The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-17
DEFIES UNCLE SAM.
Mormon Witness Proclaims First Duty
Is to His Church.

Washington, Dec. 17.-In the Reed
Smoot investigation Mr.. Nancott
brought out the fact that there We're
about 10000 Mormon votes of total
of $4,000 votes in the. state. He asked
the witness if it were not true that al
though the Gentiles were in a large
majority and that the Democrats put
an anti-MOrmOn plank in their plat
form and the Republicans refused to
put in such a plank, the Republicans
carried the state by very large ma
jority.
THAT is a fact" responded Mr..
Jackson, the witness, but he added
that the inference drawn by the at
torney from the question was not JUS
titled.
Mr. jackson contended that there
were Jack Mormons' or Gentiles
who are Mormon in political affairs
and who are able to control elections
An effort was made by Mr.. Vancott
to show that the Mormon delegates in
the last Democratic state convention
had agreed to vote for an anti
polygamy resolution If the crime of
adultery were included also. Mr..
jackson declared the reverse to be
true and in fact the Mormon delegates
defeated the resolution.
Mr.. Jackson, in answer to questions
by Chairman Burrows, told of the
passage of a resolution by the Idaho
legislature calling a constitutional con-
vention. He said the resolution created
no comment and in fact it's purpose
was ignored until Senator Dubois had
written a letter calling attention to
the fact that such a convention could
repeal the Idaho tests against
polygamy. Mr.. Jackson said the reSo-
luton had been put through the leg
islature on the advice of Apostle John
Henry Smith.
Asked why the resolution was not
submitted to the people Mr.. Jackson
said the attorney general gave an opin-
ion declaring that the resolution was
improperly passed and the secretary of
state refused to certify the resolution
to be placed on the ballot.
Mr.. Vancott asked if the attorney
general who rendered the opinion was
not and is not now a Mormon, to which
the witness answered in the affirmative.
Mr.. Vancott brought out the fact that
there were only nine Mormons in the
legislature which passed the resolution
calling for a constitutional convention,
but Mr.. Jackson added that members
from counties where the MormonS held
the balance of power We're under Nor
mon influence.
John Nicholson, chief recorder of the
Salt Lake temple, was recalled and ex-
amined in regard to the marriage rec
ords he was supposed to bring to WASH
ington. He stated that the record he
brought contains all of the marriages
that have been solemnized in the tenn
pie since 1898, when the book was op-
ened.
rs the book you have here the only
one in which marriages have been re-
corded in that period?" Mr.. Taylor
asked.
II have no recollection of any other"
Then the witness explained that there
is another book in which are recorded
the sealings of men and women, who
have been married outside of the
church. He was asked if there was still
other books and replied that the var
ious religious processes each have a
book. Attention was called by Mr..
Tayler to the testimony of August
Lundstrom, that he had been sealed to
his wife at a ceremony performed in
the temple and the witness was asked
He said it was in another book. More
than is minutes was consumed by Mr..