New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-23
CHURCH ABOVE THE STATE
HORIZONS IN POLITICS.
Judge Po1cers Tells of Ecclesiastical
Control IN Utah.

Washington. April PA thorough review OF
Mormon interference in the political affairs Of
Utah given to-day by Judge o. w. Powers.
the only witness before the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections the investigation of the
protests against Senator Reed SmoOt. Several
times efforts were made by counsel for the de-
fence show that his story was based on hearsay.
but the attempts were with array Of facts
taken from signed statements of members Of the
Church documents which are part of the records,
afidavits OF persons present at various places
where the Church influence manifested, and
other evidence. judge Powers will continue to-
morrow.
Judge Powers was appointed by President Cleve-
land in 1855 as an associate justice of the Supreme
Court OF Utah. At that time prosecutions under
the EdmunGs act were just beginning. and during
his incumbency. he said, there were about nun
dred persons prosecuted for polygamy and polyg-
amous cohabitation, among them being Lorenzo
Snow then one Of the twelve apostles. who after
ward was elected president Of the Church MI
Snow was convicted and sentenced.
Judge Powers said he had examined persons
who applied for naturalization. In regard TO an
application by one Neil Hanson, Judge Powers
said Hanson declared that he would obey the laws
OF the Church rather than the laws or the Iahu
If they should run counter with each other Inc
application for citizenship was denied
In regard to prosecutions. Judge Powers said
most of them had been for poIygamOus cohabita-
ton. Few prosecutions were had for polygaIny' ne
said as there was then no marriage law ana mar
riages were secret, and polygamy. therefore nara
20 prove.
Judge Powers reviewed the political history Oh
Utah to show the close relations OF the Moriho"
Church with political affairs, also the intlmaIe
ISOLATION Of the Church with the local and muhlcl
pal governments. His testimony tended 10 sho"
that the Church controlled in civil as well as &C.
clesiastical affairs.
At the afternoon session Judge Powers continued
his review of political affairs in Utah. speaking
specifically Of the Thatcher and Roberts cases
when these men were charged with "disobeying the
rules OF the Church by accepting a nomination LOT
Office without first taking counsel OF the Church.
The witness quoted number OF officials OF the
Church in their campaigns against IhaJcher anu
Roberts, because their acceptance OF
tons without the consent OF high Church autholi-
ties. -.
Among other points OF Utah history recounted by
Judge Powers was the reconvened Democratic con-
veuton October 20. 1885, when raised the queS-
ton Of retaining its ticket IN the held or win.
drawing the ticket and opposing the admission OF
er's candidacy for the Senate. and said that TOUR
DAYS after Thatcher announced himself on a pat
form opposed Church Interference IN ponucS ne
was deposed apostle. After his defe3t an
the legislature Of the charge that the defeat Was
accomplished by ecclesiastical interference IN tle
election. This effort unsuccessful ana, accoIu-
ing to the witness Thatcher then was made TO re-
can't his antaEonistic view OF Church intcrterence
The witness also told OF two teachers IN Mormon
churches and schools being deposed from their &c
ciesastical authority because their political prefer
euCes were not approved the Church. and or
Nichol Hood, who A letter adversely critics.
ing the election Of Reed SmOot 10 the senate, on
the ground that high Church authorities should not
accept such places
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