The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-21

other man. Senator Smoot said he was
1904, that sustained the presidency and
the apostles of the church, but he did at
tend the semi-annual conference in Oc-
tober of last year
The Senator spoke of a meeting of the
apostles and the first presidency before
the October conference and he said that
ar that meeting he inquired of President
Smith if Apostles Cowley and Taylor
had been sustained a. the April confer
ence in view of the testimony before
the Senate committee, that both of these
apostles had taken plural wives since the
manifesto.
The Senator said he objected to having
the men sustained at the October con-
ference and was told by President Smith
that as a member q the church he ought
to know that an offic-.l or a member of
the church could not be communicated
without an investigation and hearing Il
realized this" continued the Senator, but
was told that an investigation would
b., made and I have no doubt that a
very rigid inquiry is now in progress.
Without this promise l would not have
voted to sustain item. Up to the time
OF the testimony before this committee
I had no knowledge that either of the
eighty apostles had violated the law In
that regard nor had I heard anything of
the kind against any other apostles ex-
cept from the testimony given in this
ROOM
Concerning a meeting held Immediately
before the October conference, Senator
Smoot said that he had not been in
formed that the name of Charles w. Pen
rose was to be presented by the president
to fill the position of apostle, made va
can. by the death OF Abram o. Wood
ruff.
Did Not Object.
The Senator was asked If he objected
to the election of Mr.. Penrose.
aid not object to Mr.. Penrose. AT
that time l thought he had only one wife.
hut 1 don't want to hide behind that,
.e Senator continued hastily, for take
The position that when a man has mar
red before the manifesto he can accept
a purely church position. He has not
violated a law of the church and from
a purely ecclesiastical point of view
hold that he is eligible. But | do not
think that man in that status could
hold a government position, either cleo
tive or appointive Neither do l feel that
ti.sre is a man in Utah that thinks a
/ 1lygamist who continues to violate the
laws of the land should hold such a
place. To the best .of my knowledge
there kS not u Il eutidi pAhNS III Ian ~
ed by a polygamst.
| know that the postmaster at Provo
was removed on that ground and there
have been other cases of that kind
''Have YOU recommended to the Presi-
dent the appointment of poygamist
to a Federal Officer asked Mr. Worth
inGton.
'No sir, and do not intend to- re-
pied the Senator.
Further inquiry was made by Mr..
worthington as to the investigation I'M
de. way in the cases of Apostles Cowley
and Taylor. and the witness said: IF
1t should be found that these apostles
or any other office of the church have
taken plural wives since the manifesto
or have solemnized plural marriages for
others since the manifesto, VIII not
vote to sustain them
Relative to the resignation of Benja-
min Cluff as president of the Brigham
Young university on account OF the tact
that he had taken a plural wife since the
manifesto. Senator Smoot said that as a
trustee of the university he took part in