The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-22
MORMON TALKS
ABOUT HIS WIVES
CANNON ON THE sTkND
ro GIVE EVIDENCE IN THE REED
sMoOT CASE.

=. WINS with DimcuIty That the
sanate Investigating Committee
CouId Extract Anything from the
polyRamist-He Plead for FrOtec-
tion from Prosecution, should His
Evidence show Him LiEbIe--His
Marital Relations.
Washington, April 21.-The feature
Of to-day's hearing in the Smoot case
IN the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections was the testimony of
Angus NJ. Cannon, for twenty-five
voars president Of the largest Nor
mon stake in the world.
The testimony was of personal
character, dealing with the conviction
of the witness on charges OF poiyga-
NOUS cohabitation, and was dragged
from him under protest that he be
protected from any peril or liability to
prosecution for what he revealed. His
testimony was no less sensational than
that given by President Smith early In
the Investigation. He answered all
questions of a personal character, but
and replies to questions in regard to
his numerous marriages were as near
monosyllabic as it would be possible
to make them.
Brigham H. Roberts was recalled by
the defense to show that the Demo-
cratic successes of the state were due
10 the silver craze and that the
Mormon Church had not maintained a
vacillating policy between the two po-
litical parties.
Influence in Idaho.
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
polyga NOUS cohabitation, though sew
eral unsucce ssful efforts had been made
to enact such a statute. All of these
measures, he said. had died in the
Legislature, which Is about one-third
Mormon.
In regard to the Mormon influence
in the state, Mr. Cobb said that the
chairman of the state organizations of
both parties go to Salt Lake before ev-
cry campaign and both come back
and say that everything has been flxed
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 con-
stitutional convention to enact an
amendment to repeal the Idaho test
against Mormonism. The resolution
was defeated several times and finally
Apostle John Henry Smith visited
Boise and soon after the resolution
was adopted.
Cannon and His Wives.
The sensation of the hearing occurred
when Mr.. Tayler examined Mr.. Can
non in regard to his various marriages.
MIR. Cannon's voice shook with great
emotion, as he said:
Nineteen years ago l was brought
into great trouble. l was prosecuted
and sent to prison because 1 acknowi-
edged the mothers of my CHILDREN as
my families. l was given the opDor-
tunity of deserving my families or go
ing to prison-and l went to prison.
For long time 1 have lived within
the law as far as it was possible to
do so in the face of the obligations
to my families. | have not paraded
my families, but in honest pride have
nouriShed them.
The press of the country has carl
catured President Smith for the teati-
mony he gave in regard to plural fam
lilies. and if 1 am asked to make SIM
liar exhibitions of my family 1 appeal
for protection from any consequences
that may be the result of the testi-
mony. | will answer all questions in
regard to myself, or the church, if I
am assured that I will not be placed In
peril by reason of the testimony"
Chairman Burrows said the witness
was at liberty to decline to answer any
questions he chose.
Mr.. Tayler observed that he did not