Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-09
CASE AGAINST .SMOOT
Testimony in Behalf of the Pro-
testants All In.
DEFENSE NOT YET READY
May Be Necessary to Summon Over
100 Witnesses.
SMURTHWAITE rs RECALLED
Tells of the Effort of the Mormon
Church to Crush Him Because He
Was a Business Rival.
sMURTHWAITE Is RECALLED

The introduction of testimony against
Senator Reed Smoot of Utah was closed
by the protestants counsel today. A. s..
Wcrthington, who represents the senator
said he was not ready to proceed, but tha:
he would communicate with Chairman Bur-
rows within few days. The character
OF the evidence offered this session, said
Mr.. Worthington had convinced him OF
the desirability of calling witnesses for the
defense. With reference to the list of
members of the Utah constitutional con-
vention, members Of the legislatures and
state offices, charged to have been polyga-
mists, Mr.. Worthington said that it might
be necessary to call from 100 to 200 wit
nesses to disprove the testimony of the
prosecution, unless the committee permit
ted the filing of affidavits He said that
Senator Smoot was anxious that the Gaze
should be closed and that there should MOI
be one day Of avoidable delay.
Effort to Crush Smurthwaite.
c. A Smurthwaite of Ogden was called
for cross-examination by Mr.. Worthington
In the proceedings today before the COM
mittee on privileges and elections The wit
ness said the usual course to settle diffi-
culties between members of the church is
to lay complaints with the teachers of the
ward in which the aggrieved reside ann
the bishop, after hearing the complaint or
dinarily instructs the teachers to do every
thing in their power to adjust the differ
ences.
hir. Worthington asked Mr. Smurthwaite
II ne mad any reason to believe his trouble
with President Smith over their rival salt
interests, could not have been adjusted in
the same way
The witness replied: Yes. my knowl-
edge of the leaders of the church convinced
me that was impossible
Senator Knox then inquired of the wit
ness If the Mormon first presidency had
followed up its threat to ruin him because
ne insisted upon continuing in the salt busi-
ness.
He replied that his company went on and
made salt, but it's competitors reduced the
price of crude salt from s. to 81 ton. The
witness said his company had been COM
pelled to pile up its production. The ef-
feet, he said, was to injure his credit and
depreciate the value of the stock of the
company.
After explaining the tithing system of
the Mormon church, Mr.. Snurthwaite was
asked If the tithes were invested In cor
porations! !.
Il am fearful that they are" he replied.
He estimated that the tithing brought the
church revenue of from 81 100000 to So
100000 a year, but no accounting had been
made so far as he knew.
The protestants' counsel then announced
that their case was closed.
Chairman Burrows said yesterday after
noon that he would insist upon closing the
investigation and making a report to the
Senate this session.
An interested observer at yesterday Is
hearings was Miss keiffer, daughter of a
former prime minister of Holland. who is
the guest Of the minister from the Neither
lands.
The Church's Monopolistic Effort.
Henry w. Lawrence Of Salt Lake was the
first witness at the afternoon session yes
terday. He was born Of Mormon parents
and left the church in 1869, because he be-
came doubtful of the church system He
said he was associated with others in the
publication of the Utah Magazine, which
advocated the opening of mines against the
teachings of the holy priesthood. His asso-
ciates were excommunicated because of this
policy early In 1869, but action against him
failed. for the reason he thought, that he
was then man of affairs
Concerning the endowment house cere-
mony, which he said he took early in his
life, he said an oath was administered obli-
eating him to covenant and agree before
Coo, his agents and the witnesses assem-
bled to avenge the blood OF the prophets
Joseph Smith, Hyrum Smith, David Patten
ana Farley p. Pratt. His testimony Is the
first that has been given by any witness
using the names Of David Patten and Par
ley +. Pratt in the obligation. He said
that as administered to him the oath did
not stipulate that the vengeance must be
taken upon this nation" and In that re-
spect the oath was ambiguous He said he
had participated later in administering the
ceremonies to others, and that no person
couid go through the endowment house
Wtnout taxing the oaths. These were ad-
min1stered orally, he said, and that as diff
Ierent parties of1cate 1t was likely that
tne wording of the obligation might vary
at the different ceremonies.
Tyranny Of the Priesthood.
Dnring the testimony Mr. Lawrence re-
ferred frequently to the tyranny of the
priesthood that existed during his mem
bership In the church, and Chairman Bur
rows asked If that tyranny existed today.
The witness said that there was more
nberality shown now, but that man who
desired to continue In good standing in the
church must obey the leaders in all things
In regard to teachings of the church, he
SAID that nowhere in the books was there
10 De found anything directing loyalty to
the government, and that they sang a song
containing the lines Brigham Young is
our king" He said that from the preach
ings he had heard he believed that the
teachings were the same today. He said
.nat the revelation of polygamy must be
believed by good church member wheth-
er ne practiced 1t or not, for to suspend
one revelation would be to suspend them
ALL
Adr. Lawrence IeStff1e0 that ne had been
creditably informed that the Woodruff man
tfesto had been opposed by quorum of
the apostles and therefore was OF no force
and effect. He declined to reveal the name
of his informant on the ground that 1t
would injure him and was permitted to
withdraw his statement.
Mormons In ohlcial Positions.
C. NJ. Owen. who has been employed in
getting evidence against Mr.. Smoot, was
then called.
Mr.. Carlisle submitted list of the mem
bers of the constitutional convention, all
OF the members Of legislatures, all state
officers and others who have held ONCE
since Utah was admitted to statehood. Mr..
ti.ose represented every governor secre-
tary of state, treasurer. auditor and super
intendent OF schools had been Mormon;