The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-23
PoIygamy Not Worst
Feature of the Faith,
Says Powers.
INFLUENCE IN BUSINESS
Teaching That Head of Sect
IS Inspired Regarded as
Un-American.

"Polygamy is not the worst feature
Of Mormonism. It is the un-American
domination by the hierarchy, the teach
ing that the head of that body is in
spired, the control Of the church over
politics, and the lntermingling of
church influence in the business life Of
our people. Corporations run
by the church control the votes of their
employees, not as owners of the prop
erty, but through ecclesiastical rule."-
Judge Powers, witness in the SmoOt
case.
The Mormon Church as an Industrial
trust was described today 10 the Sen
ate Committee on Privileges and Elee-
tiOns by Judge o. ". Powers. OF Salt
Lake City, who resumed the stand to-
day, after having given testimony all
day yesterday in the Smoot investiga-
ton
The witness told of the activity Of the
church in industrial matters. and OF its
control over the votes of its employees
by reason Of its ecclesiastical rule.
There had been evidence Of church
domination in the past few weeks in
the election Of the SmoOt delegates to
the Republican National Co7vention. the
witness said. The candidates supported
I
gan OF the church. were elected. and
those supported BY Senator Thomas
1 -kearns were defeat1
The attitude OF the younger element
cf Mormons IS strongly. against any re-
establishment Of polygany today. the
/ witness said. Members Of the odd
guard" of Utah citizens. who had fought
! Mormonism for years, were reconcned
to the absence Of prosecution against
present lawbreakers, he said. IN the
hope that with toleratioh the practice
would die out with the present genera
ton; but if civil prosecutions could be
pointed 10 as religious prosecutions, it
might do more than the present mac
tivity in defeating the ends of justice
Judge Powers Resumes.
1t was lilo o'clock when the commit
tee was called TO order. with five Sena-
/ tors present. Judge Powers took the
I witness chair and read a paper pre-
pared by supporters OF Moses Thatcher,
Immediately after his defeat in the
Utah Legislature of 1897. addressed TO
the President and Senate of the United
States.
1t recounted details of the election
and declared there existed in Utah
political organization known as the
| Mormon Church., which had inter-
fered in the Senatorial eiectiOn and pre-
vented the election Of Thatcher by
throwing its strength 70 Rawlins-
Senator Smoot's name 'gas mentioned
by the witness AT this point iE his tes-
timony. In 1880 at Provo George Susher-
land was nominated for mayor against
a candidate Of the Peoples cor MOrmon)
party. Sutherland was supported by
Reed Smoot. which caused Smoot 10 be
regarded in disfavor.
The subject of woman suffrage in
Utah. which was referred TO on Fridey
by the witness, was commented upon
Briefly
Were there any women in the Utah
Legislature that elected Senator SmoOt
inquired Senator Overman-
eyes. there were. witness responded.
"One, think, was chairman oI the
judiciary committee.
WAS that Republican or Democratic
legislature" inquired Senator Bailey Of
{ Texas
1T was Republican, witness replied.
DO YOU know FOR whom she votedy'
5 was the next query.
: For Reed smoot. believe
SmoOt Delegates Elected.
Chairman Burrows asked the witness
: whether there was any recent evidences
5 of the interest of the church in political
matters.
s yes. within the past four or Ave
: weeks" witness replied. 1T was in the
contest for delegates to the next Re
; publican National convention There
D was the Smoot-Sutherland faction and
: the Kearns faction. The Mormon Church
organ. the 'Deseret News declared foE
the SmOot- t-Sutheriand faction and taey
senator dubois asked about the hold
ing together OF Mormon Church mem
, hers in political matters. They helc
) conyenti0rs witness said. buI did not
have any contests He could not recall
anv occasion when candidate who had
received the sanction OF the church mad
! There IS a great deal of the work u
= The Mormon Church which is kept
q. secret witness said. and inquiries ale
rot always result in obtaining all IN.
= information desired. The chairmen o.
noi.tical parties in Utah had gotten 81
4 used TO this sort OF Thing that IN strlv'
@ ing for partisan victorf. they We're NeI1
careful to take only those men WIZ
- were known 20 have the consent of ths
y church TO run. II the candidates wer;
= MCrmOnS-
r Asked TO give the leading instance o.
: church tyranny in political aiEesrs. wlt
mess told of the dropping OF Mo5ei
Thatcher from the lisI OF apostles ant
how oficials of the Mormon Church u
the regular conference on April 6. 1854
- approved the action of the hishe
church authorities. Thatcher had beei