The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-02-21

Of the Latter-Day Saints before all
else, even his country.
These statements were made before
the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections at hearing Of the case
Of Senator Reed Smoot of Utah, by
Prof. Walter III. Wolfe, former teacher
OF geology in Brigham Young College
at Logan, Utah, and apostate Of the
Mormon church. The hearing was the
first of this session Of the SmoOt case,
which was dragged along through the
two previous sessions. 1t is probable
hearings In the case will be held inter-
mittently throughout the present ses-
sion. The investigation Of Prof. Wolfe
occupied the hearing. John G. Carlisle
of New York conducted the prosecu-
ton, and A. S. Worthington Of Wash
ington appeared for Senator Smoot,
Prof. Wolfe testified that he had
been Mormon until Jan. /, this year,
when his connection was severed
through failure to comply with the de-
mands for tithes. Twelve times"
answered Prof. Wolfe when asked how
many times he had been through the
endowment temple.
Did you take any obligations or
oaths when you went through" asked
Mr.. Carlisle.
Every time" he replied. Only one
time had he taken the oath for him
self, however. he said, the other oaths
having been for dead persons. Asked
to detail them, he said there had been
obligations of chastity, sacrifice and
vengeance.
what do you mean by vengeance%'
asked Mr.. Carlisle. do you mean
there was promise or pledge given to
avenge something's
The witness then said that this oath
had been taken:
"You and each of you do covenant
and pray, and never cease to pray, God
to avenge the blood Of the prophet on
this nation" .E ...
The OATH he said, was taken stand
ing, and at the conclusion each one
taking it was required to bow the head
and say Il do"
Prof. Wolfe said that in southern
Utah and New Mexico polygamy is
practiced with some freedom.
Prof Wolfe said he believed the "seed
of treason" was sown in the oath Of
vengeance. In answer to questions by
Chairman Burrows he described the
interior Of the temple. Among the pic
lures was one of Senator Smoot.
An effort was made by Mr. Worth
ington to produce an unqualified an
swer as to whether there was anything
in the endowment temple ceremony
which would interfere with anyone
taking it in serving in the United
States Senate, and whether such per-
sons duties to the church and country
would conflict. The witness declared
that every Mormon's first duty is to
the Church of the Latter Day Saints.
With reference to the list Of MEM
bers of the Utah Constitutional Con-
'vention, members of the Legislature
and State officers accused Of being
polygamists, Mr.. Worthington said it
might be necessary to call from 100 to
200 witnesses to disprove the testimony
of the prosecution, unless the commit
tee permitted the filing of affidavitS
The last witness for those opq0-:-,:i
Smoot was C. A. Smurthwait, of 0<3Sa,
Utah. After explaining the tithing sys-
tenn Of the Mormon church Mr.. Smurth-
waite was asked if the tithes were in
vested in corporations. II am fearful
they are" he replied. He estimated
that tithing brought the church rev.
enue of from $1,5OO,oO0 to 100000 a
lear, but no accounting had been made
so far as lie knew.