Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-11
ABSENTEE WITNESSES.

IT would be nothing short OF self.
stultific- ton FOR one to believe that
all these most important witnesses
CHANGED 10 leave the United States al
about the same time and without ref.
erence 10 the investigation. An the
facts and circumstances surrounding
the transaction point to the conclusion
that every one OF the Witnesses left
the country az the instance OF the ruler,
OF the Mormon" Church and avoid ties.
flying before the committee. Il is fur.
thermore fact which cannot be cues.
toned that every one OF the witnesses
Is under the direction and control OF
the First Presidency and the Twelve
Apostles OF the Mormon" Church.
Had those officials seen NJ to direct
the witnesses named 10 return TO tho
United States and give their testimony
before the committee they would have
been obliged 10 DO so, The reason why
the said witnesses left the country
and have refused 10 come before the
committee is easy 10 understand. IN
view OF the testimony showing the con- I
tracing Of plural marriages by promi- |
nent officials or the Mormon" Church |
within the past few years.
Aside from this 70 was shown BY the !
testimony and IN such a way that the |
fact could not possibly be controversial.
that a majority Of those who give the /
law 10 members Of the Church are now
and have been for years living In open. |
notorious and shameless poiygamous /
COnabitation. The list OF those who are /
thus guilty OF violating the laws Of the |
state and rules Of public decency j. |
headed by joseph +. Smith. the First |
President. Prophet, Seer and Revela- |
tor OF the Mormon Church.
LIST or ALLEGED PoLYGAMIsTs. !
The list also includes George Teas
dale, an Apostle; John W. Taylor. an |
Apostle. John Henry Smith, an Apos-
tie, Merriner W. Merrill, an Apostle:
Heber J. Grant. an Apostle: ". r. /
Cowley an Apostle. Charles W PEN
rose, an Apostle. and Francis NJ Ly-
man, who Is not only an Apostle. but
the probable successor of Joseph +.
Smith as President OF the Church. Brig
ham II. Roberts, one Of the presidents
Of the Seventies and a leading official
N the Church. J. NJ. Tanner. superin-
tendent Of the Church schools Andrew
Jensen. assistant historian of the
Church. Thomas II. Merrill a Bishop
% the Church. Alma Merrill one OF
the presidents Of a church stake: An
gus NJ. Cannon. a Patriarch OF the
Mormon" Church. a man named
3reenwald, who Is az the head OF a
Church school: George Reynolds. one OF
he presidents Of the Seventies and FIRST
assistant superintendent Of Sunday
schools Of the world. George Brlmhali. |
president Of Brigham Young university.
md Joseph Hickman. teacher IN Brig /
lam Young university
The officials named were appointed. [
'ither directly or lndlrecily.by the First
and Twelve Apostles; ard I
N the case Of J. NJ. Tanner. his an |
lointment 10 his present office was
made after he had been compelled 10
'esign his position a. president Of the
agricultural college because Of the fact
hat he was q polygamist.
These facts abundantly Justify the |
assertion made In the protest that the
upreme authorities IN the Church. q
whom Senator-elect Reed Smoot is nn,.
oswlt. the First Presidency Of Twelve
APOSTLES. not only connlve a. violation
4. but protect and honor these viola.
ors Of the laws against polygsmy ana
oohsbliatlon.'
Another chapter IL devoted 20 the
manifesto and the statement 81 one
Witness set forth. that the manifesto
: only a trick 20 beat the devil A. his
wn game"
SENATOR SHOOTS POSITION.
The majority report eharacterlzes 20
wholly untenable" the position that
ecause smoot himself does not prl-.
lee polygamy, and there Is mo- evidence
. show that he has personally and IN
lvidually encouraged the practise In
Tiers he ought not 10 be condemned
ecause 81 the acts Of his associates. ID
! charged that SmOot Is an INSOFAR
ole part OF the governing body Of the
Mormon Church. ana those who COM
0se that organization form a unit. en-
ntlrety, and whatever Is done by ihat
sanitation Is the act Of each ana Eve
ny member theranf. ana whatever
Obey Il adopted and pursued b. tie
ody which controls the Mormon
hurch Mr. smoot must b held 10 he =
for ~ a member OF that =
ody.
The report declares that smoot knew Q
ie poiygamous practiSes % President Z
NTH and other Church officials he has
istained by his vote as an Apostle. !
M ~ no time uttered a word OF pro- !
~ against the conduct Of his assori-
Ice. but on the contrary has sustained