Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-23
YOUNGER ONES OPPOSED
MORMON ATTITUDE IN REGARD
TO PoLYGAMY.
Participation Of the Church in Com
mercial Operations - The
smoot Inquiry.


When the investigation ofsthe smoot case
opened today Judge o. W. Powers was
again called to the stand He read a peti-
ton prepared by supporters of Moses
Thatcher for senator, addressed to the Sen
ate of the United states.s alleging that
church influence had been used in the elec-
ton and asking for an Investigate ton.
Another instance of church Interference had
been shown, he said, in a mayoralty con-
test at Provo, when Reed Smoot favored the
candidacy of George Sutherland. The wit
ness said Smoot was held in disfavor with
the church and charged with going to the
liberal party
Senator Overman asked IL women were
elected to the Legislature In Utah. The wit
ness answered in the affirmative and said
woman was chairman of the judiciary
committee of the house in the legislature
which els ed Mr. Smoot as senator
Did she vote for Smooth" asked Senator
Overman.
Il understand she did"
Senator Dubois-"Judge Powers, what do
you regard the chief exhibition of church
domination over political affairs that has
come to your notice?"
1T occurred at the April 1896, conference,
when the political rule-that is the man
1festo against Mormons entering politics
without consent of church authorities-Was
euOPeCu. iLiS RUE was adopted without q
dlssentlng vote, and at the same conference
Moses Thatchers name was. dropped from
the rolls as an apostle and no explanation
OF any character was made"
Opposed to Polggamy.
Senator McComas-"How do the young
men in the Mormon Church regard tie
practice of polygamy?"
i think the young Mormon men, and wo-
men, too, are opposed to the practice
strongly opposed-althoiigh I confess that
cannot understand the power the church is
apIe 10 exert over them. + believe, how
ever, that II the church authorities should
attempt to re-establish poIygamy-by rev
ble.'' N
In regard to combinations of polygamous
cohapitation Judge Powers said that some
look upon this condition with tolerance and
others with open hostility.
several senators engagedzin the discus
sion OF the future of polygamy and Judge
Powers said he believed the practice could
tinuing, he said:
But l do not regard polygamy as the
worst feature of the Mormon religion.
What object to most is its un-AmeIican
oominati tion by the hierarchy of the people
OF that faith the belief in the right of the
church authorities to prescribe rules, the
bellef that the head of the church is in
spired, and interference of the church in
political and commercial affairs"
The Church In Commercial Affairs.
Senator Hopkins. s'The same charge
about commerce can be made against other
churches. In a limited way, can 1t not?'
NOT as l make the sstatement here.'
said Mr.. Powers IT do not know of any
other church that conducts bathing
beaches, street railways, electric light and
power plants, banks, mines and mills, and
that attempts to control IN local polit!cs
aor the purpose of obtaining concessions
Senator Hopkins. '"There Is the Methodist
church In Chicago, of which 1 am MEM
Der 1t engages In business sand 1 have
always supported that tdea.''
Attorney Worthington And the Trinity
church In New York also owns and rents
"But as I understand Ii. Judge Powers
means that the Mormon church is trust
ana owns and controls great commercial
institutions, said Senator Mccomas.
That Is 1T; it is a trnst," said Judge
Powers.
Senator Bailey asked Senator Hopkins
and Mr.. Worthington Il the Methodist
churcn IN Chicago. and Trinity Church in
New York engaged in mercantile affairs
and both admitted that the business con-
sisted merely of owning property and re-
ceiving rents.
Senator Dubois suggested that If compari-
sons of power of the Mormon and Method
ist churches were to ,e N lde 1t would be
well to summon the bishop OF the Method
ist church to testify
III you Were as well acquainted with
Methodism as am it would not be neces-
sary to summon a bishop retorted Sena-
tor Hopkins. However, may not be so
well acquainted with MormoIism.''
Judge PoWeyA continued i'd the line Of