The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-24
by revelation or othsrwIse-there would

by revelation or otherwise-there would be. trouble"
 Tn regard to. the continuation of poIyg- amous cohabitation, Judge Powers said that some look upon this condition with tolerance and others with open hostility. Mormon Church Trust"
 Several Senators engaged in the discus- sion of the future of polygamy. and Judss Powers said he believed the practice cry. Continuing. he said:
 But I do not regard polygamy as the worst feature of the Mormon religion What object to most Is its un-American domination by the hierarchy of the.peopie of that belief The belief in the right of the church authorities to prescribe rules. the belief that the head of the church is inspired. and interference of the church in political and commercial affairs"
 Senator Hopkins: .'The same charge about commerce can be made against other churches in a limited way, can 1t not"
 Not as I make the statement here," said Mir Powers. T do not know of any other church that conducts bathing beaches, street railways, electric light and power plants, banks, mines and mills and that attempts eo control the local politics for the purpose of obtaining commissions and franchises"
 Senator Hopkins: There Is the Metho- dist Church in Chicago. of which l am . member. It engages in business. and have always supported that idea"
 Attorney Worthington: And the Trim ity Church in New York also owns and rents property
 But as I understand 1t. Judge Powers means that the Mormon Church Is trust and owns and controls great commercial institutions" said Senator Mccomas-
 That is it; 1t Is trust" said Judge Powers.
 Bailey Brings on Discussion.
 Senator Bailey asked Senator Hopkins and Mir worthington if the Methodist Church in Chicago and Trinity Church in New York engaged in mercantile anairs. and both admitted that the business con- sisted merely or owning property and re- ceiving rents.
 Senator Dubois suggested that if conn parisons of power of the Mormon and Methodist churches were to be made, It would be well to summon the bishop or the Methodist churches to testify.
 If you were as well acquainted with Methodism as I am, it would not be necessary to summon bishop" retorted Senator Hopkins However. I may not be so well acquainted with Mormonism.
 Judge Powers continued in the line of making it clear that the Mormon church controlled business in Utah to a large de- gree and that it was protected by sec recy which was hard to get at.
 Senator Overman remarked that there was no secrecy in Methodist, and there- fore comparisons were unnecessary.
 An adjournment was taken until ?. m.
 The cross examination of Judge Powers began at the afternoon session. Ques- items by MT. vancott brought out the statements from the witness that he be- lieyed the Mormon church would even tlially assume position similar to that of other churches.
 With honest. upright and law abiding leaders, he thought the people would be honest and law abiding. He deplored. however, that the people were disposed to obey the leaders of the church whether such leaders were good or bad.
 Jtdee puwefs admitted Mir. Smoct had bsea pr8falnant in working for Renuhll- caIlisra before politics. h Utah divided oa party lines. He brought out that Judge Powers was chairman of the com mittee which nominated Brigham Rob erts and Moses Thatcher. both of whom were Mormons. The witness said the nominations were the result of the abil- ity of both men and their courage in standing against the political rule ot the church. The witness said he had not been on the stump for Mir. Roberts and defended him.
 The committee adjourned until Monday.