Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-26
DECREASE IN INTEREST
MANY CHAIRS VACANT AT THE
sMooT HEARING.
Evidence in Rebuttal Offered by the
Defense-Mormon Influence in
Business and Education.


mony taken in the case against Senator
| Smoot of Utah was presented to the Sen
ate committee on privileges and elections
| today The scenes in the committee room
| were far different from those that mark
| ed the introduction of testimony heretofore
| covering a period of two years. Then there
was rush for seats and standing room was
| taxed. Today there were many vacant
! seats and those occupied We're held mostly
| by intimate friends of the senator.
A S. Worthington attorney for the de-
| fense, said he could close the examination
| of his witnesses in two days at the out
| side unless the cross-examination was more
extended than he expected. John G. Car
Isle, former Secretary of the Treasury. was
the attorney for the protestants.
The first witness was Robert J. Shields
of Salt Lake general sales agent of the
Inland Crystal Salt Company, the president
of which is Joseph f. Smith. the head of
the Mormon Church. Mr.. Shields is gem
tile and never has been a member of the
Norman Church. He was recalled to re-
fute the testimony of c. A. Smurthwaite,
which was to the effect that the Norman
Church was so actively engaged in the
salt business as to gain a control amount
ing to monopoly and that he (Smurth-
Walte) had been accommodated because
he would not consent to be driven out of a
business which rivaled a church industry.
The witness said that Smurthwaite had
sent representatives and afterward called
| himself TO try to get the Inland Crystal
Company TO buy the Beck Salt Company
in which Smurthwaite held the majority
of stock. Mr.. Shields said he declined 20
buy on the ground that there were so
many other concerns IN the field that buy
ing one factory would not materially les
sen the competition. President Smith was
not present at any of these interviews, and
in fact took no part in the management
of the company
Senator Dubois inquired concerning the
organization of the American party to OPP
pose the Mormon Church. and the wit
ness said there would be less strife be
tween Mormons and Gentiles If there never
had been such a party.
-. Prof, Wolfe's Dismissal.
Prof. James H. Linford president of The
Brigham Young College of Logan. testi-
fed that Prof. Walter NJ. Wolfe had not
been dismissed from the college and the
church because of the failure to pay his
tithing, as he had said on the stand. The
dismissal. said Prof. Linford, had been
because of continued intoxication.
The witness said he was superintendent
OF the college Sunday school and held a
priesthood in the Seventy" He said that
America Hail, Columbia The Star
Spangled Banner" and other songs of pa
tIiOtism We're taught in the Mormon pri-
mary classes. He said that in the years
he had been connected with the college
re had never heard of one of his students
becoming n plural wife.
On cross-e examination, Mr.. Carlisle
brought out through the Introduction OF a
1898 edition OF the Sunday school song
| book. that America" and THE Star Span
gled Banner were added TO the book since
the Mormon investiga ton began.
The witness was asked whether he be-
heved In polygamy the principle of plural
marriage.
Believes in Plural Marriage
lie said that his belief in the principle
did not extend to the practice of the pr1n-
ciple under present conditions.
That does not answer my question:" said
Ny Carlisle
From sociological point of view, I be-
lieve 1t would solve many existing diffi-
culties." said the witness
This is not an answer again said Mr.
Carlisle. DO you believe in the principle
OF plural marriage?'
Yes. sir, I do" replied the witness hesi-
tatingly.
Mr.. Carlisle dropped this form of exam
ination at this point and inquired into the
relations of Prof Wolfe to Brigham Young
College.
Prof Linford said the motto of the COL
lege TO fight the liquor traffic.
Mr.. Carlisle asked IL the Zion Co-opera-
tive Mercantile institution OF Salt Lake and
the Smoot Drug Company of Provo. both
Mormon concerns. were not engaged in SELL
ing liquor
The witness said he knew only by gen
eral hearsay that they sell liquors Zyna
r. Card librarian of the Brigham Young
a Mormon wife. He said he had not taken
steps to have her dismissed because of this
relation.
The committee took a recess until pm