New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-17
TELLS OF MORMON 0ATHS
4 WOMAN'S EVIDENCE.
Norr,onS Said to Control the Poll
tics of Idaho.

HsSo " ANNN
washington. Dec 16.-The first witness in the
emoot inquiry to-day was Mrs Annie Elliott. of
Price Utah. She went from Denmark to Utah
IN 1872. and left the Mormon Church in 1896
She was asked concerning the obligations taken
In the temple. and was requested to repeat as
much Of the ceremonies as she could remem-
Der.
T, q voice shaken with emotion Mrs. Elliott
IA the obligations were so indicate she could
- hear to repeat them. Chairman Burrows
.,d her 10 take her own time and not be en-
barrassed.
The witness said the first oath administered
,rss that If they did not want 20 go any further
,,s take the oaths they should turn back and
&C out.
Fv slow degrees Mrs. Elliott repeated the
ostbs of vengeance and the various penalties
osc-,hed for revealing any part of the cere-
NAMES When giving testimony concerning the
,snaI+ies of mutiIation she trembled, and ap-
.sared TO proceed with difficulty. After saying
,bat each person takir3 the endowments agrees
"a have his or her throat cut, Mrs Elliott said
a. would be impossible for her to go any further.
"a. that time I considered It all so serious
THAT thought 7 would put 1t away and not men
..,r ,- env more" she said when requested to
proceed
Pressed by Chairman Burrows, the witness
,old If penalties and obligations which have been
described by other witnesses.
Az the request Of Mr.. Tayler Mrs Elliott de-
so-,haa the garments worn by Mormons who
have taken the endowments.
senator Overman asked If every Mormon in
,oo5 standing is compelled to wear the gar
Toen+s and the witness said that all such Nor
o,,e wear the garments as undertaking.
Lacking at Senator Smoot, Senator Overman
osl,ed the witness If she were sure every Nor
mon in good standing in the committee room
had the garments on
yes. sir. they have" The reply provoked
laughter. and the witness repeated. II know they
all have them on"
on cross-examination Mr.. Worthington en-
deavored 10 find II the witness had told others
of the endowment ceremonies, but she insisted
that she never had, except In limited way to
the pastor Of the Baptist church in her town
She declared that the attorney for the protest
ants had no idea what she would say when she
took the stand.
Senator Foraker asked if she had ever heard
~ the endowment house penalties being en-
forced against any one. She said she had not.
M Tayler asked if she were likely to suffer
by reason Of giving testimony here. Mrs Elliott
said she expected her business would suffer.
MORMONIsM IN POLITICS
Charles H Jackson, of Boise City, Idaho chair
man Of the Democratic State Committee, testi-
fed at length concerning the growing power of
the Mormon Church and its interference in
State affairs. which, he said. was made the para
mount issue by Democrats and Independents III
the last campaign in Idaho. He said the apos-
ties from Utah go into Idaho and direct the
people how to vote. These officials, said MT
Jackson. tell their people there have been rev.
Citations that they should vote certain ticket.
and also that the Mormon Church desires it.
The witness described in detail the fight being
made by the MorInons for the removal from the
constitution Of Idaho of the test against polyg-
amistS He told Of the visit Of Apostle John
Eenry Smith for the purpose of directing legis-
lstion. and said that the influence of the Church
acconPhshed the passage OF the sugar bouIity
bill. This measure placed a bounty OF one cent
a pound on all sugar manufactured within the
State in 1903, and half a cent pound for all
sugar manufactured in 1904. It is estimated
that the bounty IN 1903 amounted to $1,000
and in 1904 to $4,000. There are four re-
fneries I'm the State. and President Joseph
Smith of the Mormon Church is president of
three of them. The fourth factory was con-
structed recently and is controlled by Gentiles.
Speaking Of the influence Of Mormonism on
the political affairs Of the State, Mr.. Jackson
took illustration the defeat of Governor
Morrison. He declared that Governor. Nor
rlsons administration had been satisfactory TO
his Republican constituents but that he had
run foul of the Mormon Church and therefore
defeated for second term. 1t is impos-
the Mormon Church in Idaho" Mr. Jackson said
with emphasis.
II describing the political conditions in the
State Mr. Jackson said six Of the tTenty-One
counties known al solidly Mormon, and IL
all the southern tier Of counties the Mormons
in control. In that way, he said, the Nor
mons practically IN charge Of the legislature,
political conventions and all gatherings at which
delegates aIe elected by the people.
The delegates elected by these counties sre
not always Mormon in religion. but they are al
ways Mormon in political action" said Mr.
!Eckson. The witness gave in narrative form
ts history Of the protests against Mormon
Interference which had been made by the Dem
eerats in the last campaign. Mr.. Jackson said
The MOrmOns declared that not a vote would be
given 70 the Democrats. and, he added, they
MADE good He gave il as his belief that not
one Mormon voted the Democratic ticket. AS
result, he said that the increase Of Republican
majorties IN the Mormon counties compared
with those in the Gentle counties enormous.
M jackson said he had talked with many
Mormons who had been Democrats and they
had told him that If il were known that they
were to vote the Democratic ticket they would
be ruined In business
Because Of the agreement of the Senate to
vote on the Philippine bin to-day no afternoon
session Of the committee was held. The hearing
was adjourned until tomorrow morning.