Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-02-11

Senator Smoot-Yes, SIR.
Nh, Worthngton--Wh was the state
Of your knowledge as to whether Jo-
seph r. Smith was living in polygamous
relations with several wives?
Senator Smoot--I knew Joseph Smith
had more than one wife but | did not
know anything about his relations with
them; that is, as to his living with
more than one wife.
Mr. WOrthIngton-Mr Tayler read
from paper here the other day
that certain persons who live in Salt
Lake city We're greatly surprised when
they learned what Mr.. Smith had testi-
fed TO on that subject here. Were you
surprised?
Senator Smoot--I was surprised as to
the number Of children ne had had
born since the manifesto, but | was not
surprised at all that he had those wives.
Mr. WorthingtOn-Let me ask you al
so the general question as to the other
Apostles who it appears now were at
at that time living in polygamous re-
lations--whether you had any more in
formation as to them than you had as
to Joseph f. Smith?
Senator Francis NJ. Lyman;
| never have been In his house in my
life. John Henry Smith; | was in his
home once and that was the wife who
lived across the road from the Temple.
| took dinner there one day with him.
George Teasdalei | was I'm his home
once, think In 1892 / stopped there
as ! was going to Sanpete, | never
was I'm the home Of John w, TAYLOR I'm
my life, / never was I'm the home OF
Matthias +. Cowley In my life, / never
was IN the home Of Mariner w. Merrill
in my life. ] have been I'm the home OF
Rudger ClaWsOn once I'm my life. I
was there 10 a dinner.
Mr. Worthington--I believe II Is not
claimed that Rudger Clawson is d po-
lygamlst,
Senator Smoot--No but ] am speak
ing Of all OF them,
MI Wouhngton-I.et me ask what
you understood from general reputation
was the situation IN which those men
and other members Of your Church who
had entered into poygamy prior to the
manifesto Of 1890, We're?
Senator Smoot--After the manifesto
was issued the territory was under the
direct control OF officers OF the United
States up until statehood
Mr.. Worthlngton-That was In Janu-
airy
Senator SMOOTH was a territorial
form OF government, and the state was
admitted in 1895, on Jan. 4, ! believe,
and scarcely anything was done with
men who were living with their wives
during all that time,
Mr. Worthngton--Wlt their plural
wives, you meau2
Senator Smoot-Wlth their plural
wives. And after statehood IN the
discussion that was had at the Con-
stitutional convention, the remarks
that were made there by leading men Of
our state led the people OF the state, I
think 20 believe that rs FAR as the liv-
ing with their polygamOus wives was
concerned It would at leust be tolerated
by the people, thinking no doubt that
that would be the best and easiest and
the quickest way to have the question
solved.
Mr. Worthlngton--D you mean that
that applied to those who were married
before the manifesto or after, or both?
Senator Smoot--Before the manifesto.
II would not apply TO anyone who
would take wife after the manifesto.
] think that rs "A fair statement ~ the
condition; and | saw the conditions az
they existed there and / accepted
them, with others.
Mr.. Worthington--S that, when you
became an Apostle IN IHVU' TOT 10 years
you say the government of the United
States and the people OF the state both
Mormon and non Mormon, TO your
mind had accepted that as an existing
situation
Senator smoot-As an existing condi-
ton?
Mr.. Worthington-An you accepted
the status as you found II?
Senator Smoot--G did,
Mr.. worthington-Wh you became
an Apostle, did you do anything to in
terferc with that, or do anything about
Il?
Senator Smoot--NO, | did not
Mr. Worthngton-Dl YOU think any
thing about ~
Senator Smoot--l never thought of It