The evening world., 1904-03-12
PRESERVE FORCE
RULES M0RMONS
Brigham Roberts Felt II When
He Refused to Sign Church
Rules in Regard to Politics,
and He Recanted.

WASHINGTON, Marc hl2.-E. B.
Crltchlow, formerly an assistant United
states Attorney In Utah, again took
the stand at the Smoot Senatorial In
quiry to-day. and his cross examination
was continued by Waldemar Van Cott.
cne OF the attorneys for the defense
Sentiment against Mr.. Smoot was the
subject OF inquiry by Mr., Van Cott,
who asked specifically II Il wave OF an
tugonism to the Mormon Senator was
not created by the Leilich charges that
Mr.. Smoot was polygamist. MT.
Critchlow thought that had not been
the effect, though there had been much
surprise that this charge was made IN
the face OF the statement In the general
protest that Mr. Smoot Was not charged
with polyGamy ,,
Mir. Van Colt addressed the commit
tee directly in regard to the candidacy
of Reed Smoot and drew from the Wit
ness the fact that Mr. smoot had an
nounced himself as a candidate for the
Senate before 1902.
Didn't he announce himself as early
as 1898 and receive votes in the Legis-
lature?"
.I believe he did. He received votes
and SO did /. The minority only had
three votes and they were passed
around as a compliment
Not Against Smoot.
The witness was question in regard
to the sentiment for or against Reed
Smoot for Senator and said that so FAR
as he was, concerned he had no objec-
ton to Smoot personally. but opposHi
him on the ground that he was gem
eral authority OF the Church.
To ascertain the difference between
the influence exercised by the Mormon
Church over laymen and general au-
thorlties was the object of iaquiry by
Senators Hopkins and McComas. and
the answers Of the witness indicated
that the machinery of the Church was
so adjusted that either might be com
PEELED to obey the behests OF tho Church
and thnt the wishes of the high au-
thorities might be enforced by the ''ro-
serve force" in politics which the
church Is said to maintain.
In the examination concerning the
Thatcher episode II was brought out
that Thatcher was In the same status
in 1895 as to polygamy as was Brigham
II. Roberts when he was elected TO
his campaign for the Senate against the
wishes of the Church. just rs did
1t also was brought out that in 1895
MIR. Roberts refused to sign the church
rule in regard TO politics. the same as
Thatcher had refused to subscribe to
church dictates. This was in Roberts's
first campaign. but Mr.. Crtchlow could
not say whether Mr.. Roberts recanted
before or after the election.
Roberts Recanted.
Did he recant at all?" asked Senator
Overman.
oh, yes, there is no question about
that"
The witness was asked to explain the
change OF mind and said:
1T Is understood. in fact, II has been
published In the official church paper,
that authorities OF the church laborod
and prayed with DR.. Roberts for ak
weeks. and then he announced that he
had received n vision OF his dead an
ccstors being lost to perdltion because
he was out OF harmony with his church
and could not go into the temple and
be baptized and thus save their souls
as we'll"
After that the witness said Mr.. |
Roberts subscribed 10 the church rule |
and WIS not disfellowshlpped.