The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-24

Legislature that elected Senator Smooth
| inquired Senator Oyerman.
: Yes. there were" witness responded.
| "One. / think. was chairman OF the
judiciary committee"
"Was that a Republican or Democratic
legislature" inquired Senator Bailey OF
/ Texas.
1T was Republican. witness replied
do YOU know for whom she voted?"
was the next query
For Reed Smoot / believe
| Smoot Delegates Elected.
Chairman Burrows asked the witness
whether there was any recent evidence
of The interest of the church in political
: matters
Yes, within the past four or five
weeks" witness replied. 1T was IN the
contest for delegates to the next Re
publican National Convention. There
was the oot-Sutherland faction and
the Kearns faction. The Mormon Church
organ, the 'Deseret News declared for
I the Smoot-Sutherland faction and they
won out
Senator Dubois asked about the hold
ing together of Mormon Church mem
bers Ia political matters. They held
| conventions. witness said, but did not
! have any contests. He could not recall
| any occasion when candidate who had
received the sanction OF the, church had
| been defeated. swan as-kt
There IS a great deal OF the work Of
I the Mormon Church which Is kept
/ secret witness said. and inquiries old
rot always result in obtaining all the
Information desired. The chairmen OF
political parties in Utah had gotten 20
j ing for partisan victory, they were very
/ careful 10 take only those men who
were known to have the consent of the
church to run, If the candidates were
] MCrmons.
Church Tyranny.
! Asked to give the leading instance OF
church tyranny in political affairs. wit
ness told of the dropping of Moses
! Thatcher from the list of apostles and
how officials of the Mormon Church an
/ the regular conference on April 6, 1886,
approved the action of the higher
church authorities Thatcher had been
State and a prominent man In other
/ ways. but this did not save him
/ Opposed by Young Mormons.
Senator McComas asked the witness
what is the present attitude of the
younger Mormon element toward the
practice of polygamy-
|
and the younger women of the church
are opposed TO the practice. strongly OF
posed TO IT." witness replied. Although
have often been surprised at the pow
| er of the church. ii is my firm. con-
seientious opinion. that If the church
were 70 attempt. by revelation or other
| wise. TO re-establish polygamy. IL would
have trouble in doing so.
There is a feeling of liberation fol-
the continuation of polygamous coha BIZ
I
church, in the belief that il will die out.
McComas at the Tabernacle.
Senator McComas said he had beer
in the Mormon Tabernacle in 1870 and
that Brigham Young had on that oeea-
sion urged the young men TO marry
He inquired whether the expense OF
maintaining several domestic establish'
ments had not to some extent affected
the continuation OF the practice
| Witness thought that explanation
might be in order. "Our young women
are beginning. to. be more Ike the women
of the rest OF the world" witness add
ed. They are getting more IN the habit
OF wearing good clothes and dressing
up and taking an interest in the pleas
ureS Of the rest OF the world. We want
TO feel we are part OF the great ma
ton and not Isolated
Doesn't the plural wife have th'
social standing standing that the or first VIE
l
"Oh, did not mean TO intimate other
wise" replied the witness y thini
they have the same standing.
The dictation OF the church in politica
| matters and its effect on the younger
element OF the church, on men whC
were politically ambitious. was takeI
up.
AT the time OF the reconvened con
ventlon, Of which 1 spoke on Friday
they were more FESTIVE" witness said
| Neither before noF since that time
have we had the free expression Of opin
ion that we had at that time.
Some people submit readily, soIae
proteStingly. and some will not submi1
At all 10 the dictates Of the church.
do not think there Is any basis for tho
report that there is a liberal movement
IN Salt Lake to resist church control
| / have seen 1t IN the public press, IL
DISPATCHES coming from Utah. but 1 Dc
not believe there is any truth IN II a.
all
Reason for federation.
. | h0xad uybathar he coTId exDiatu why