The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-01-26
SM0OT TEST|F|ES
IN OWN BEHALF
SENATOR APPEARS BEFORE IN.
VESTIGATING COMMITTEE.
CEREMONY
Declares Duty Toward Church Does
Not Interfere with Loyalty to
Government-Denies Oath
Of Vengeance.

Washington, Jan. 21!-Interest In che
.Smoot investigation before the senate
committee Of privileges and elections
was stirred Friday by the unexpected de.
termination to put Senator Smoot on the
stand in his own behalf, without waiting
for other witnesses now EN- route from
Utah. The senator was under direct and
Ncross-examination all day and frankly
answered most of the questions asked.
He acquitted himself excellently and ap-
peared to make a favorable impression
on the members Of the committee. At
4:30 p. m. an adjournment was taken
out Of consideration for the witness,
who has been suffering with indigestion
for several weeks, The examination Of
Senator Smoot related to matters init
mately connected with church policy and
his duty towards the church as COM
pared with his duties as a senator. He
said he had taken no oaths that would
interfere with his loyalty to his govern
'ment. His recollection Of the endow-
ment house ceremony was indistinct,
he said, but he vas sure there were no
obligations taken to avenge the blood
of the prophets upon either this nation"
or "this generation" as had been testi-
fed to by witnesses for the prosecution.
Has But One Wife.
The first questions were as to the
senator's nativity. He said he was
born in Salt Lake City in 1862. His IA
Their and mother are both dead. His
mother was a plural wife. Concerning
his own family, he said he was married
September II, 1884, and has but one
wife. They have six children. He said
that at the time Of his marriage he did
not take the endowment, but that. in
1880 he had gone through the endow-
iment house at the request of his IA
Their, before taking a trip to the Sandwich
Islands with his father, for the benefit
of the latters 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 mercantile business most OF
his life. The only Office in the church
that he had held other than that Of apos-
tile was counselor to the president of
the Utah Stake of Zion, and he declared
that he had taken no oaths of any char
acter when he, became counselor, nor
had he taken any oath when he became
an apostle"
Denies Oath of Vengeance.
Mr.. Worthington asked Senator Smoot
about the endowment ceremony, and he
replied: 81 could not give it If l want
ed to-"
why not?"
Because l have no distinct recollec-
ton of the ceremony"
Mr.. Worthington read what witnesses
have alleged to be the oath Of venge-
ance," 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 avenge his blood when he was
alive"
"Was there anything in the ceremony
which would affect your loyalty to your
country"
There was not"
Regarding his knowledge Of the poIyg-
amous relations of President Smith he
said all he knew was that Smith had
more than one wife. He explained thai
he had no intimate acquaintance with
the families of the other apostles at the
time he became an apostle in 1900.
In answer to another question by Mr..
Worthington Senator Smoot said that
he had never advised or c~ountenanced
any man or woman to live in po-
lygamy.