The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-17
TALK TURNED ON
SMOOT'S APPAREL
A LAUGH AT THE MORMON
PROVOKED WHEN Al WOMAN W.T.
NESS TESTIFIED ABOUT IT.
VsT AARoFIc PFIE5TTD0D LEFT TIArfD7
UP RIGHT HAND FORWARD
PAL ri NTNJrY

Mrs. Elliott Described the Garments
Worn by Mormons Who Have TAX
en- the Endoxvments--said Nor
mons i'm Good Standing Wore Them
as UndercIothing-That Was where
the Laugh Was Given smoot-hor-
mons Influence in Politics.
Washington, Dec 16.--The first wit
ness in the Senator Smoot inquiry to-
day was Mrs. Annie Elliott, of Price,
Utah. She was asked concerning the
obligations taken in the temple, and
was requested to repeat as much of
the ceremonies as she could remember.
In voice shaken with emotion. Mrs.
Elliott said that the obligations We're
so indelicate that she could not bear to
repeat them.
BY slow degrees, Mrs. Elliott repeat
ed the oaths of vengeance and the vari-
Gus penalties for revealing any part Of
the ceremonies.
At the request of Mr.. Tayler, Mrs.
Elliott described the garments worn by
Mormons who have taken the endow-
ments. Senator Overman asked IL
every Mormon in good standing is COM
PEELED toswear the garments, and the
witness said that all such Mormons
wear the garments as underclothing.
Looking at Senator Smoot, Senator
OVerman asked the witness if she were
sure that every Mormon in good stand
ing in the room had the garments on.
'Yes, sir, they have"
The reply provoked laughter and the
witness repeated: II know they all have
them on"
Would Hurt Her business.
Senator Foraker asked the witness
If she had ever heard of the endow-
ment house penalties being enforced
against any one. She said she had
not.
Mr.. Tayler asked II she were likely
to suffer by reason Of giving testimony
here.
Mrs. Elliott said she expected that
her business would suffer.
Charles II. Jackson OF Boise city,
Ida, chairman of the Democratic State
Committee, testified at length concern
ing the growing power of the Mormon
church and its interference I'm state af-
fairs, which, he said, was made the
paramount issue by Democrats and In
dependents 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 they have revelations that
they should vote a certain ticket. and
also that the Mormon church desires II.
The witness described in detail the
fight being made by the Mormon
church for the removal from the state
constitution Of Idaho of the test oath
against polygamists. He told of the
visit of Apostle John Henry Smith
for the purpose OF directing leglsla-
tlon, and said that the influence OF the
church accomplished the passage OF the
sugar bounty bill Mr.. jackson said
with emphasis: "it is impossible for
any man or any party 20 stand against
the Mormon church IN Idaho"
Democratic Vote spelled Rnin.
Mr.. Jackson said the Mormons de-
clared that not "A vote would be given
the Democrats IN the last campaign
and. said the witness. they made
good" lie stated as his belief. that
not one Mormon voted the Democratic
ticket. A. result he said that the
Increased Republican mal0ritiea In the
Mormon counties compared with the
increased Republican majoritlea in the
0entiie counties we're enormous
Mr.. Jackson said he had talked with
many Mormona who Had been Demo-
crafa. and they had told him that,
n a were known that they we're ~
vote the Democratic ticket they would
BE- ruined lu business
Tho hearing Wa aaiourned until TO-
merrow.