The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-03-11
|. lawyers
WRANGLE
THE sMooT HEARING pRA6S
ON BEFORE THE SENATE
COMMITTEE

AfN NNfitihN NtWt ASS NJ
WASHINGTON, ID, g, March Ii
one OF the most interesting Wit
nesScs Yet heard In the Smoot trial
was Il. Il Critchlow, formerly as
sistant to the United States attor-
nry in Utah. who went over the
story OF Moses Thatcher. According
60 his version. which Is confirmed by
the records. Thatcher persisted In
continuing as candidate Tor the
United states senate against the
wishes OF the apostles OF the church.
and on that account was held 60 be
out OF harmony with his quorum.
and the details OF rhatcher's cam
paign and defeat were gone over by
Mr.. Critehlow. and Il was shown
that az his subsequent trial before
committee OF church officials he
humhly acknowledged himself
wrong. and his submission 60 the
win OF the church was read and put
IN the record OF the Smoot invezti-
CATION. The story showed Thatcher
90 have been utterly broken In spirit
and the purpose OF the testimony
was 20 show that the consent OF
quorum Of the church officials must
be obtained before the candidate
may continue in good standing. and
that. therefore. according TO the
rules OF the church. Reed smoot
must have obtained the consent OF
the church before he could have be
come a candidate for the senate.
Mr.. Critchlow also related some In
cidents In connection with prosecu-
tions Of polygamous eohahitation I'M
der the Edmunds law.
At the resumption OF the sfnoot
hearing this morning crifchlaw was
still on the stand. Resuining his
statement made yesterday he stated
that Smoot had said that In the cam
paisn which Apostle Moses Thatcher
made as a candidate for the senate
In 1856. he had issued an appeal TO
the young men OF Utah asking them
90 unite with him TO relieve the peo-
pie from the political domination Of
the church. The appeal was issued
after Thatcher was deposed from the
apostieship and In Il he admitted
the right TO depose him from church
office. but protested against any at
tempt TO control his political views
or the exercise OF franchise by citi-
gems OF Utah
liz then discussed the Evans anti
polygamy bill. which was introduced
In the legislature of Utah In 1901 for
the purpose of limiting prosecutions
for certain classes 81 offensc-.
Critehlow stated that five or six OF
the apostles had given interviews In
- a. n
were President Snow and Apostle
Joseph z. Smith. who Is now the
church president. but Apostle Smoot
had merely said that he proposed 20
leave II to the good sense OF the leg
islature.
The measure attracted general at
tentien ard aroused indignation
throughout the country because u
was taken TO be purely I'm the inter
ests Of poiygamists. The bin passed
the house and senate. but the gov
ernor. who was himself Mormon.
vetoed 1t.
After the veto the bill failed of
passage despite the urging Of the
Deseret News. the recognized organ
OF the church. concerning the can
didacy or Ffnoots announced carry VI
1892. The witness spoke OF consider
able opposition among the Repub-
leans, both Mcrmons and non
Mormons. 20 his candidacy. and fire.
quent expressions OF opinion were
made as to the propriety Of sending
an apostle OF the church to the
United States senate.
The ministerial association Of Salt
Lake had issued a statement calling
attention 70 an Interview by smoot
IN which he professed not 10 know
that certain apostles OF the church
were stifl living I'm polygamous CO.
habitation and proposing TO furnish
hiru with the names and dates 10
prove that HIS associates were still
violating the law that way.
A wrangie OF counsel ensuei With
regard 10 the admission Of the smoot
interview. II finally developed that
smoot positively denied having given
the interview and the committee
agreed TO strike out all reference 10
the matter.