Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-03-16

Washington, March l2.-That Reed
Smoot could not have been elected to
the United States senate without hav-
ing first been chosen as an apostle
OF the Mormon church and that after
he was so chosen he would have been
defeated had he not had the support
OF the church, was asserted by Judge
Ogden Hiles. assistant United States
attorney from 1886 to 1890, and later
a Judge of the district court of Utah.
who was witness today in the Smoot
case before the committee on privi.
leges and elections.
An interesting feature of Judge
Hiles' testimony was his declaration
that former United States senator
Rawlins was still Mormon. even
though he stood out against the
church on the matter of interference
in politics. Attorney Van Cott took
the witness to task for the statement
AID the colloquy enlivened the close
Of the days hearing. Chairman Bi.r
r,ws adjourned tn, session toda!
subject to call
Il is expected there will be a mum
Der of witnesses here within a week
or ten days. Among those wanted
are Apostles Merrill and Teasdale and
John Henry Smith. whose alleged
plural marriages already haze been
recounted by witnesses.
Mr.. Critchlow. formerl. a United
States attorney for Utah. again took
the stand and his cross-examination
was continued by Waldemar Van Colt,
one of the attorneys for the defense.
Sentiment against Mr.. Smoot was
the subject of inquiry by Van Cott,
who asked specifically IL move Of
antagonism to the Mormon senator
was not created by the Leilich
charges that Mr.. Smoot was a poly
gamist.
Mr.. Critchlow thought that had not
been the effect, though there had
been much surprise that this was
made in the face of the statement In
the general protest that Mr.. Smoot
was not charged with polygamy.
The cross-examination was confin-
ed almost entirely to bringing out Mr..
Critchlow's views regarding the
thoughts and opinions of others. Az
ter this procedure had continued for
nearly an hour. Senator McComas OBJ
jected and called attention to the fact
that the character of the testimony
could not influence the committee in
any manner.
Mr.. Van Cott addressed the COM
mittee directly in regard to the can
didacy of Reed Smoot, and drew from
the witness the fact that Mr.. Smoot
had announced himself as a candidate
for the senate in 1902.
did he announce himself as early
as 1898 and receive votes in the leg
islature."
IL believe he did; he received votes
and so did I. The minority only had
three votes. and they were passed
around as a compliment"
The witness was questioned in re-
gard to the sentiment for and against
Reed Smoot for senator, and said so
far as he was concerned, he had no
objection to Smoot personally. but oD.
posed him on the ground that he was
general authority Of the church.
He admitted that at the time he had
moved to make unanimous the nomi-
nation OF certain parties for members
of the legislature that II was gen.
orally known that Mr.. Smoot was 10
be made an apostle.
Mr.. Critchlow was questioned con-
cerning the Thatcher episode, and II
was brought out that Thatcher was
in the same status in 1895, as to poly
gamy, as was Brigam Roberts when
he was elected to congress. and that
Mr.. Cannon made his campaign for
the senate against the wishes Of the
church, just as did Thatcher.