The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-24
CLOSE QUESTIONING.
Reed smoot on the Defense Before
the Committee

Reed Smoot on the Defense Before
the Committee.
Washington. Jan Ex-senator Reed
SmoOt resumed his testimony in his own
behalf today before the senate commit
tee on privileges and elections. Judge
Iayler continuing the cross exaIuina-
ton The senator-elect, George Suther-
land, from Utah. who Will succeed Sen
ator Kearns, and former Governor \. l..
Thomas. Of Utah both of whom are
expected TO testify in the case, were
present
Thatcher's Persecution.
Relative. to the trial OF Apostle
Moses Thatcher following his differ
enceS with the church over politics
Senator Smoot said he would not want
to say that politics was the principal
Thatcher and the church. but he ad-
mitted that il was one of the reasons
for the trial.
Judge TayIer asked if the fight
against Thatcher was not led by the
church, and the witness replied that
the Deseret News. the church organ
charged that Thatcher's candidacy was
''anti-church.
Judge Tayler took up the polite mani
festO, or the rule which required Of
ficials of the church TO obtain "A leave
OF absence which Apostle Thatcher had
disapproved and which he refused TO
obey.
Admitted it Was Wrong.
As it was read. clause by clause.
Senator SmOOt endorsed the statements
made by Thatcher in that connection.
Judge Tdyler asked if Senator SmoOt
saw any criticism in the statements of
Moses Thatcher that the church was
getting out of its proper function in in
terfering in functions OF the state.
4 do not think there was any charge
that the church was trying 10 influence
the action of the legislature" answered
Senator SmOOt.- THAT would be wrong
and most reprehensible."
President Smith Supreme.
1.-The first presidency is supreme in
everything pertaining to the church. -
said Senator SmOOt in answer to a
question by Chairman Burrows. He
also said in explanation, 'Of course.
when il comes TO a question of revela-
tiOn that is to be binding upon tho peo-
pie of the church the president himself
receives it and it must be accepted by
the people"
DO 1 understand you to say that the
apostles are not prophets?" asked
Chairman Burrows.
I say they are sustained as prophets,
| but / do not think man Is a prophet
at any time unless he speaks by the
spirit of prophecy. In other words, I
4 Go not DelleNe InaL a man mas silN a. s
I that spirit of prophecy with him."
God and Joseph +.
do you think the president of the
! church communicates directly with
God-has direct revelation"
| IF God desires 10 speak 10 such peo-
pie it would be through the president OF
the church
Does God speak through the apostles
| in the same way2"
"Oh, not in the same way. An
| apostle has no more authority in a
stake of Zion than its president has. un-
| less sent by the head of the church to
act in the stead of the stake president -
Right to Condemn.
In an endeavOr 10 ascertain the
proper procedure in a. difference be
| tween churchmen, Judge Tayler asked
| if there was authority to condemn a
| member of the priesthood.
| Il think the Lord has given any man
4 the right TO do it," was the answer.
| If one of the Lords servants should
| do a wrong to me would condemn him
4 and bring charges. after first going Ia
| him personally. 1t is a rule of the
| church that a person aggrieved should
| go to the person offending before con-
| demning such person"
1 In answering a question 70 his belief
1 esontinued an pavo o.