The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-16
HE DECLINED TO TELL.

HE DECLINED TO TELL.
Mr. Tayler-Mr. Smith. you testified
this morning respecting the method by
which any member OF the church might
! be prosecuted for any violation OF his
churchly duties or Unchristian conduct:
trlable before the bishop OF his ward?
| Joseph F. Smth.-That Is correct.
Mr. Tavler-And that in the event OF
your violation OF the rule as the law
| against coha bltation you would be trla
bile before the bishop OF your ward In
! salt Lake?
Joseph f. smith-As a member OF my
ward / am subject 10 my bishop.
| Mr.. Tayler,-That does not answer my
question ! am only trying 10 repeat
what / understood you TO testify TO this
morning.
Mr.. Tayler,-That for any onense you
may commit for instance-you Ak 1t that
way yourself-for unlawful cohabitati tion
YOU could be brought and tried before the
bishop Of your ward2
Joseph f. Smlth.-Yes. sir I could.
Mr. Tayler.-Who IS the bishop OF your
ward?
Joseph F. smith.-George r. Emery.
Mr., Tayier.-He is a polygamlst, is he
not?
Joseph T. Smith, do not know
Mr.. Tayler.-Is not that his reputa-
tom
Joseph F. smith, do not know,
Joseph L. Smith.-No, sir; I do not
know.
Mr. Tayler.-Have you any idea wheth-
er he Is a polygamist or not?
Joseph T. Smith.-lf had should de-
cline TO tell you.-Testlmony In Smoot
case. volume l, pages 3I6 and 317,
Any individual Of common intelli
gence and ordinary reasoning powers
will realize that. without question, Jo-
seph +. Smith knew, but that Joseph F.
Smith refused to tell what he knew.
Meantime the general public is LETT to
guess. with a comfortable feeling Of
assurance that the surmise would be
correct. If one were lacking III Ger
tainty with reference to the status of
the bishop whom the prophet declined
to betray, one could inquire of Sheriff
c. Frank Emery-and learn that he also
would refuse to tell.
Had Bishop Emery been Il mouoga-
mist. Joseph F. Smith would have de-
clared the fact in most emphatic terms,
as he did with respect to certain
apostles who are publicly reputed TO
have but one wife. II would not be
necessary TO state this truth, except
That it leads 10 what may be considered
a more or less reliable conclusion with
respect 20 the lcniency which was
shown by the bishop OF the Sixteenth
ecclesiastical ward toward the president
Of the church
President Joseph T, Smith has en-
ployed his political power and religious
influence in the protection of George +.
Emery against prosecution under the
law Of this State. In return. George
Il. Emery used his authority as bishop
of the ward in which President Smith
is resident and member to shield the
high ecclesiast from discipline in the
church courts.
In the Sixteenth ward it is common
knowledge that George r. Emery is
polygamist, and Joseph f. Smith is as
we'll acquainted with that, fact as is
any other member OF that ecclesiastical
subdivision. When Joseph T. Smith
says he knows nothing about il, Six
tcenth warders merely laugh at his as
sumed innocence, or they heplessly
damn his deceit. The tots who are
barely able to lisp their innocent
thoughts know that Mr. Emery is
polygamist, and the older members of
the ward know that ne has been so for
a number of years-some say great
many, while others fix the date of the
ceremony as being later However. The
Tribune is sufficiently regardful for
Mr.. Emery'S honesty to assume that
he was not plurallv married after the
issuance OF the Woodruff manifesto,
Whether or not this paper thus ex-
hibits too much generosity remains
with Mr.. Emery himself; but ac
quaintance with the man through
long period OF years would be the cause
for great disappointment in him if we
should discover that our faith had been
But what We most particularly de
sire to point out is the utter disregard
for truth that was displayed by Joseph
+. smith IN his sworn testimony. as
well as the great lengths TO which ad
N''''' "a N''' pp4A ~tiIuO.S NUll WIFI
90 in defense of one another AS well !
we would indicate TO those carriers who
dare The Tribune to prove certain
charges made against new polyeamisfs
the insurmountable difficulties TO he en-. !
countered in such an undertaking. !
When the highest eXempIar in the Nor. /
mon church will deliberately falsify in
order 10 protect a fellow .polvpamist /
what can be expected of the follower
who rs taught TO emulate that man s
examples And how prove 4 charge
lgainst these law-breakers'
George II, Emery is 10 longer
bishop. it Is true-he has been exalted
% Il higher ecclesiastical Office, being
l member Of the presidency of the Salt
Lake stake of Zion. Whether this ad
may be viewed as a reward
.or polygamous practice. or for &c.
;lesiastical protection of the polyca-
nous chief, or for both. only Presi-