Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-08
ASKED TO AID SMOOT
Wolfe Says Senator Was In
dorsed by the High Council.
PUNISHED BY THE MORMONS
Speech Against Plural Marriages Was
Not Permitted.
PUNISHED BY THE MORM0NS
EXPERIENCE OF W. J. THOMAS
G. A. Smurthwaite Tells How Presi-
dent Smith Tried to Drive Him
Out of the Salt Business.

In the investigation Of protests against
Senator Reed Smoot Of Utah before the
committee on privileges and elections Prof.
Walter NJ Wolfe, who was a teacher in
Mormon schools and member Of the
church until recently, was today subjected
to a severe cross-examination by A. 3.
Worthingten, counsel for the senator.
A large number of letters which had been
written by Wolfe to members of the church
were put into the record to show that ne
had not made complaints of the conduct
of Benjamin Cluff on the Mexican expedi-
ton, as he had testified in direct exami-
nation. He denied charges by counsel tina.
he had been intoxicated in several public
places and that he had expressed contri-
ton because of his refusal to pay tithing
Mr.. Worthington will call large num-
Der of witnesses to discredit Wolfe.
On redirect examination the names or
a number of residents Of Provo were read
to the witness, and ten or them, he said,
were living II. polygamous cohabitation. He
said he knew George Taylor, brother-ln-
law of Mr. Smoot and that Taylor had
asked him (Wolfe) to give up his demo-
cratic faith and come in with the great
majority
Asked to Aid Shoots Election.
This was just previous to the election OF
the legislature that elected Mr. Smoot 10
the Senate, he said, and. further, that
Taylor asked him to do all he could for
the election of Mr.. Smoot.
Il told him. said the witness that
would if thought 1t to be the will of the
Lord Mr.. Taylor said he believed it was the
will of God, and it seems to have been. lie
then told me that Mr.. Smoot's candidacy
had been discussed and indorsed by the
n 11ieyl, nf
a prayer circle.
In response to questions by several MEM
bers Of the committee, Wolfe said that in
Brigham Young College. Oyena Jorgensen
de1itB whom ne knew to have bee6zne plural
wives. He thought that children of polyga-
NOUS relations looked upon polygamy as
divine Institution. OF the provo citizens
whose names were read, only one, Thomas
Chamberlain, had entered pOlygamy since
the manifesto. A number of the songs al
legged to have been hostile to the govern
ment Of the United States we're put into
the record, and Wolfe said those songs
were sung frequently.
Took the Oath Of Vengence.
William J. Thomas of Spanish Fork, Utah.
the next witness, said he had gone through
the endowment house and had taken an
oath to "avenge the blood of the prophet
Joseph Smith upon this nation and to teach
his children to do so down to the third and
fourth generations" He said he was drop
ped from the church in the eighties because
he had spoken openly against plural mar
riages,
Senator Knox asked If he had ever done
anything to carry out his obligation to
''avenge the blood of the prophet upon this
nation
mo, sir. I enlisted twice to defend this
nation said Thomas.
The witness told of NJ. Nicholson, former
ly an employe of Thomas, going to Mex
leo to take a plural wife Nicholson told
the witness he was going where he could
live his religion"
John p. Holugren Of Bear River City,
Utah, member of the Utah legislature
from 1889 to 1903, testified that he voted
against the Evans BILL prohibiting the first
wife from testifying against her husband in
polygamy proceedings. He was defeated
after this, but said he thought 1t was not
his vote that defeated him. He said he took
the endowment house oath in 1889. He re-
peated the oath of vengeance, and as he
remembered it he agreed to avenge the
blood of both Joseph and Hiram Smith.
Business Rival Of the Church.
Charles A. Smurthwaite of Ogden. Utah,
testified that he had been communicated
by the Mormon Church in April, 1893. He
is a director in the Beck Salt Works, and
told of having been called to Salt Lake
City to see President Joseph F. Smith and
members of the first presidency which held
the controlling interest in the Inland Crys-
tai Salt Company. In company with Rich
ard Taylor, Mr.. Smurthwaite met the first
presidency, he said, and was told by Presi-
dent Smith that If he remained in the salt
business in competition with the church he
would be ruined.
81 told President Smith," said the wit
ness, that / had the power to crush my
child, but not the right. Mr.. Smith replied
that this was business, and told him that
thought business meant profit.
The witness then detailed the entire in
terview, which resulted in no agreement, as
the church insisted that none of it's MEM
bers should enter into competition with the
church. Mr.. Smurthwaite was excommuni-
Gated, he said. in consequence of this dis
agreement. He spoke against the church
being in business. and had told his bishop
that, as Joseph F. Smith was the exclusive
agent of God in the church, his particpa-
tion in business was equivalent to God be-
ing in business. Finally. he said he had
publicly disclaimed Smiths authority as
prophet. and spoke against his testimony
on the sub.cct of polygamous cohabitation,
and was tried on charges of apostacy and
unchristianlike conduct and found guilty.