ner Of his living"
Witnesses have testified here that
the statement of President Smith took
the people by surprise What was your
FEELING in regard to that?"
Il was surprised at the number of
children born in his families since the
manifesto, but not surprised at all az
to the number of his wives"
The Senator spoke of meeting of
the apostles and the first presidency
before the October conference and he
said that at that meeting he INQUIRED
OF President Smith IL Apostles Cowley
and Taylor had been sustained at the
April conference in view of the testi-
mony before the Senate committee that
both of these apostles had taken plural
wives since the manifesto. The Senator
said he objected to having the men
sustained at the October conference
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