The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-05-13
THE SORT OF HOLY LEADER,


As to whether or not there is law
breaking in Utah it is only necessary
to take the utterances of the chief
prophet himself, and to note his own
conduct in everyday life-as also de-
scribed by himself. When he testified
in Washington concerning the scope Of
the Woodruff manifesto, he used the
following language;
The manifesto declares positively, the
prohibition OF plural marriages. and In
the examination before the master in
chancery the president Of the church and
other leading members Of the church
agreed before the master In chancery
that the spirit and meaning Of that reve-
latlon applied to unlawful cohabitation as
We'll as TO plural marriages.
Joseph T. Smith g testimony indicated
to the world how he is observing the
injunction of what he terms "reve.
lation' of his church. He told the
Senate committee that there had been
born to him eleven children by his
plural wives since that alleged revela-
tion was received. And the twelfth
child has been born to him since he
gave that testimony. He was one of
the "leading members of the church -
who said to the master in chanccry that
the manifesto inhibited unlawful CO.
habitation. But In defiance of his own
Interpretation of that document he has
continued the mode Of life which he
established for himself under the orig
lnal polygamous commandment Of the
Mormon church. But to show in what
respect he holds the law and the senti-
ment of civilization, the following ques-
tion and answer will be sufficient
The Chairman.-Then YOU could edu-
cate your children and clothc them and
feed them without having new issue2
Joseph F. Smith.-Well yes; I possibly
In the nut.
a beautiful expression that, is it not,
TO come from man who claims to be
an inspired prophet Of the Almighty
But it is indicative Of the coarseness
Of a lustful nature which can recognize
no decency. Ii exhibits the disposition
of rank immortality; Of total disresnect
for law and civilization. However,
Smith confessed that his life was en-
tirely in opposition to the statutes of
his State, Notwithstanding the fact that
the News and the Mouth, and other
apologists for polygamous criminality,
continue to laud him to the skies as the
most righteous Of men, When asked if
he were not breaking both the law of
the land and the law Of the church,
Joseph E. Smith replied to Senator Over.
man:'"I have admitted that, Mr. SEN
ator, great many times here He
also told the committee that rather than
be a law abiding citizen he preferred
to take bis chances against the law:
TO run his risks before the law: ana he
further indicated how much chance and
risk he was taking, putting it in this
fashion:
1t is the law of my State 10 which /
law have not done their duty toward me
cannot blame them. I think they have
sople respect for me.
And then to think that this man.
Smith, is upheld as an exemplar 10 the
children Of Utah, Self confessed law
breaker that he is, there are even some
newspapers who will go a long distance
out of their way to apologize for and
defend him in his unlawful career. 10.
seph T, Smith, in his testimonya at Wash.
ington, uttered more SANDER against
the State Of Utah than all the rest of
her inhabitants could think up under
special effort, Officers Of the law should
be proud of his testimony, and the peo.
pie of Utah should be proud of some of
their officers, indeed