The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-16
SMOOT WEARS'EM
A Witness SWears That Every
MOmOn Has on Clothes
Marked as When They Go
Through Endowment House.
CHURCH IN POLITICS.
Chairman of Idaho Democratic
State Committee
Says President Joseph Smith
Interferes in the Elections.

Washington, Dec. 16.-The first
witness in the Senator Smoot case to-
day was Mrs. Anna Elliott, of Price,
Utah. She is an elderly lady who
went from Denmark to Utah in 1872,
and left the Mormon church in 1896.
She was asked concerning the obliga-
tions taken in the temple, and was
requested to repeat as much of the
ceremonies as she could remember.
In a voice shaken with emotion Mrs.
Elliott said that the obligations were
SO indelicate she could not bear to
repeat them. Chairman Burrows told
her to take her own time and not to
be embarrassed. The witness said the
first oath administered to those who
participated was that if they did not
want to go any further and take the
oaths they should turn back and go
out.
BY slow degrees Mrs. Elliott repeat
ed the oaths of vengeance and the va
rious penalties ascribed for revealing
any part of the ceremonies. During
her testimony concerning the penal
ties of mutilation of the body the
witness trembled continuously and ap-
After saying that each person taking
the endowmentS agrees to have his or
her throat cut, Mrs. Elliott said 1t
would be impossible for her to go any
further.
eat that time I considered it all so
sacred 1 thought I would put it away
and not mention it anymore" she said
when requested to proceed Pressed
| by Chairman Burrows, the witness
told of the other penalties and obli-
cations which have been disclosed by
other witnesses.
At the request of Mr.. Tayler Mrs.
IA
by Mormons who have taken the en-
dowments. Senator Overman asked
if every Mormon in good standing is
compelled to wear the garments and
the witness said that all such Nor
mons wear the garments as under
clothing.
Looking at Senator Smoot, Over
man asked the witness if she was sure
if every Mormon in good standing in
the committee room had the gar
ments on.
''Yes sir, they have, the reply pro-
voked laughter and the witness re-
peated: It know they all have
them on"
On cross examination Attorney
Worthing endeavored to draw from
the witness whether she had told 9TH
ers of the endowment ceremonies,
but she insisted that she had never
done so except in a limited way to the
pastor of the Baptist church in her
town. She declared that the attorney
for the protestants had no idea what
she would say when she took the
stand.
Senator Foraker asked the witness
if she had ever head of the endow-
ment house penalties being enforced
against any one. She said she had not.
Mr.. Tayler asked if she ware likely
to suffer by reason of giving testi-
mony here Mrs. Elliott said she ex-
pected that her businesss would suffer.
Charles H. Jackson, of Boise City,
Idaho. chairman of the Democratic
state committee, testified at length
concerning the growing power of the
Mormon church and its interference
in state affairs, which he said was
made the paramount issue by Demo-
Gratis and independents in the last
campaign in Idaho. He said that
apostles of the church from Utah go
into Idaho and direct the people how
to vote. These church officials, said
Mr.. Jackson, tell their people there
have been revelations that they should
vote a certain ticket and also that the
Mormon church desires it. The wit
ness described in detail the fight be-
ing made by the Mormon church for
the removal from the state constitu
ton of Idaho of the test oath against
polygamists. He told of the visit of
Apostle John Henry Smith for the
purpose of directing legislation, and
said that the influence of the church
accomplished the passage of the sugar
bounty bill. This measure places
state bounty of one cent a pound
all sugar manufactured W1InI1 the
state in 1903 and a half cent pound
for all sugar manufactured in 1904.
1t is estimated that the bounty in
1908 amounted to $4,000 and in 1904
in the state and President Joseph
Smith of the Mormon church is preSi-
dent of three of them. The fourth fac
tory was constructed recently and is
controlled by Gentiles.
Speaking of the influence of the
church on the political affairs of the
state Mr.. Jackson took as an illustra-
ton the defeat of Governor Morrison
for a second nomination. He declared
that Governor Morrison's administra-
ton had been satisfactory to his Re
publican constituents but that he had
run foul of the Mormon church and
In this connection Mr.. Jackson said
with emphasis:
''It is impossible for any man or
any party to stand against the Nor
mon church in Idaho"
In describing the present condition
of the state Mr.. Jackson said six of
the 21 counties are known as Sol1dly
Mormon and that in all of the south
troll and in that way, he said, the
church practically is in charge of the
legislature, political conventions and
all gatherings at which the delegates
are elected by the people.
1.-THE delegates elected by these
counties are not always Mormon in
religion, but they are always Mormon
in political action said Mr.. jack
SON. The witness gave in narrative
form, the history of the protests
against Mormon interference which
had been made by Democrats in the
last campaign. Mr.. Jackson said the
Morrnons declared that not vote
would be given the Democrats, and
said the witness. ''they made good"
He stated as his belief that not one
Mormon voted the Democratic ticket.
AS a result, he said, that the increased
Republican majorities in the Mormon
counties compared with the increased