The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-13
REED SHOOTS ELECTION
 DUE ENTIRELY TO CHURCH

t4tu amusement hall, q case before tho High Council of the church. in which the parties were 5enson vs. Dietrich Land and Live Stock Company, and certain litigation between Salt Lake and the | West Jordan canal Mfr. Critchiows fn- formation on the subject was indefinite. and he said he could give no compstenf testimony on 1t.
 The witness was asked concerning a statement in former testimony that a Mormon committee dictated Legislation in the first session of the Legislature. The witness said he knew from admissions made by George Q. Cannon and Heber J. Grant and certain members of the Legislature in interviews published tn April. 1896. in The Salt Lake Herald, then edited by B. H. Roberts: The salt Lake Tribune and the interviews of Grant and Cannon in The Desert News. He also said he had received letter from Joseph Munbon. s,ember from Cache Valley. giving information as to occur rences between Munson and Bishop Stew ems. In which Stevens said if had been decided by church authorities that, in- asmuch as the Legislature was inexpe- tee of the priesthood to pass on iegisla- ton as. to whether 1t was proper. Judge lilies Called. Judge Ogden lilies of Salt Lake, AS. sistant United States District Attorney in Utah from 1886 to isss in prefacing his testimony. said he had drawn more in- dictments and prosecuted more cases of unlawful cohabitation under the Ed- Enunds-Tucker act than any other official In Utah. For the first two years. he said. the people refused to obey the laws. despite the fact that opportunity was given offenders to escape punishment If they would promise not to violate the laws in regard to cohabitation. ao{A fha vxyfe saxnk l they must obey the laws of God rather than the laws of man. They seemed to think 1t an act of apostacy to go coun- ter to the church rules. even in obeying the laws of the land. The cases were pressed hard, and then the people began to promise to obey the law, for they were poor. could not pay the fines, and consequently 1t became generally report ed that the practice of poiygamous CO., habitation was breaLing up.' The witness covered much of the ground gone over in the testimony of MT. CritcuI)w, but in regard to the ces- sation of prosecutions until after the manifesto of 1890. he added many inter esting details.
 He said there was disposition not to prosecute cases when the law generally was obeyed, but that after the manifes- to 1t was seen that Mormons had re-
 
 this was evident from the new "crops of children" from polygamous families which continued to, spring up
 < In the cross examination, Mir Vancott brought out a great deal of testimony regarding church influences for the cleo tion of Shoot for the Senate and Judge lilies stated positively:
 Election Due to Church.
 MT. Shoot could not have been elect ed to the United States Senate if his candidacy had not been approved by the Mormon church."
 Do you mean that if Mir. Shoot had been lay member of the church that he would not have been elected or that if he had been an apostle and had not had the endorsement of his quorum, he could not have been elected?"
 Mir. Shoot could not have been elect ed without being an apostle and without the consent of the church.
 sWhen 1t was announced first that he was candidate he was not an apostle" remarked Mir. .Vancott.
 "Oh, well; his candidacy was not taken seriously then, but when his candidacy was announced after 1t was known that he was to be an apostle, 1t was certain he would be elected"
 Will you tell Js why you say he could not have been elected when his candl- dacy was first announced? Was 1t be- cause he had no standing in the party7" asked Senator Hopkins.
 He had no standing that would entitle him to such promotion, and he was not seriously thought of..' answered the witness.
 What you mean to say. take it then, is that Norman may not get the consent of the church to come to the Senate unless he is an apostle7" MT. Van colt asked.
 "oh. no; don't mean that. but MT. Shoot could not have done so.''
 What Is the basis for that state ment?"
 His relations in Utah were not such as would entitle him to the place."
 Can you name a Mormon. a Repub- | hcan, who would have received the sup- port of the people or who is moro en- | titled to the place that Mir. SmootT'
 Yes; Governor Welles."
 ''Yes; go ahead.p
 Church Above Party.
 T don't know of many Mormons who | are Republicans; they are Mormons."
 what do you mean by that?' asIErc | Senator Hopkins. Do you mean tha. l they put their Mormonism ahead of Re- publicanjsm?"
 That is what I mean"
 Were there any other Republicans | mentioned for the seEatorship before the | election of Shoot as an apostlc?'
 Yes; Governor Wells was mentioned. | and Governor Thomas, and others"
 In answer to other questions, Judee | HIles said he believed Mr. Smoot always | had taken an active part in politics and | had been allied with the Republicans. but | that he never had heard of Smoot,s hav. ing made an address in any campaign.
 MT. Van Cott asked the witness how | he had given, for the Mormons sending l ncn-Mormons to the Senate. How about | Joseph L. Rawlins?" he asked.
 Joseph L. Rawlins is a Mormon"
 What! Rawlins a Mormon7'
 '.He was born into the church, of Mor mon percentage"
 But, surely you do not mean to say that because a man IS born of Mormon | parentage he is always Mormon7'
 Pretty close to it."
 MT. Van Cott mentioned the fact that ! former Senator Rawlins stood againGt the church in regard to It's principles anu worked against it.
 Judge lilies corrected the statement Os that with the qualification he had made, Ee regarded Rawlins as a Mormon. Con- tinuing. he said he heard President Jo- seph F. Smith say that he held FranE J. Cannon to be @ poor Mormon, but witness thought Cannon "a good Mor mon," and while it may be said that Rawlins was not a good Mormon" neV' ertheless he was & Mormon.
 No Faith in the Church.