Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-02-08
EVIL OF POLYGAMY
SWAMP|NG THE WEST
AoPmoRs Openly Defy Federal
Laws and Take Wives
Where They will.
V0llMC CIRlC AIulhVc UIrTIMc
YOUNG GIRLS ALWAYS VICTIMS
Apostatc Member of Sect Tells Sen.
ate Committee How Leaders in
Church Endorse Movement to Lead
contidins But Wcak,Mindcd Women
Into Plural Marriages
(By Associated Prcss.)

WASHINGTON. ID. c., Feb. u
Hearings in the case of Senator Reed
Smoot were resumed today before the
committee on privileges and cleo
tons.
The investigation of the protests
against the Utah Senator retaining
his seat continued through two SEES.
sions of Congress. and today marked
the beginning OF meetings which the
committee is likely to hold intermit-
tently throughout the present session.
The first witness was Professor
Walter NJ. Wolfe, formerly teacher
of geology In Brigham Young College.
at Logan, Utah, and an apostate of
the church. John c. Carlisle. of
New York, conducted the prosecution,
and A. S. Worthington, OF this city.
defended the Senator.
Secedes From the Sect.
Professor Wolfe testified that lie
had been Mormon until January |
this year. when his connection was
severed through failure to comply
with the demands for tithes.
He was asked to tell what he knew
of the alleged plural marriage of
Professor Benjamin Cluff and Flor,
ence Reynolds. both teachers at Pro.
vo. This case occupied a prominent
place in the former hearings. in
detailing what he knew of their rela-
tons, he told of Mormon expedition
To Mexico. Professor Wolfe said
that he had been informed at that
time by Clun that he had married
lived together on that "trip. President
Smith, he said, referred to Florence
as Sister Clun."
Took Pledues Tmelve Tip,ac
Twelve times" answered Professor
Wolfe when asked how many times
he had been through the endowment
house; or temple. he explained, as
the endowment house was torn down
many years ago.
did you take any obligations or
oaths when you went through?" ask
ed Mr.. Carlisle
Every time" he replied
Asked to detail them he said there
had been obligations of chastity and
sacrifice and vengeance.
Vow of Revenge Taken.
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 avcnge the
blood OF the prophet on this nation"
The oath. he said. was taken stand
ing, and at the conclusion each one
taking 1t was required to bow his
head and say, 81 do"
After giving many other details of
the ceremony. such as the manner
ct amounting he was asked concerning
trial had by the board in Brigham
Young Academy as to the reasons
for long absence of Cuff from the
Mexican expedition. The witness
said Apostle Reed Smoot was among
those in attendance and that he had
heard testimony given by the witness
himself that the reason for Cuffs
absence was because he was living
apart with a plural wife.
Another plural marriage was spok.
EN- of by the witness. This was be-
tween Ovena Jorgensan, Il student at
Brigham YOung's Academy, and BRO.
Their" Okey, with. whom the girl be-
came enamored. according to con
fession she is alleged to have made
to Professor Wolfe.
He said that the girl came to his
house and gave as an excuse for an
absence from school that she had
gone to Juarez, Mexico, and had been
married in polygamy. This had been
with the consent of President George
.. Cannon. The girl came back to
eiC oNhSoi anu Siduucleu III lue CidSS
of 1900, said the witness.
On further examination. conducted
by Chairman Burrows. Professor
Wolfe said that in southern Utah
and New Mexico polygamy is talked
with some freedom. He quoted
Apostle John Henry Smith as having
said concerning the manifesto:
"a Trick to Beat the Devil"
1T is trick TO beat the devil at
his own game" He quoted John
Wilson. CT Logan. a prominent Nor
mon as saying:
1.-THE manifesto enables the church
to exclude men who ought not to
have more than one wife and gives
to worthy men an opportunity to
take plural wives"
Both OF these statements. the with
ness said. were made in his church.
To the best of my knowledge"
said Professor Wolfe, "polygamous
rehabilitation has increased very ma
terially since Utah was admitted as
] Olut0.