The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-21
candidacy was based upon Republican

candidacy was based upon Republican arguments alone"
 "Did anyone ever attempt to influence you or to dictate to you in your poll tics?"
 "Not in any way. I would not per- init il"
 'Is the leave of absence received by you church endorsement of your can didacy3" Not at all. and the people do not so regard it."
 H'If the President of the church should ask you to vote according to his wishes. what would be your attitudeT'
 T would vote as believed for the best interest of the country"
 "What would be your position if the President of the church should attempt to influence your vote ss SenatorT
 T would not submit to 1t for min- ute.''
 witnesses have testified here that the statement of President Smith took the people by surprise. What was your feeling in regard to that7'
 President smith's Many Children.
 "T was surprised at the number of children born in his families since the manifesto but not surprised at all as to the number of his wives"
 What was the state of your knowl- edge concerning the family relation of other apostlesf'
 The Senator explained that he had no intimate acquaintance with tho fam- flies of the other apostles at the time he became an apostle in 1900. When asiged about their general rep- utations. and whether he had made any protests against those reputed to be living in polygamous relations. he said that the Government of the United States had accepted the existing condi- tions: that there had been no prose- cutions, and that the attitude of the people was that of federation. He de- clared that the people felt that the best and quickest way to settle the condi- tons was to let the poiygamists die off.
 Mir. worthington asked # that senti- ment of toleration extended to plural marriages which have occurred since the manifesto.
 "oh, mo-, not 1t all" replied the sena- tor, earnestly. T do not believe there is a good citizen of Utah who would condone new plural marriages.
 What action did you take to put a stop to the polygamous relations of other apostles?" asked Sfr. Worthing- ton.
 '.None at all never thought of 1t any more than any other citizen would have done" h
 MT. Shoot said he attended most of the meetings of the apostles.
 Tn reply to Mir. Worthington. he said the meetings were held in private room in the temple, and Mir. Worthing- ton then asked:
 "In reference to the charge here that apostles had entered into a conspiracy to further poiygamy, what can you say ?"
 He replied emphaticaIiy: "Polys-. may was never mentioned"
 Conspiracy is DenieH.
 sContinuing. he denied that there was ap article of foundation for the story of a conspiracy.
 Asked again concerning the testf- mony of President Smith that he, 4Smith.) had fivo wives and was llv- ing with them in violation of the law, Senator Ssnoot said until tnat time be had no mora know,edga than any other man concerEfng tho ninttees
 Senator smoot said he waA not pres- ent at the conference in April, 1904, that sustained the presidency and the apostles of the church, but he did at tend the semi-annual conference in oc- tober of last year.
 The Senator spoke of a meeting of the apostles and the first presidency before the October conference, and he said that at that meeting he inquired of President Smith if Apostles Cowley and Kyler had been sustained at tho April conference, In view of the testi- mony before the Senate commission. that both of these apostles had taken plural wives since the manifesto. The sSanator said he objected to having the men sustained at the October confer ence, and was told by President Smith. that. as a member of the church. he ought to know that an official or a member of the church could not be ex-communicated or disfellowshipped without an investigation and hear ing.
 T realized this" continued the Sem ator 'but was told that an investiga- ton would be made. and I have no doubt that a very rigid inquiry is now in progress. Without this promise. I would not have voted to sustain them.
 Did Not Know of Violations.
 up to the time of the testimony before this committee, had no knowl- edge that either of the apostles mad violated the law in that regard. nor had I heard anything ofN the kind against any other people except from the testimony given in this room" given in this room"
 Concerning a meeting held innnne- diately before the October conference. Senator smOot said that he had not been informed that the name of Charles W. Penrose was to be pre- sented by President Smith to fill the position of apostle made vacant by the death of Abram O. Woodruff.
 The Senator was asked if he ob- iected to the election of Mir. Penrose.
 CT did not object to MT. Penrose. At that time I thought he had only one wife. but I do not want to hide behind that"
 The Senator continued hastily: For I take the position that when a man has married before the manifesto he can accept purely church position. He has not violated a law of the Church and from purely ecclesiasti- cal position hold that he is eligible. But I do not think that a man in that status could hold a government posi- ton either elective or appointlve- Neither do I feel that there is a man in Utah that thinks a polygamist who continues to violate the laws of the land should hold such a place.
 ''To the best of my knowledge, there Is not Federal office in Utah filled by a polygamist. I know that the postmaster at Provo, was removed on that ground and there have been other cases of that kind"
 Has Not Endorsed PoIyEamist.
 Have you recommended to the Pres ident tho appointment of a polygamist to a Federal ofice?' asked MT. Worth ington.
 piled the Senator,
 Further inquiry was made by MT.