Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1905-01-22
SENATOR SHOOT
STILL ON STAND
Committee Room Crowded By
Interested Spectators.
coRREcTs TESTIMONY OF FRIDAY
Senator smoot Is Suffering from an
Attack of diqestion-Several Mem
bers Heretofore Absent Now Attend.
iue Committee Meetings.

Washington, Jan. 21.-Attracted by
the announcement that Senator Smoot
would today continue his testimony
before the senate committee on privi-
leges and elections which is Investigate
ing the protests against the senator
retaining his seat a crowd gathered
early today.
Several members of the committee
who have not been attending the hear
ings regularly were present.
Senator Smoot was still suffering
from the attack of indigestion which
was responsible for an early adjourn
ment yesterday. The senator took
the witness stand at 1870 and before
proceeding he made correction in
his testimony concerning trials of apos-
ties. He said the quorum of apostles
has the right to depOse one Of it's mem
bers and the II apostles is the only
quorum that mas that right Several
other minor corrections were made. In
carrying out the decisions of the quo
rum, the senator said he does not un-
derstand that the minority must join
with the majority.
The first time he heard of the plu-
raj marriage of Benjamin CIuff, presi-
dent Of the Brigham Young university,
said the senator, was in 1902, when
he was told by Jesse knight. The
senator said he had heard from MI
Knight that Cuffs new plural wife
was the daughter Of George Reynolds.
Except for the investigation of the
subject, looking to the dropping of
Cluff from the university presidency
which was explained at the hearing,
the senator said he had made no fur
ther inquiry. He said Cluff was re-
moved a year later and was succeed
ed by George Brimhall, who, the SEN
atOr admitted, was then living with a
plural wife. He said he was not pres
ent, but would have voted for Brim-
hall if he had been at the meeting.
"You consider the position of presi-
dent of the university purely ecclesi-
astical them" asked Mr. Taylor.
Il think it is'
Then the rule laid down by you,
which would have controlled your vote
for Apostle Penrose, a polygamist,
would apply to the election of Brim-
hall?"
Il think the same rule would apply
l don't think I would vote for him for
a Federal officer. There are some
polygamist l would not vote for and
some that l would. l would vote for
a man like BrimhaII for a state office"
aswered the senator.
The distinction he made was thai
Brimhall had taken no plural wives
since the manifesto, but was living
with a plural wife for the reason that
his lawful wife was in an insane asy-
lum. He admitted first that he be-
lieved that Mr.. Brimhall was violating
the spirit of the law, and pressed by
Chairman Burrows, said that Brimhall
was also violating the letter of the
law" However, the condition of the
first wife was an extenuating circum.
stance.
What" again asked Chairman Bur
rows, do you think it is an extenuat-
ing circumstance for a man to marry
another woman and to have children
by her because his legal wife is in
an insane asylum?"
"No, hardly think that"
~4&ave you any doubt about it? Do
you think it was an extenuating cir
cumstance because the first wife was
insane?"
Perhaps 1 could put it as broad as
that. I think it would be-"