The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-22

Control of Utah politics by the Nor
mon Church-at one period by Spea sup
port of the Peoples Party as opposed
to the Liberal Party composed of Gen
tiles) and in more recent years by throw
ing the church voting strength TO one
or the other of the two national political
parties-was described in detail at the
session of the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections today in the
Smoot investigation.
The witness was Judge o. w. Powers,
of Salt Lake City. who was appointed by
President Cleveland in 1885 TO be asso-
ciate justice of the supreme court OF
Utah In answer 10 a query from At
torney Tayler, the witness said he had
made an extended study of political and
church conditions In Utah and felt thor
oughly posted on such matters, both be-
fore and since Utah became State II
was his firm opinion. backed by docu-
mentary evidence in his possession and
by ofaciai records. which can be in
spected in Utah, that the church domi-
mates politics there ar Will
Powers Takes the Stand.
When Judge Powers was caIlszl to the
witness chair, he proceeded TO discuss
conditions in Utah at the time he took
up his duties as supreme court justice.
Prosecutions under the EdmGnds act
were then Just beginning. About 100
prosecutions took place. Among them
was one against Lorenzo Snow, then an
apostle OF the Mormon Church. He was
convicted and sentenced. Later he be-
came president of the Mormon Church.
Senator Dubois inquired whether any
CT the prosecutions were for polygamy,
as well as for polygamous cohabitation-
Witness answered he recalled at least
ore. but that there were not many. be-
cause il was hard to prove the facts
Witness was asked his opinion as to
whether the Mormon Church was active
In other ways than as a religious or
ganization.
1T has been a political organization, :"
he replied. 1T was openly so in the
national campaign OF free trade and
sailors rights, when the apostles took
the stump in behalf of that ticket AT
that time the Mormon people We're all
Democrats. Just prior TO the election
the prophet, Joseph Smith. said his
brother Hiram had had a revelation
calling upon all to vote the Democratic
ticket.
After the migration TO Utah there
was no party politics for long time:
At that time most or the members Ot
the church were Americans AfterWaru
people OF foreign birth began 10 come
IN great numbers and this had some
effect on party action, as the Foreigners
did not understand American issues.
A Perfect Organization.
Their church organization is the most
complete that l am cognizant OF. The
Liberal party was party in Titan COM
posed entirely OF Gentiles. and the Peo-
ple's party was entirely OF Mormons-
Politics was then run on religious lines
because the two systems were entreiy
antagonistic. Prior TO the organization
of the Liberal party in lsa0 there was
seldom II ever vote cast aga1n1;S,ts, I1;,s,, tne l
Mormon party In that year Williarn
II Hooper received 2l.656 votes as the
candidate OF the Peoples party and
George r Maxwell. candidate OF the
Liberal party, received I'see Notss- IL IL
ceived 20 96s votes and Maxwell l.S4-
votes. In 1874 Cannon, renominated. re-
ceiyed p. $50 votes. and Robert NJ. Bas-
tian, Liberal. 4,SlS
This proportion continued in all the
succeeding elections. witness said, un-
m lSS6. when the Liberals determined to
take a new tack. The Mormons at thai
time claimed to be Democrats in ma
tional politics, and candidates were Sc
iected by the church leaders. Sometimes
there was a convention. but there was
no contest.
I'm 1885, witness continued. many
OF the younger and more independent
Mormons began TO be restless and de
sirous of taking part in national party
politics. There was organized IN tina
wear the SagebruSh Democracy, mans
given as a slur at first, but accepted ul
timately by the leaders or the party
Their candidate received only 5ll votes
getting 1o.I27, and the Liberal, 3,494-
Interesting to Foraker.
Senator Foraker suggested there haC
been a light vote that year, compared
with the other figures quoted by th'
witness. The explanation was that af
ter the passage OF the Edmunds ac'
there was no woman suffrage as ther'
had been prior thereto. and as there i!
now
In the spring of 1889 a large number o
young men formed the Young Men
| Liberal Club of Salt Lake City and be
gan a campaign for carrying the city
was based on the plan of the Mormon
| Church. with a superintendent or eacl
ecclesiastical ward. and even leaoe
on each block. Then. following the In
diana plan, they arranged all voters Il
blocks of ten. witness said.
| Prior 70 this time IL was not unusua
for the leaders of the Mormon Churcl
openly TO take part in politics. Witnes:
referred to the case of Don. G. Emery
| who offered himself as an Independent