The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-21

| liLlt, NttDtSS Sdlu. lie was asked By
MIR. Tayler why a new constit ition
seemed TO be needed
Witness went into conditions in eetail.
naming men who have taken a proini-
nent part in various local matters. ard
what they thought on the constitutional
cJnVentiol plan. Apostle John Henry
smith came up from Utah, and two
weeks afterw;lrd the Legislature passed
9 resolution 90 submit to the people tor
vote the question of whether to hold
constitutional convention
Lawyers IN a Tiff.
Pressed for further details on uaa
subject. the witness said: THE general
gossip is
We're Tot here to get gossip. in
stantly put in Mr. Worthington, inter-
rupting the witness.
Yes. we are" returned Mr. TayIer
in Il determined tone; we want to get
tae public sentiment on these matters -
A colloQJy ensued between Mr. WoI tn
ington AMI Chairman Burrows as to the
aomissibility of such evidence. Witne.ss
said certain statements had been male
to the editor OF his paper, and the editor
had Immediately repeated them to the
witness .as publisher Of the paper.
Chairman Burrows ruled that the man
who made the statements. a Mr.. BaldeT-
son. could be summoned 10 testify as
10 his own knowledge of these matters,
Senator Dubois inquired whether there
was any opposition 10 the nOiQlDG Oh u
constitutional convention.
Yes. a great deal" replied witness.
Q.-Why?
A.-Because the purpose of calling
such a convention is believed to be the
attempted repeal of what we call the
'anti-polveamy clauses of the present
constitution. $.
polygamy. or ang such patriarcha, or
celestial marriage" were read In full by
Mr. Tayler TO get them into the OFF,
cial record of testimony.
Beveridgt Asks Questions.
Senator Beveridge took the witness in
hand to inquire more IN detail as TO
the passage of the resolution by the
Legislature. He wished to know why
1t was that members of both parties
voted In favor OF the resolution.
All requests which the Mormon Church
makes OF political leaders of either
party are acceded to-" witness answer
ed. The politicians always want 10 get
the support of the Mormon element.
Go you regard the members of the
Legislature as politicians In this sense?
A.-Yes. on this question.
Q.-Then they do not represent the
people as they ought?
A.-Cn this question do not think
they do.
Public Kept in the Dark.
Mr.. Dubois took up the questioning
and wanted to know whether ii was
generally understood by the people OF
Idaho just what the resolution meant
Witness replied that when the resoIu-
tiOn was passed the masses of the peo-
pie did not know that they We're TO
/ vote upon this question 1t is lust now
becoming generally known. No reasons
for changing the constitution were ad-
vanced publicly the general suggestion
thrown out being merely that ''it was
about time for new constitution -
There was no discussion OF any length
on the matter. as members of the Leg
lslature gave some such brief explana-
tion and did not seem TO want TO dis
cuss the matter further.
The witness plain intimation was that
members We're acting under instructions
from their leaders ard that their cOllrse
OF action had been determined upon.
Congratulations to Smoot.
DO you know if that Legislature
unanimously telegraphed Reed Smoot
their cOngra tulations on his election 10
the senator inquired Senator Dubois
Il think they did" responded Mr.
Democrats Joining with Republicans
IN their congratulations?
Yes"
Defeat of a Candidate.
Witness was asked as to his knovi-
edge OF what passed between a COM
mittee of the Idaho Legislature and w.
K. Borah, of that State. when the lat
ter was candidate for the nominal
tion for United States Senator in Idaho.
Any information which the witness
might have on this point had come to
him as a report of what had occurred
between other people, Mr. Worthington
cOntended. and hence should not be ad-
mitted as evidence This brought Mr.
Tayler to his feet
This isn't a tender jury TO be dis
turbed began Mr. TaYler. in arguing
in favor OF admitting the evidence.
y his committee went TO Mr. Borah
v hen he already had a large humber of
the votes Of the Idaho Legislature In
his campaign for the nomination, and
wanted to know Of him what would he
his position on the retention in the SEN
ate OF Reed Smoot, IN case Bora h
should be elected to the Senate and be
called upon 10 pass upon SmOot's eligi-
billty."
Chairman Burrows and other members
inquired as TO the availability of Borah
as a witness, and the ruling was an
nounced that Borah would be called to
tell OF these matters of his own per-
sOnal knowledge.