Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-20
A SIMPLE AND HONEST ONE.
Friends Urged Him to Become
Candidate and He Announced
Himself as Such Nay 70, 1909.
WOULD RESENTCHURCH DlCTATI0N
Church Was Not a Factor 10 His Can
dIdacy aud Leave of Absence Not
An Endorsement.
Special to the "News.")

Especial to the "News.'D
Washington, Jan. 2O.--The program of
Senator Shoots attorneys was changed
this morning owing to the non-arrival
Of witnesses who were expected. Conse-
quently, Senator Smoot, to the surprise
Of every one, was called to the chair
as witness in his own behalf, As
soon as It was known that the man
whose title to his seat in the senate
was at stake was TO go through the or
deal Of an examination, word was sent
to every member Of the committee to
come to the room. As a result there was
larger attendance than on any pre-
ylous day since the defense began. The
senator's present We're Burrows. Dubois,
0yerman Hopkins, Bailey, Knox Dill
lngham and Foraker. Word was passed
around at the Capitol that "Smoot is
on the stand and within 10 minutes
every available inch Of standing room
was crowded,
The seats reserved for the press,
which have been largely abandoned
during the past week, were all filled
aud Press Associations instructed their
men to increase their report. The SEN
ator was put through the usual course
o. questions concerning his ancestry
early life and family relations and
gradually led up to testimony as TO his
early political ambitions and political
work He spoke In clear forceful tones
and every word was distinctly heard
throughout the length Of the room and
at no time was It necessary for him TO
repeat an answer. So straightforward
were his answers that they seemed to
convey conviction even 10 the galaxy
Of ladies' who have persistently filed
the seats on one side Of the room. He
certainly made deep impression on all
the senators present, and at the close of
the morning session comments upon his
testimony were as favorable as they
were numerous.
Concerning the discussion that the
Apostles use their clerical office TO con-
troll the votes of the people of their
faith, he said. mo man or woman can
say that | ever called and asked him
or her TO vote for me as an Apostle OF
the Church." He declared that he IN
all his political work. worked within
the rights of every American citizen,
and that party politics, and not reli-
glous considerations, alone governed
h's political methods. When asked
as to what his course would be on pub
lie matters IL an attempt should be
made by the Church authorities TO con-
irol him, he replied: 81 would vote the
way that thought was best for the
country, 1t is not the business Of the
Church and I would not submit to any
such dictatlon, have never heard OF
attempts to dictate"
The senator told OF the meeting OF the
quorum Of Apostles and declared that
they had endorsed the selection of Mr..
Penrose as an Apostle without knowing
that he had a plural wife. but he said
emphatlcally that he did not desire to
take refuge behind that lack of knowl-
edge AS he thought that Mr. Penrose
had not violated any law Of the Church
ne was not barred from holding office
IN the Church. on the other hand, he
never had and never would endorse "A
man for federal office " he
Knew him TO be living In po-
lygamy lie told the committee
mat an Investigation Is now proceed
ing into the cases Of Apostles Taylor
and Cowley, accused of having violated
the manifesto and that II they are
SHOWN to have married plural wives
since the manifesto was issued or to
nave performed an unlawful marriage
ceremony, he would not vote again to
sustain them.
AT the close OF the morning session
scnotor Burrows earnestly begged
members OF the committee to attend
the afternoon meeting and efforts are
N'N'' w SCI alt hbhfliAttn lll
one additional member Of the COM
n'ltee, Senator Bevcrldge, appeared
uurlng the afternoon session of the
smoot inquiry.
the senator himself resumed the
tahd and first explained his UNDER
e8ndlng Of The remarks Of President
smith at the Ogden meeting Then fol-
io"ed series OF questions designed
90 oring out the fact that the senator
nad no knowledge Of the performance
VI me plural marriage ceremony since
me manifesto, either OF his own knowl-
'ose or by common ropute. The direct
examination occupied jusr ono hour
"'n The witness was turned over to
Mr. rayler,
interest In the case was great today