New-York tribune., 1905-01-21
SNO0T DENIES CHARGES.
TOOK NO DLSLOYAL OATH.
Soss the Mormon Church Does Not
Control His Conduct as Senator.


sns Elections was aroused to-day by the t,n-
- determination 70 put Senator Smoot on
- s,snd in his own behalf. without waiting for
- witnesses the way from Utah The
60 was under direct snd cross examination All
= ana frankly answered most OF the questions
=. - him he acquitted himself excellently. ana
F.-s6 70 make a favorable impression on the
.b.-s Of the committee. At 4:So .. m an ad-
,r,ent was taken out OF consideration for the
E,ress who he's been suffering with indigestion
e,re-al weeks The examination Of Senator
-. - rslated 10 matters Intimately connected with
Sow Church policy and his duty toward the
80 as compared with his duties as q Senator
=. .sa be had not taken any oaths that would in
.ore with his loyalty TO the government His
-,s-rtcn OF the endowment house ceremony was
Ss--,ct he sad but he was sure no obligations
-. .aten 10 avenge the blood OF the prophets on
49,, ..tbis nation" OF this generation" as had
-, 5eolsred by witnesses for the protestants. A
.os-v of the committee he's been attending the
too-,nes but when II was announced that Senator
z-noot would testify the absentees were sent for.
~. ee-ator had not been uhder examination long
lore The room was filed and Passageways were
-. onen with great difhculty, a s Worthington
= counsel for the defence. conducted the direct
szanination
- Eis Father and mother sre both dead HIS
-o+ber was 6 plural wife Concerning his own
s.pv he said he was married or September II,
81 and has only one wife They have six children
The ais Elal1Ilase OlQ not Iake the en-
s,vments but IN 1880 he Went through the endow-
- house Il the request OF his father. He told
rs father that he cid not care much about taking
the ceremony
senator smoot said be had been engaged IN mer-
,,s business most OF his life The only Office in
tbs Church he has held other than that OF apostle
zas counsellor 10 the president OF the Utah stake
n zion ana Re declared that he had taken no
oaths OF any character when ne became counsellor
nor had he taken any oath when he became
apostle
Nr Worthington asked Senator smoot about the
endowment ceremony and he replied. u could not
give Il Il wanted TO-"
Why n0t2"
Because have no distinct recollection OF the
ceremony.
No OATH OF VENGEANCE"
Ny. Torthington read what witnesses have de-
elared TO be the "oath Of vengeance" and asked
Senator smoot # there was anything Of that char
acter IN the ceremony.
There was not
Was there anything OF vengeance upon this gen.
eranony'
NO sir"
Was there anything about svenging the blood Of
Joseph Smith"
There was not, and it would have been very
strange Il there had been Joseph Smith was the
insugaior Of the endowment ceremony. and it
would have been very strange II he had asked his
people 10 avenEe his blood when he alive"
as lAtIt NA-AAAe Al N-AE SS@N@--S--@ "-'-SA
would affect your loyalty 70 your countryr'
There was not"
How came you TO be q candidate for SENATOR"
We'll. had been rather active IN politics before
the Division Was made party lines. took the
leading papers OF both national parties. and at first
believed myself to be a Democrat, but as studied
politics 7 found myself gradually drifting 10 the
principles OF the Republican party, and Joined that
party when the division came"
He explained in detail his interest IN political
AFFAIR." saying that in 1895 his political friends in
Prove most OF them non-Mormons. asked him to
run either for Governor for the United States
Senate.
y told them" he said that did not care 20 run
Cor once until could get our own county in the
right political column. and that when that time
should Ike &c go 10 the Senate We organ
tied ana carried Utah for the Republican party in
lsO announced my candidacy for the United
States Senate IN l9O2 OF course knew OF the rule
which required TO ask the presidency Of the
Church II ] could nun"
Mr. WOrthington asked him 70 explain this rule.
Senator smoot replied that It referred only 10
officials o. the Church. and amounted simply 10
leave OF absence from their Church duties He said
be went 70 the first presidency while II was sitting
In one Of It's regular meetings, and formally applied
for leave He told the first presidency that II elect
Cd ne would require leave OF absence 30 as not 10
interfere with his duties as Senator. That con-
sent was given some time early in May, and
announced my candidacy May 19, 1902" Mr.. smoot
e--4 A4A44-AS-4e-~S-s oN5GAA ~ A6~----O
my forces for campaign"
your Church triencs?' asked Mr.. Worthington-
ply.
NOT INFLUENCED BY MORMON CHURCH.
Was the Mormon Church e factor in politics In
your candidacy FOR the Senator" asked Mr.. Worth
ingt0n.
Not in the least No more than the Presbyterian
or The Methodist churches. No man woman
can say that ever asked them 70 vote the Re
publican ticket because apostle. What
ever did TO promote my candidacy was based
upon Republican arguments alone"
llo any one ever attempt 70 influence you TO
uciale 70 you in your potics2'
Sot IN a1y way; would not permit TT
lhaorseInent " your candidacy"
II the president Of The church Should ask You to
VOC acee- ding 10 his wishes, what would be your
,. ~ would vote believed was for the best In
'Nhat would Be your position if the president OF
Jhe church should attempt to influence you IN your
= would submit TO IT for a minute"
,- a hsl vas the state of your know edge regard
y 80 poySagnous relations OF Pres-dent Joseph
ro saatn Up TO the time he testified before this
= knew thar he had more than one wife. but I
AasW .'5%. nothing Of the manner OF his living"
q President smith TOOK the people by surprise
".IaI vas your feeling in regard 10 that?
n ms family since the manifesto but not sur
''-iSS a5S-St st s as 70 tIe number OF his wives"
DSllIAng the family relations OF other apostles?'
a.. srnoof explained that he had intimate
--t@-At@nce with the families Of the other apostles
ssl,5 o5e TINE he became apostle. in 1900 When
f fgo & &ssou; their general regulations, and whether
- Lae mace any protest against those reputed 10
-.-le N polygamous relations. he said that the
sst-.-llett q lns United States had accepted the
.---1b conoiuons; that there had been prose-
,S.ss S.'-s ano that the attitude OF the people was
- y loefaton. He declared that the ueope felt
6e oo,.3 , pest and IN TACT the only way 70 settle
9ns was TO let the polyEamists die of
.1- horthington asked II that sentiment Of toer-
s-oL extended 10 plural marriages which have
occurred since the manifesto
PLURAL MARRIAGES DENOUNCED