The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-22
Geo. NJ. Cobb & Co.
FIRE and LIABILITY
INSURANCE.
fS9 Newton Caypool Building
MORMON CANNON SAYS
He TOOK TWO SISTERS FOR
WIVES At THE SAME TIME

CONCLUDED FROM FIRST PAGE9
them offensively, but should care for them.
Mr.. Cannon said he had seconded the reso-
luton that had been adopted
FOLLOWS HIS CONSCIENCE.
''Do you mean to say that you will go on
living with your plural wives?" the chair
man asked.
IT will have to improve greatly IL 1
don't / follow the dictation of my con-
science I'm the matter
Mr.. Cannon declined to reveal the oaths
taken in the endowment house. saying
that they were sacred covenants entered
into with their Maker. He said that only
the very pure are permitted to enter the
endowment house.
"You mean such as yourself and Presi-
dent Smith, said Mr.. Burrows.
Again and again the witness evaded
questions relating to the character Of the
obligations taken in the endowment house,
and finally said that God had made 1t
krcwn that the sacred covenants should
not be spoken OF to the world. He would
not say that there was any penalty at
taChed 10 such disclosures or whether
promise was given that the questions
should not be answered.
In answer to Senator Overman, Mr.. Can
non said the twelve apostles had taken the
endowment house oath. Great interest
was manifested by members OF the COM
mittee concerning the character or the
endowment house marriage ceremonies.
but little could be obtained from MIR. Can
non. When pressed TOO closely he an
swered that he could not remember.
defense to-day when the committee con-
vered. Mr. Vancott drew from the witness
a review of the election of Utah to show
that the Democratic successes of the state
were due to the .'silver craze" and that the
Mormon Church had not maintained a
vacillating policy between the two political
parties as had been inferred from the teS-
timony given by Mr.. Roberts on yesterday.
Calvin Cobb. publisher of the Boise
Statesman, was examined In regard TO
polygamy in Idaho and the influence OF
Mormons on the politics of the State. He
said there is no statute against poiygamous
coha bitation. though several unsuccessful
efforts had been made to enact such a
had died in the Legislature, which Is about
one-third Mormon.
THEY FIX THINGS
In regard to the Mormon influence In
the State Mr.. Cobb said that the chairman
of the state organizations of both parties
goes to Salt Lake before every campaign
and both come back and say that every
thing has been fixed 'all right" He said
that after the election one or the other
usually felt that things had not been ''all
right Mr.. Cobb related the efforts before
the Legislature to have called a constitu-
tionaI convention to enact an amendment
to repeal the Idaho test against Mormon
ISM The resolution was defeated several
times and finally Apostle John Henry
Smith visited Boise and soon after the reso-
luton was adopted
Counsel for the prosecution examined Mr.
Cobb In relation TO the influence Mormons
are alleged TO have attempted to bring to
bear for the retention of Senator SmoOt
This was shown. said Mr.. Cobb, by a dele
CATION of the Ohio Legislature. which called
on W. F. Borah, a candidate for the Senate
and asking him what would be his attitude
as a United States senator, If the case OF
Senator Smoot should come up.
Counsel for the defense opposed the in
PRODUCTION OF this testimony on the ground
that what Mr.. Borah told Mr.. Cobb was In
competent. Mr.. Tayler explained that he
wanted to show that Borah declined to
commit himself in regard to Mr.. Smoot
and on that account was not elected to the
Senate Mr.. Borah is now one of the coun.
sci for Mr. Smoot.