Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-17

d
Washington, d. G., Dec. 1e.-In the
Smoot inquiry today Mrs. Annie ELI
oft, an elderly woman who left the
Mormon church in 1896, corroborated
the other witnesses regarding the pen
alties and obligations prescribed by
the church. She admitted that she
had never heard that the endowment
house penalties had been enforced,
but she said she expected to suffer in
business way by reason of her testi-
flying at the present inquiry.
The Church and Politics.
Charles II. jackson, chairman Of the
Idaho democratic state committee, tes-
titled at length concerning the grow
ing power Of the Mormon church and
its interference In state affairs. which
he said was made the paramount is-
sue by the democrats and independents
In the last campaign in Idaho. He
said the apostles Of the church from
Utah 60 into Idaho and direct the peo-
pie how to vote. They tell their peo-
pie that there have been revelations
that they should vote certain ticket
and also that the Mormon church de-
sfses 1t. IA
He, gave Instances. where candidates
who had proven satisfactory to the re-
publicans had been defeated for re-
nomination by the influence OF the
church, Ex-Governor Morrison being q
notable example.
Control Six Counties.
jackson said that six OF the twenty
one. counties OF the state are known as
solidly Mormon and that In all the
southern counties the Mormans are in
control of the church having practical
charge Of all gatherings at which the
delegates are elected by the people.
"The delegates elected by these
counties are not always Mormon in po
litical action" said jackson. He had
talked with many Mormons he said
who had told him that IL 1t were
known that they were to vote the dem
ocratic ticket they would be ruined in
business.
Veil is Lifted.
The veil that hides the mysteries OF
Mormonism, including bethrothals Of
the living to the dead, "seals of blood
death oaths," ETC., was lifted again
yesterday in the Senator Smoot investi
cation, revealing many new and start
ling phases.
Three witnesses gave testimony yes
terday, having been summoned at the
behest Of the protestants, who want
to see the Mormon leader debarret
from the senate.
/ The witnesses yesterday were Au
gust Lundstrom, ]. Fl. Wallis and Johr
Nicholson The former two had beer
RECALLED The latter is the keeper O
endowment seals in the great temple
of the apostles at Salt Lake. He tes
titled with great reluctance. The 9th
er two witnesses, as they testified re
Gently, are renegades from the faith.
Lundstrom was on the stand all th'
afternoon Attorney Vancott for Sena
1 tor Smoot asked the witness IL he hat
ever considered the obligations take1
!, in the temple as huge joke, or il
4 the light Of vaudeville performance
TT always regarded the oaths as So
i cred" he said. Then he declared tina
men cannot pass through the temple
to take endowment for women.
/ Reveals Secrets Of Temple.
i The witness then told the commit
tee OF the practice Of mutilation pre-
lscribed for revealing the tokens or vic
lating the covenants. The whole cor
gregation passing through the templ
repeated in the first person the obliga
4 ton and penalties and executed tn
4 signs accompanying them. The las
ceremony he attended, the witnes
said, was in 1898, at the temple whe
Apostle Merrill offlciated at the sea
ings.
4 "sealed TO Dead for Eternity"
Il Have you had q plural wife?"
\ Eyes. sir"
! Then he explained that the dead WI
man had been sealed to him for eterI
ity, but that he had never lived wit
but one wife.
Explaining his marriage to the dea
woman, he said this ceremony is Gale
, sealing and was for time and eterI
. Iity. He also was sealed to his legs
wife, he said, but no record or memo
andum was given him. The witnes
said he had heard the endowmen
house obligations administered 81