El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-19
Jos. F. Smith,
Mormon Church
Head, Is Dead
Noted POlygamist Yields
to Paralysis; Had Five
Wives, 43 Children.

] Salt Lake City. Utah, Nov. 10
Joseph F. Smith. president Of the
Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day
Saints AIormon), died at his home
here early today. after a long Illness.
Death was due indirectly to a para
lytic stroke, suffered last April Not
withstanding his illness. president
Smith attended the recent semi an
nual conference Of the church. held
the first week of october. and spoke
strongly against polygamous mar
riages. which it was rumored had been
surreptitiously performed during the
last few years.
smiths Claim Disputed.
The Mormon church has its seat in
Utah, though its members are scat
tered in colonies through the world to
the number Of some 100000. The
church is ruled by council, but Smith
was its nominal head. and laid claim
to the authority Of the original Nor
mon prophet, Joseph Smith. his uncle.
This claim was disputed by several
apostate organizations, including the
Missouri branch. at the head Of which
was Joseph Smith, son Of the prophet,
who died in 1914.
With the the death Of both Smiths. |
A---@NA-
Mormon leaders whose birth occurred
prior to the settlement Of the cult in
Utah Joseph Fielding Smith was 80
years old His father, Hyrum Smith, /
and his uncle. the original prophet I
Joseph Smith, were shot to death by a I
mob which stormed the jail in Car /
thage, Ill, where the two we're con-
fined shortly after they began TO I
preach plurality Of wives. when his 4
mother. with the rest Of the MormouC. Z
eight years old Joseph Fielding Smith 1
drove an OK team across the plains |
into Utah and became a herd boy, and I
then a missionary, when, in 1852, ]
Brigham Young established the head I
quarters OF the Mormon sect at salt 4
Lake City. Utah.
Was IN ssMOrmOn War"
He entered the army, which Young
dispatched to intercept the United /
wade Utah. and performed active SER
vice as a scout, harassing the federal |
expedition until the presidents proc
lamation ended the Mormon war"
Joseph Fielding Smith was an avowed /
polygamist- According to his own tes-
timony in the United States senate
inquiry into the case Of Reed Smoot,
United States senator from Utah,
Smith had five wives. It is said his /
children numbered a.
II AorNH aAAEA the supreme court IaQ
upheld the Edmunds-Tucker act max
ing polygamy unlawful in the terrific
ries-which resulted in the imprison-
ment OF more than 1000 Mormons-
president woodruff. OF the church, Is
sued manifesto, declaring that po-
lygamy was no longer practiced by
the Mormons. In public admointions,
president Smith upheld this manifesto,
but as TO his own case, he said. before
the Smoot inquiry. that although IL
was contrary to the law Of the land.
he had had a plural family for many
years and he preferred to meet the
consequences OF the law rather than
to abandon his children and their
mothers.
Directed Big Business.
He directed vast business enter
prises in connection with his admins
tration Of church affairs. In the in
quiry into the sugar trust" he told
how the church had half million dol
lars Invested IN sugar
Smiths private fortune was also
reputed to be large
Aside from his religious activities.
Smith was several times a member o.
the Utah state legislature and of the
city council OF salt Lake City.
In 1874 he was sent to England as
missionary and was so active with
the Mormon propaganda that his work
attracted wide attention.
On smith return from Europe he be-
came second counselor to John Taylor.
then president Of the church. He held
a similar office under MILFORD Wood
ruff and Lorenzo Snow, subsequent
presidents In 1901 Smith was chosen
president OF the church, after the
death OF president Snow.
He was president OF Brigham Young
at Provo. Utah, and also
Of Brigham Young college and lesser
educational institutions. He was pres
ident Of national bank, director OF
the Union Pacific railroad and head
Of at least three Industrial corpora
Had Of Grandchildren.
In 1913 president Smith had five
living wives. although he had been
married six times. Of his 40 children.
50 were living. and ne had 81 grand
Heber J. Grant. president Of the
quorum Of Il apostles Of the Church Of
Jesus Christ OF Latter Day Saints
lMormon) church. is regarded as like
y to succeed to the presidency. pre-
edent having established his success
The quorum OF u apostles select the
president, who appoints the counsel
ors- If they are selected from the .
quorum OF y, and the two counselors
who are relieved were not members OF
ne quorum before their appointment
IS counselors, there are three vacan- .
,ies IN the quorum Of y to fiji If the
retiring counselors have been mem Z
oers OF the quorum, they resume their
'laces in that body. and the only va ,
,ancy existing in the quorum is that +.
Il the newly elected president
J
sFAKEs POLICIES Is cHARcE