The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-20

his wishes. what would be your at
titude ?"
Il would vote as I believed was for
the best interests of the country
What would be your position If the
president of the church should at
tempt to influence your vote as q, SEN
Il would not submit to it for an
instant"
What was the state of your knowI-
edge regarding the polygamous rela-
tions of President Joseph F. Smith up
to the time he testified before this
commission 2"
.sI knew that he had more than one
wife, but I knew nothing of the man
ner of his living
witnesses have testified here that
the statement of President Smith took
your feeling in regard to that?''
81 was surprised at the number of
children born in his families since the
manifesto, but not surprised at all as
to the number of his wives
What was the state of your knowl-
edge concerning the family relations
of other apostles 2?
The senator explained that he had no
intimate acquaintance with the faTni-
lies of the other apostles at the time he
became an apostle in 1900. When asked
about their general regulations and
whether he had made any protest
poIygamOus relations he said the. gov
ernnlent os the United States had ac-
cepted the existing conditions; that
there had been no prosecutions and that
the attitude of the people was that of
liberation. He declared that the people
felt that the best and in fact the only
way to settle the conditions was to let
the polygamists die off. Mr.. Worthing-
ton asked if that sentiment of tolera
tion extended to plural marriages,
which have occurred since the mani
festo.
earnestly. Il don't believe there is a
good citizen of Utah who would con-
done new plural marriages.
What action did you take to put a
stop to the polygarnous relations of the
other apostles ?" asked Mr.. Worthing
None at all. I never thought of it
any more than any other citizen would
Senator Smoot said he attended most
of the meetings of the apostles. In re-
ply to Mr. Worthington ne said that
the meetings were held in a private
room in the temple and Mr.. Worthing-
ton then asked:
IN reference to the charge here that.
the apostles had entered into a con-
spiracy to further polygany, what can
you say3"
at any Of the meetings." Senator
Smoot said the apostles frequently were
called in to advise the president of tho
church. but that he had the power to
do as he pleased after the advice was
given He was asked if anything ever
had come I'D at any of these meetings
that might be regarded as furthering
poIygamy and he replied more ennphatt-
er mentioned.
Continuing he denied that there was
a particule of foundation for the story
of a conspiracy
q l.
mony of President Smith that he had
five wives and was living with them IN
violation of the law Senator Smoot said
that until that time he had no more
knowledge than any other man.
Senator SnoOt said he was not pres
enf at the conference in April, 1904, that
sustained the presidency and the apos-
ties of the church, but he did attend
the seni-annual conference IN OCTOBER
of last year.
The senator spoke of a, meeting of
the apostles and the first presidency
before the October conference and he
said that at that meeting he inquired
of President Smith if Apostles CoWley
and Taylor had been sustained at the
April conference in view of the tesu-
mony before the senate that both OF
the apostles had taken plural wives
since the manifesto The senator SAID
he objected to having the men sus-
tanned at the October meeting and. was
told by the president that as a member
of the church he ought TO KNOW Inat an
official or a member of the church
could not be excommunicated or dis
without an investigation
and hearing.
IT realized this" continued the SEN
ator, "but was told that an investiga-
tion was made and I have no doubt
that a very rigid inquiry is now IN
progress. Without this promise
would not have voted to sustain them
Up to the time of the testimony before
this committee I had no knowledge
that either of the apostles had violated
the law in that regard, nor had heard
anything of the kind against any. other
apostle except from the testimony
given in this room"
Concerning a meeting held irnmed- |
lately before the October conference !
Senator Smoot said that he had not
been Informed that the name of Chas. |
w. Penrose was to be presented by |
President Smith to fill the position of |
apostle made vacant by the death. OF
A AbrahaIn o. Woodruff.