The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-18
READY TO IGNORE
NATIONS De EMAND
TO SUIT CHURCH
Mormon Chief Recorder
Gives D,fi4nt Reply
10 Question.
ALWAYS CBrY5 SMITH
Ap )>tIe Penro>e, Poil G mis-
CtOSen al Nee in Al
IN ed BY SmoOt.

IN ed BY Smoot.
The most damaging statements IT.
corroEoTatioa cf The allegations made
by t.5t prot, sJants in the Smoot IN
vCstgutior, on the poin. OF the Mormon
thurCn holding itself higher tlan snC
Gov, rnu-CnJ OF The United States. were
cited frcm an unwilling witness yes
torIdy thInu"h the unrelcnting oNaminu-
Lou IT Attorney r. W TayleT. before
Tie :, ui te Committee 0n PriviIC ges and
Elections.
Tie Witness was john Nicholson. chief
recu- DIR of the Mormoa temple in Sal,
Lake city, who testified first few days
ago Recalled yesterday he declared
That Il called upon by the National Gov
eumeut TO produce any records he
would take no such action until he had
consulted the first presidency" OF the
Mormon Church; that il President JOS
eph r. Smith said no witness would
r,fusc 20 obey the summons OF the Ma
tlonui Government; and that If the
United States Senate sent its Sergeant
alarms 10 arrest him. witness would
stil refuse 10 obey the legal command
OF tie Government.
On Church Domination.
The examination leading up TO this
declaration was based on the record
book OF marriages which the witness
brought with him in response 10 the
subpoena. lie admitted there are otner
similar records in the temple in Sail
Lake When asked why he had not
brought those. he replied: Because ]
did not want "a" He said further that
he had had 10 get the consCnts of Prcsi-
dent Smith. TO whom witness subpoena
was shown before ne could bring the
book now before the committee.
Q.-By Mr.. Tayler. What did he tell
you - doc
A. Tel the truth
Q. Yes, that's easy. What book did
he tell you 10 bring. and what did he
sa-F
A. he didn't like IT, Neither did l.
al least don't think he liked H.
Evasive Answers.
Chairman Burrows then took up the
questioning On the point Of what the
witness would do IF subpoenaed to brine
other records. He evaded giving an
swers which could throw any light on
the subject az all.
Thcrcup0n Mr. Tayler took up the ir-
quiFV Ga the Same line and tried To co-
plain again 10 witness what Chairman
Burrows was seeking 10 learn.
'!f su5poenaed In this way 10 produce
certain records" said the counsel. y
understand from your testimony that
the FIRST tairg YOU would Go. on return
irg To Salt Lake City. would be 10 see
the first presidency about it,"
Witness clearly emnhasized his desire
not 90 commit himself IN any way. but
rather q avoid the issue by replying:
No. J would go first 10 see my folks
az home-2nd so would you.
Attorney Tayler's patience was about
exhausted by responses Of this kind bur
he persisted unrelentinFly, and witness
then gave the answers FIRST mentioned.
that De would OBJ the directions OF
President Joseph +. Smith, even I'm the
face of subpoena from the National
Government
Has Fifteen Children.
After leaving the stand witness was
recalled. anG declared himself "a polvp4-
mist, with two wives and fifteen chill
drcu. None OF the latter. ne said. had
been born 10 his plural wife since Tho
manifesto. Ten were by his first wife
10 took witness some tire 20 answer
questions ou Jhls point. and he ex-
planned his delay by saving. Il have To
wait "a minute 10 tell the number. /
have 50 many.
At the opening Of the session Charles
II. Jackson. Democratic State chairman
of Idaho. resumed the stand for cross
examination He and Attorney Van
Cott had several personal colloqules.
aIf 4. .aafr
swcr more than the mere question pro-
pounded Finally counsel asked wit
ness 10 conAre his answers 10 the
questions alone.
Mr.. Jackson quoted az length from
election figures 10 show Mormon In
fiuence on the election lie reiterated
his previous statements that no one
could expect political success 81 be op-
posed Tie church in Idaho.
Josiah Hickman. of Provo, was re-
called % answer some additional ques-
tious regarding his marriage To a plural
wife In Ola Mexico. IL was sought 10
show that a record OF such marriages is
kept In the Temple at Salt Lake. Wit
ness said that 50 far us ne knew only
a memorandum had been made OF IL by
President Winter. who married them.
Jackson Resumes Stand.
At thv beginning of the morning ses-
sion Witness Jackson resumed his tes-
timony on the points OF The noteworthy
increase In the Republican vote Ia Idaho
IN the Mormon part or The State as
compared with the Gentle portion. The
vote FOR Goodipg for governor ran
ahead of that for Roosevelt iu the Nor
mon counties. bat behind the national
ticket in the Gentle counties.
"In the late campaign, IL was with the
greatest dinculty that 1 was able 10 ar
range Democratic meetings in Mormon
eenters. because Of the fear Of men 10
tcontlnued on Fifth PageJ