Evening star., 1904-03-11
FATE OF THAT CHER
Spirit Was Finally Broken by
the Mormon Church.
OPPOSED IT'S WORD
APOSTLES CLAIMED RIGHT TO
DIRECT POLITICAL FIGHT.
Testimony Before Senate Committee
Given by Former district Attorney
Critchlow Of Utah.

At the afternoon session Of the Senate
committee on privileges and elections yes
terday Attorney Tayter, for the proseeu-
ton called to the stand z. B. CritchloW,
formerly United States district attorney IN
Utah. He is one of the protestants against
Senator Smoot. In 1885 he was appointed
assistant United States district attorney,
and in 1890 again took a similar position at
Salt Lake City.
Mr. Critchlow served as school trustee
and in the Utah legislature for one term
He spoke of the passage of the Edmunds
act in 1882. the first law making polyga-
nous cohabitation a crime and providing
for the disfranchisement of those found
guilty of violations. In 1887 there was add
ed provision relating to adultery, and an
other provision for the disestablishment of
the Mormon church and for the disposition
of the property of the church.
Over a Thousand Convictions.
The first prosecution was of Rudger
Clawson now an apostle of the church,
who was sentenced to serve four years in
prison for unlawful cohabitation. An
other was the conviction, on the same
charge in 1885, of Angus NJ. Cannon, presi-
dent of the Salt Lake stake.
Then said Mr.. Critchlow, 'prosecu-
tons were inaugurated with vigor and
many men and some women went into hid
ing. Over LOCO men We're convicted and
sentenced, if 1 remember rightly
Mr.. Critchlow said an opportunity was
given by the courts to the persons con-
victed to escape Jail service by promising
that in the future they would obey the
law, but that the chance of escaping pun
ishment was not accepted generally. In
fact, but three persons compiled with the
ruling of the court.
Continuing, he said: among these was
Bishop Sharp, director of the Union Pa
cific railroad and an old man, who accepted
the terms and was promptly removed. that
being understood to be the policy of the
church where the doctrine of the church
was not upheld by members"
The witness told of a visit to the prisons
by Caleb w West and his offer to inter-
cede for the prisoners In the interest of OBJ
tanning a pardon for them. The offer was
refused
Five Years. History Of the Church.
The history of the church between 1888
and 1890 was given by Mr.. Critchlow, in
cluding the circulation Of story that
plural marriages had been given up entirely
and that unlawful cohabitation was on the
wane. He covered the passage of all acts
affecting polygamy or Mormonism, includ-
ing the representations made to congress
sional committees which visited the terri
tory prior to the admission of Utah as
state The purpose of the story was to
show that the Mor1nons continued to create
the sentiment that the laws were being
obeyed, but in secEeti he'd practiced polyg-
amy and that the church was irreconcila-
BILE to new conditions, and were conspiring
to evade the laws
Mr. Critchlow was Interrupted but little
and told his story eoneisely. He spoke OF
the first state Legislature in 1885, when he
sat as a member, and said there was a dis
position to send an legislation to the Nor
mon church to seesif 1t were proper to en-
act It. 9sstSu
The Moses Thatcher Incident
In relation to thss Moses Thatcher incl
dent, Mr.. Critchlow, said a letter had been
sent out which hadttheIpurpose of dividing
the people as equally as possible between
repablicans and democrats and maintain
a reserve which coInd be swung either way
in the interest of the CHURCH The church
afterward denied this letter, said Mr.
Crftchlow but Moses Thatcher continued
working In the interest Of the democratic
party. and in the fall of 1896 carried on an
active campaign for election to the United
States Senate by the succeeding legislature
This campaign was In conflict with the
wishes of the members Of his quorum of
apostles and he was finally dropped. 1t
was taken up as q church matter, and"
said Mr.. Critchlow, the editorials in the
Deseret News declared that the church had
a right to interest itself In the elections for
the United States Sen5xe.
The sympathy was with Mr. Thatcher be-
cause it was understood that he stood for
absolute liberty In political affairs. Mr..
final result of the contest, which resulted
in the election of Joseph L. Rawlins as SEN
ator. He said 1t was well known that the
apostles were working against Thatcher,
and their object was to prevent a direct
blow at the principle that the quorum of
apostles could control the action of one OF
their members. The Mormons, he said.