Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-20


defense today In the investigation Of
protests against the senator retaining
his seat in the senate. minority OF
the committee on privileges and cleo
lions has been attending the hearings
but when II WAS announced that Sena-
tor Smoot would testify the absentees
were sent for No previous announce
ment had been made but the senator
had not long been under examination
before the doors OF the committee room
were filed and passage ways were kept
open with difficulty. A. s. Worthing.
ton, of counsel for the defense, was
closeted with the senator thrs ughout
the morning He was late IN arriving
Mt the Capitol, but stated that the ex-
pected witnesses having failed to APP
pear he had decided TO examine tha
senator at once in order not to lose a
day. lie conducted the direct exam
inaton.
Senator Smoot was at his ease, al
though every eye In the room WAS d.
rected to him. The first questions were
as 10 the senator's nativity. He sad
he was born in Salt Lake city in 1862.
His father and mother are both dead,
His mother was a plural wife, Con-
corning his own family he said he was
married Sept. H. 1884, and has but one
wife, They have six children, He
said that at the time OF his marriage
he did not take the endowments, but
that I'm 1850 he had gone through the
Endowment House at the request OF
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,
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 became
counselor nor had he taken any oath
when ne became an Apostle.
Mr. Worthington asked Mr.. Smoot
replied
Il could not give itlf wanted TO-"
why notW
n Because ] have NO distinct recolleo-
tion OF the ceremony.
Mr. Worthngton read what witnesses
have alleged to be the oath of ven
geahce, and asked Senator Smoot II
there was anything of that character In
the ceremony.
There was not
WAS there anything Of vengeance
upon this generatlon?'
mo, SIR"
"Waa there anything about avenging
the blood Of Joseph SMITH"
There was not. And 1t would have
been very strange II there had been.
Joseph Smith was the instigator Of the
endowment ceremony, and II would
have been very strange II he had ask
ed his people TO avenge his blood when
he was alive"
"Was there anything in the ceremony
which would affect your loyalty to your
country?'
There was not
How csme you to be candidate for
senatorw
well, I had been rather active in
politics before the division was made
on party lines. | took the leading pa
pers Of both national parties and mt
first believed myself gradually drifting
toward the principles of the Repub-
lican party and joined that party when
the division came
The senator explained IN detail his
interest IN political affairs He said
that In 1898 his political friends in
Provo, most OF them non Mormons,
asked him to either run for governor or
for the United States senate,
IL told them" he said, that | did not
care to run for office until we could
get our own county In the right politi-
cal column and that when that time
came | should like to go To the senate
We organized and carried Utah for the
Republican party In 1900. an
nounced my candidacy for the United
States senate I'm 1902. OF course |
knew OF the rule which required me to
ask the Presidency of the Church II
could rum
Here MIR worthnRton interrupted
| and asked him TO explain this rule
Senator Smoot replied that II referred
| only to officials OF the Church and
| amounted simply to a leave OF absence
| from the Church duties. He said he
went to the First Presidency while II
was sitting In one OF its regular meet
| ings and formally made application for
| a leave. He told the First Presidency
that If elected he would require leave
OF absence so as not TO interfere with
| his duties as q senator.
THAT consent was given me some
| time early In May and announced my
| candidacy May 10, 1902 continued the
| senator. land ] Immediately began TO
organize my forces for campaign
$40 you mean to organize Republi-
| can forces or your Church friends
asked Mr.. Worthington.
"The Republicans, most assuredly'
was the reply.
was the Mormon" church factor
In politlcs in your candidacy for the
| senator asked Mr. Worthington,
Not I'm the least, No more than the
| Presbyterian or the Methodist churches,
| No man or woman can say that | ever
| asked them to vote the Republican tick
ct because was an Apostle Whatever
| did TO promote my candidacy was
based upon Republican arguments
| alone
"Dld anyone ever attempt to lnfiu-
ence you or to dictate to you In your
| pollticsY'
mot In any way, I would not per-
| nit It,"
rs the leave Of absence received by
you church endorsement Of your
candidacy"
mot at all, and the people do not so
regard IT,
! "If the president Of the Church
should AJAX you to vote according Ia
his wishes, what would be your attl-
tude?"
81 WOW vote rs | believed was for
| the best interests OF the country"
what would he your position II the
! president Of the Church should attempt
| to influence your vote as a senator"
II would not submit TO II for a min
| ute"
what was the state Of your knowl-
edge regarding the povgamous rela-
! tions Of President Joseph r. Smith up