The Savannah morning news., 1904-03-12
COULD STOP 1T
OR COULD RESIGN
REED SM00T AND P0LYGAMY
FURTHER DISCUSSED BEFORE THE
SENATE COMMITTEE.

witness said That smoot Could
amous Capitalization Among Nor
mons or He Could Resign-Critch-
low Told How One Divine ReveIn-
tiOn Did Not Work Very Well.
Smacked of Business Too Strongly.
Washington. March 1.-THE only
witness on the stand to-day in the in
vestigation of the Senator Reed Smoot
case, before the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections, was E. B.
Critchlow, former assistant United
States attorney for Utah.
Senator Bevcridge assisted in the
his attempts to prove certain evidence
incompetent livened what otherwise
would have been the first dull day of
the hearing.
Mr.. Critchlow said Smoot announced
his candidacy first in 1900. and that
the announcement met with decided
opposition from Republicans and 9TH
ers. The objections were manifested,
according to the witness. at the Salt
Lake elections for members of the
Legislature, and in expressions from
the Ministerial Association of Utah.
Mormons as well as nom Mormons
were opposed to sending an apostle TO
the Senate. and it was we'll known to
all that the candidacy of Mr.. Smoot
was not received with favor.
Senator Beveridge questioned the
witness in regard to the general rep
utation of Senator Smoot, particularly
as to whether he is a polygamist.
But One Wife Has SmOot.
Mr.. Critichlow said he had never
heard it charged that Mr.. Smoot has
more than one wife.
Mr.. Critchlow said it was the opin-
ion of non-M ormons and of many of
the Mormons that if officials, such as
apostles, should enter politics, there
was no chance for lay members, and
they would not dare to aspire to high
political honors. The necessity of
apostles getting consent is equivalent
to church Endorsement when that con-
sent is given, said the witness.
you say they would not dare to
aspire to Office said Senator Bev-
eridge. What would happen if they
did?'
They would undoubtedly be dealt
with"
'How?"
"They would be held to be out of
harmony and not disposed to take
counsel of those higher in the church."
We'll what of that? What would
have been done to them?"
'They would have been disfellow-
shipped and ostracised from the
church.
DO you know of any who have
been disfellowshipped for any offense
of independent political action?"
The witness said he did not know
that he could mention any, but that
many instances could be given where
it was shown the church dominated.
A Commercial Revelation.
Mr.. Critchlow related a case at
Brigham City, where a controversy
arose between leaders of the church
and the people, Mormons and non-Mor-
mons, over municipal affairs. The peo-
pie of Brigham City were demanding
municipal ownership for an electric
light plant, and this was opposed by
the Mayor, who took the case to
Charles Kelly, president of the stake.
According to the story of Mr.. Critch-
low Mr.. Kelly then received a revela-
ton from the Lord to the effect that a
company should be formed to take the
lighting plant, and that he should be
the president of the concern. The rev.
elation was submitted to the general
conference at Brigham City and was
there rejected. Many of the Mormons,
who opposed the transaction, were dis
fellowshipped
The witness, when asked concerning
Senator Shoots power to prevent the
violations of the laws in regard to
polygamous cohabitation, said:
by one word Smoot could either
stop what is going on or cease to be
an apostle"
The committee adjourned until to-
morrow.