The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-03-30
The Senator From Utah
Scored Heavily Before
the Senate Election
Committee-Charge Of
Plural Wives is Refuted.
Many Who We're Report
ed to be Mormons Give
Evidence That Mistakes
We're Made = Bigamy
Feature Not PractiCed.

Washington, March Ex-senator
Reed Smoot, of Utah, scored heavily
before the senate committee on priv
ileges and elections when his defense
against the charges that he, by rea-
son of his connection with the Nor
mon church, was unfit to be senator,
opened today. Reputable witnesses
from Utah gave. testimony regarding
the senator's fitness in a clear and
convincing manner and the recent
charge that he had two plural wives
was refuted by the affidavits of the
women with whom Ills name had been
connected by witness Owens, who
swore that Owens lied in his testi-
mony. The charge that all of the Of
ficials of the state Of Utah were Nor
mons was conclusively shown to be
false. 1t is likely that the case will
be concluded this week as A. s. Worth
ing, attorney for the defense, de-
clared his witnesses would not occupy
more than a couple of days.
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE.
At the morning session Robert J.
Shields, of Salt Lake, Gentle, gave
evidence contradictory of that of c.
A. Smurthwaite, who swore that he
had been communicated by the Nor
mon church because he had opposed
the church securing a monopoly Of
the salt business. Shields swore that
Smurthwaite had tried to sell control
of his salt company to the Inland
Crystal Company but that the latter
did not consider 1t good investment.
He swore positively that President
Smith, of the church did not take any
active part in the affairs of the In
land Company.
Senator Dubois inquired concerns
ing the organization of the American
party to oppose the Mormon church,
and the witness said there would be
less strife between Mormons and Cen
tiles if there never had been such
a party
NOT A BIGAMIST.
James H. Linfold, president of the
Brigham Young college, the next wit
ness, said he was a Mormon, born in
the church, but had never been biga-
mist. He was questioned about the
reasons for the dismissal from the col
lege of Professor Wolff, who had tes-
titled that he had been discharged be-
cause of his refusal to pay the church
tithes. Witness said that the real
reason was that the professor drank
too much.
Attorney Worthington produced a
Mormon Sunday school song book
containing America" "Hail Column
bia," and "The Star Spangled Ban
ner," and witness said those songs
were frequently sung in the schools.
Attorney John G. Carlisle for the
protestants, asked witness whether he
believed in the principle of plural
marriage. my belief in the principle
of plural marriage" replied the wit
ness, docs not extend SO far as to
carrying it into, practice"
THAT does not answer the ques-
tion," objected Attorney Carlisle.
81 believe that from sociological
and religious point of view it would
solve many questions" was the re-
ply. &
BELIEVES IN PLURAL MAR
RAGE.
Without regard TO whether it would
solve questions or not" persisted
Carlisle do you believe in the prin-
ciple?"
"Yes, l believe it is great prfn-
ciple," was the reply.
Attorney Carlisle then asked wit
ness whether Zyna Card, the libra
rian and one of the teachers in his
college. was not the plural wife of
C. o. Card.
1T is so reputed, was the reply
"She will resign at the close of the
present school year"
Witness said that Mrs. Cards plu-
raj marriage took place before the
manifesto.
Affidavits were presented from Maud
May Babeock and Rebecca E. Little
denying the statements of witness ow-
ems that they are plural wives or ever
occupied such relations.
Charles q. Marks. an attorney of
Salt Lake. went through the list OF
officials Of the state of Utah, hereto
fore presented to the committee as
having been Mormons and pointed ont
a great many errors. naming over so
who were in reality Gentiles. At the