The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-03-15
UTAH RUN By SAINTS
Activity of Mormon Church in Poll
tics Told by E. B. Critchlow.
THE MOSES THATCHER EPISODE

Wishes of Apostles, Was Defeated
and His Spirit Broken BY Conflict
With the Church.
Washington. March ll.-One of the
most interesting and important fea'
lures OF the investigation OF the Sen
atOr Reed SmOot case, before the SEN
ate committee on privileges and cleo
tions. was brought out in the testi-
mony Of f. B. Critchlow, formerly an
assistant United States attorney in
Utah. who told the story OF the Moses
Thatcher episode According to his
version. which was borne out by Off
cial records, Apostle Thatcher per-
sisted in continuing as a candidate for
the United States senate against the
wishes of n quorum OF the apostles,
and on that account was held TO be
not in harmony with his quorum" ="
The history Of the campaign he made
against the wishes Of his fellow Nor
mons. OF his defeat and his subse-
quent trial before a commission OF
church officials, was given in detail.
and then Thatcher's submission 70 the
will OF the church vas read and put
in the record OF the Smoot inyestiga-
tiOn.
In relation 70 the Moses Thatcher IN
eident, Mr.. Crtchlow said a letter had
been sent out which had the purpose
OF dividing the people as equally as
possible between Republicans and
Democrats. so as to maintain a reserve
which could be swung either way in
the interest OF the church. The church
afterward denied this letter. said Mr..
Critchlow. but Moses Thatcher con-
tinued working in the interest OF the
Democratic party. and in the autumn
Of 1896 carried on an active campaign
for election to the United States SEN
ate by the succeeding legislature. This
campaign was in conflict with the
wishes OF the members OF his quorum
OF apOs' es. ald he was finally
dropped. II was taken up as church
matter and said Mr.. CritchlOw, the
editorials in the Deseret News de-
clared that the church had a right to
interest itself in the elections for the
United States senate
In answer 10 a question as to what
happened to Mr.. Thatcher as a result
OF his disObedience, Mr. Critchlow said
a declaration Of principles was sub
mlgted to Mr.. Thatcher for his sigma
ture. but he refused to sign. In the
succeeding year he was summoned be-
fore a council and tried, and ac-
knowledged that he had been wrong,
and he retained his good fellowship,
but Is not now an apostle and has not
been since the episode. Mr.. Thatcher
was compelled to subscribe to a state
ment that he was wholly in the wrong.
and in fact. said the witness, his spirit
was broken completely by his conflict
with the church.
In response 10 an inquiry In regard
90 Mr.. Thatcher running for the SEN
ate on a platform not in harmony with
the church. Mr.. Critchlow spoke OF the
influence of the apostles. giving as an
illustration that the apostles gave out
the instruction that lit is the will OF
the Lord that you vote the Republican
ticket this time
Mr.. Critchlow said the Democrats
protested against the interference by
l A. Ia a,tch manner
The purpose Of the testimony was
10 show that 1t was necessary, accord
ing to the rules of the church, for
Reed Smoot to have obtained the con-
sent of the church before he could
have become a candidate>for the sem
ate. In addition TO the Thatcher cpl
sode. Mr.. CritehIow gave the history
of the prosecutions in Utah on charges
of polygamous cobabitation since the
massage OF the Edmunds law, and the
LEGISLATION in the territory and state
which affects Mormonism or poly
gamy. His story>was concise and en-
tertaining. and he was interrupted but
little.
Andrew Jensen, the assistant histor-
ian of the church, gave testimony
showing the supremacy OF the presi'
dent of the church He related the
methods of the church, its control by
presidents of stakes and bishops. The
president of the church. said this wit
ness, appointed the president OF the
stakes. some SO in number, and these
latter appointed the bishops, several
hundred in number The bishops could
) not act until their appointment was
approved by the president Of the
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