The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-20
.SMOOT ON STAND
The Mormon Senator Testifies in
His Own Defense.
Curious Crowd Packs Room of
the Committee.
TOOK THE ENDOWMENT
But 1t Was For Benefit of His
Fathers Health.
Says He Has Taken No Church
Oaths Of ANY Kind.
TOOK THE ENDOWMENT


Smoot was put on the stand in his own
defense today in the investigation Of
protests against the senator retaining
his seat in the senate A minority of
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions has been attending the hearings
but when it was announced that Sen
ator 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 were
filed and passageways were kept open
with great difficulty.
A. s. Worthington, of counsel for the
defense, was closeted with the senator
throughout the morning. He was late
In arriving at the capital, but stated
that the expected witnesses having
failed to appear he had decided to ex-
anime the senator at once in order not
to lose a day. He conducted the di-
rect examination. Senator Smoot was
at his ease although every eye in the
room was directed to him. The first
questions were as to the senator's ma
t1v1ty. He said he was born in Salt
Lake in 1862. His father and mother
are both dead. His mother was
plural wife. Concerning his own family
ne said he was married September II,
ACoxs S1AA0 ILLS Out one WlIG. In6Y nave
six children. He said that at the time
OF his marriage he did not take the
endOWments, but that in $780, he had
gone through the endowment house at
the request of his father, for the bene-
fit of the latter's health. He said he
told his father at that time that he did
not care much about taking the cere-
mOny.
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 counsellor to the presi-
dent of the Utah stake of Zion and he
declared that he had taken no oaths of
any character when he became coun-
sellOr nor had he taken any oath when
he became an apostle.
Mr.. Worthington asked Senator
Smoot about the endowment ceremony
and he replied:
Il could not give it if I wanted to-"
why not %
Because have no distinct recoIlec-
ton of the ceremony"
Mr.. Worthington read what witness
es have alleged to be the "oath of
vengeance 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?"
mo sir"
''Was there anything about avenging
the blood of Joseph Smith,"
There was not. And it would have
been very strange if there had been.
Joseph Smith was the instigator of the
endowment ceremony and it would
have been very strange if he had asked
his people to ayenge his blood when he
was alive
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
senator2"
well. I had been rather active In
politics before the division was made
on party lines. I took the leading pa
pers of both national parties and at
first believed myself to be a Demo-
crat, but as / studied politics 1 found
ciples of the Republican party and
Joined that party when the division
came"
The senator explained in detail his
interests in political affairs. He said
that in 1899 his political friends IN
Provo, most of them non-Mormon, ask
ed him to run either for governor or
for the United States senate.
IT told them,'' he said that I did
not care to run for office until we could
get our own county in the right politi-
cal column and when that time came
should like to go to the senate. We
organized and carried Utah for the Re
publican party in 1900. announced my
candidacy for the United States SEN
ate in 1902. OF course / knew of the
rule which required me to ask the pres
idency Of the church If / could run"
Here Mr.. Worthington interrupted
and asked him to explain this rule
Senator Smoot replied that it 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 it /
was sitting in one of its regular meet |
ings and formally made application for |
a leave He told the first presidency |
that if he was elected he would re- |
quire q. leave of absence so as to not |
interfere with his duties as a senator. /
That consent was given me some time
early in May and announced my can |
didacy May Ia 1902" continued the |
senator, ''and I Immediately began to
my forces for a campaign"
DO you mean to organize Republi- |
can forces or your church friends2''
asked Mr.. Worthington.
''The Republicans, most assuredly,"
sFWas the Mormon church factor
in politics in your candidacy for the /
senate ?'' asked Mr.. W orthington.
mot in the least. No more than
the Presbyterian or the Methodist
church has BEEN No man or woman
can say that I ever asked them to /
vote the Republican ticket because |
promote my candidacy was based
upon Republican arguments alone.'
ssDid any one ever attempt to influ- |
ence you or to dictate to you in your
mot in any way would not per-
- rs the leave Of absence received by
you a church endorsement Of your
Not at all and the people do not
so regard it.
IF the president of the church
should ask you to vote according to