Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1904-12-22
INVESTIGATION OF REED SMOOT
WITNESSES EXAMINED BY SEM
ATE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE.
THE MORMON CHURCH IN POLITICS.
oaths of ofVengeance Taken by Men and
Women in the Temple and Penal
ties Ascribed for Revealing An
Part of the Ceremonies.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE first wit
ness in the Senator Smoot inquiry
yesterday was Mrs. Annie Elliott, of
Price, Utah. She is an elderly lady
who 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. Mrs. Elliott said that the obliga-
tions were so indelicate she could not
bear to repeat them.
By slow degrees Mrs. Elliott repeat
ed the oaths Of vengeance and the
various penalties ascribed for reveal
Ing any part of the ceremonies. After
saying that each person taking the en-
dowments agrees to have his or her
throat cut, Mrs. Elliott said it would
be impossible for her to go any fur
ther "At that time | considered it all
so serious that | thought | would put
1t away and not mention it any more" +"
she said when requested to proceed.
Pressed by Chairman Burrows, the
witness told of the other penalties and
obligations which have been described
by other witnesses
Mrs. Elliott described the garments
worn by Mormons who have taken the
endowments. Senator Overman asked
If every Mormon in good standing is
compelled to wear the garments, and
the witness said that all such Nor
mons wear the garments as under
clothing.
Looking at Senator Smoot, Senator
Overman asked the witness if she
standing in the committee room had
the garments on.
Yes, sir, they have" The reply
provoked laughter and the witness re-
peated: Il know they all have them
on"
Senator Foraker asked the witness
if she had ever heard of the endow-
ment house penalties being enforced
against anyone. She said she had not.
Charles II. Jackson, of Boise City,
Idaho, chairman of the democratic
state committee, testified at length
concerning the growing power of the
Mormon church and it's interference
in state affairs, which he said was
made the paramount issue by demo-
Gratis and independents in the last
campaign in Idaho. He said that
apostles of the church from Utah go
into Idaho and direct the people how
to vote. These church officials, said
Mr.. Jackson, tell their people there
have been revelations that they should
vote a certain ticket and also that the
Mormon church desires il. The wit
ness described in detail the fight being
made by the Mormon church for the
removal from the state constitution of
Idaho of the test oath against polyga-
mists.
He told of the visit of Apostle John
Henry Smith for the purpose of di-
recting legislation and said that the
influence of the church accomplished
the passage of the sugar bounty bill.
Speaking of the influence of the
church on the political affairs of the
state, Mr.. Jackson took as an illustra-
tion the defeat of Gov. Morrison for a
second nomination. He declared that
MOrrison's administration had been
satisfactory to his republican constitu-
ents, but that he had run foul of the
Mormon church, and therefore was
denied a second term. In this connec-
tion Mr. Jackson said: ut is impos-
sible for any man or any party to
stand against the Mormon church in
Idaho"
Washington, Dec. 15.-Testimony
relating to the alleged polygamous
marriage of the late Apostle Abram
Cannon and Lillian Hamlin and ad-
ditional testimony concerning the OBJ
legations taken by persons who pass
through the Mormon endowment
house, was offered yesterday.
Washington, Dec. 16-John Nichol-
son, the chief recorder of the Mormon
temple at Salt Lake, was a witness
yesterday in the Smoot inquiry. He
proved the most reluctant witness of
all the church officials who have been
brought before the committee. BY a
slow process the attorney for the pro-
testants drew from him the fact that
he keeps the records of marriages..
baptsms and endowments that are
solemnized within the temple. He ex-
planned that the endowments are the
placing upon individuals of blessings
that will be upon them forever.