Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-01-18
OPPOSED
By THE MORk0nS.
A SMOOT WITNESS BELIEVES
THOSE IN UTAH ARE HOS.
TILE TO PRACTICE.
SHOWN BY. REELECTION
OF GENTLE JUDGES
Attorney Whitecotton Resumes Stand
at Hearing-Knows Of No Under.
standing ~ to Prosecutions In
Cases Of Plural Marriages.

cotton, an attorney, Of Provo, Utah, re-
sumed his review Of political affairs IN
Utah when the hearing opened Friday
in the Smoot investigation. No effort
was made by the church. he said, TO re-
strict the political liberties of the peo-
pie generally, or OF any individuals, but
it claimed the right to receive the time
and energies OF men who have beer
elected TO important church Offices. The
deduction he drew was that the church
did not try to prevent its members from
engaging in politics without the con-
sent OF the church. but that when Ger
tain members accepted important
church Offices. the church had a right
to prevent such members from accept
ing other Offices which would take thei.
time.
Sentiment Against Polygauy.
I; was shown by the witness that Cen
tiles had always held the most impor-
tant state Offices. and that Gentle
judges who had been active in Eentenc-
ing Mormons for polygamous cohab-
itation received as large vote as other
election Il think the decided senti-
ment OF the Mormon people in Utah is
hostile to po]ygamy.' said Nj. White
cotton.
AS to the sentiment in the state in
regard to the prosecution for polygamy,
Mr.. Whitecotton said there had been
great deal said of an understanding that
there should be no prosecutions, bu,
that he had never heard of such a
thing. and cid not believe it existed
Continuing. he said: But l believe
the people generally don't want to stir
this thing up and start it smelling
again-it has not good cdor. Won
en- went into polygamy-a de]usion.
acknowledgements they thought plura:
marriage religious duty. The church
prescribes that if plural wife gets &
divorce, she cannot be married TO an
other husband, and me people realize
that II she is cut off by prosecutions
from her only protector. she and her
children are in precarious condition
The sympathy of Gentiles and young
MCrmons opposed to polygamy is all
for the women. l never heard of any
sympathy for a male po;ygamisr. and
don't believe there ever has been sucl,
should happen to be married &c three
or four viragoes.'
No Polygan,ists Elected.
Speaking Of the character OF state Of
ficers. Mr. Whitecotton said there had
not been a polygamist elected since
statehood
What would be the effect. socially
and politically, on an official who i'll
stituted proceedings in prosecution of
polygamist?" asked Attorney Van
colt.
1T would make no difference in his
standing in the community
What would be the efec; if he came
up fer Officer:
1T probably would help him IN his
vote. 1t would be felt that he was 4
man Of courage and nerve to go ahead
and do his duty replied Mr.. White
cotton.
What is the sentiment in regard to
polygamous families?' asked. the chair
man.
THAT il was an awful condition"
"A lawful condition. you say?" in
terrupted the chairman.
NO. an awful condition. One that
We wish We were out ct. and We don't
know how to get out" said Mr.. White
cotton.
Then these people-those po,ysa-
mists-are left without interference"
remarked the chairman.
Smoot Logical Candidate.
In regard to the political aspirations
and the attitude of the people, both Nor
mons and Gentiles. Mr.. Whitecotton saiG
that -four years ago Mr. Smoot was
talked of for governor and when he
abandoned the race for that Office it vas
understood that he had his eye on the
senatOrship. He was the logical. and.
IN my Judgment. the inevitable candi-
date. Before he became an apostle he
was talked of as candidate for senator.
After he was elected an apostle and he
became a candidate for senator a cam
paign was waged in which the issue vas
'Smoot or not Smool.'"
DO you think his apostlcship assisted
him Or hurt him in his canvass for the
senatorship?' asked Mr. Vancc,:
Il don't know as to that know
there are great many Mormons who
opposed him because he was an official of
the church, and l suppose there are
great many who did not take his position
into consideration at ALL Then there
may have been some who worked for
his election because he was an ofHcial.''
Charges Declared False
Boise. Idaho, Jan. 1.-THE state
ments made by former Gov. Mcconnell
at Washington before the senate COM
mittee investigation Of the case of Sen
ator Smoot have created stir here, Mr..
McConnell's statement relating to the
gambling proclvities of members OF the
legislature being specially resented, and
Friday the following resolution was
adopted by both branches of the state
legislature. denouncing the statements
as uacalled for and untrue:
A man. who says he is an English
man, writes to the Westminster Gazette
that he has learned that in 1867 there
were only Sc Scots in London, and that
he now knows the meaning of the ex-
preston. 1.-The good old times"
Late experience in the British navy
has suggested that loathsOme disease