The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-15
WITNESSES DODGE
ENDOWMENT HOUSE
But They Tell smoot Investi-
gators PoIyeamy Is
Dying Out

1Ol { lIC SS1idlS COlillIllttCC OA pllyA-
leges and elections in the investigation
of protests made to the seating of SEN
ator Reed Smoot. All but two told Of
political conditions in Utah and of the
Mormon endowment house ceremony.
Several witnesses said the ceremony
included no obligations that were in
conflict with the duties of a citizen to
his state or nation. Chairman Bur-
rows asked two of the Witnesses to
give the nature of the ceremonies, but
both refused on the ground that they
had given oaths not to divulge what
had taken place within the temple.
They both claimed not to be Mornons
now, one having been expelled and the
other voluntarily withdrawing from
the church.
A former judge of the supreme court
under the territorial and state gov
ernments told of cases of polygamous
cohabitation, expressing the opinion
that polyganly was now almost a thing
of the past and the sentiment of the
Mormons in the, state was opposed to
polygaTny.
Cannon Hamiin Marriage
James E. Lynch, of Salt Lake, was
the first witness. He is Democrat
and not a Mormon. Attorney Van
Cott, for Senator Smoot, examined the
witness concerning the statement that
Angus M. Cannon, his brother-in-law.
had said he had witnessed the mar
riage of Abram Cannon and Lillian
Hamlin on the high seas in 1896. Mr..
Lynch said he investigated the state
ment by Angus Cannon, at the re-
quest of E. B. Critchlow, and found
that Angus Cannon was not in Cali
fornia in 1896, but the witness admit
ted that his brother-in-law had made
the statement. He declared, however,
that Cannon was drunk when he said
it.
Chairman Burrows asked Mr.. Lynch
concerning the feeling of young Nor
mons on the question Of polygamy.
The witness said they felt that the
practice must be s'done away WITH
but he had heard nothing of the young
Mormons making a protest to the
heads of the church.
Hugh M. Dougall, of Springville,
Utah, who explained that he was
fired" from the Mormon church in
1874 or 1875, was called. Mr.. Worth
1ngton read the oath of, vengeance,
given by certain witnesses, and Mr..
Dougall said the oath was to avenge
the blood of the prophets or martyrs
on this generation" and not on this
nation" as had been testified.
uh1. OOuSdn Stlu lie Ildu served III
the legislature and was elected in a
Mormon county, after his expulsion
from the church. His testimony as to
the sentiment in regard to proSecu-
uons of polygamistS conformed to that
OF other witnesses called for the de-
tense, to the effect that such prosecu-
tons were not feasible.
Mr.. Dougall was asked to state the
nature of the ceremony when he was
married h11t declined 70 IN co
Oath Comes From Scriptures
A. A Noon, of Provo, a Republican
justice of the peace and a former
Mormon who voluntarily Withdrew
from the church in 1870, testified that
after his marriage he took the endow-
ments. Mr.. Worthington asked him
II he took an oath to avenge the blood
OF prophets upon this nation" The
witness said he was perfectly clear
that there was nothing in the obliga-
ton taken expressing hostility to the
nation or his government. He said it
was taken from the Scriptures, Rev.
vi, 9-10.
Chairman Burrows asked Mr.. Noon
also in regard to the endowment cere-
mony, and he declined to state it's ma
ture.
Mr.. Dougal was recalled at the re-
quest of Senator Knox and asked
whether there was anything in his en-
doWment oath incompatible with his
allegiance to his state and the nation.
He replied that there was nothing
Mr. Noon was recalled and answered
The same question in the negative.
William Hatfield, of Salt Lake, was
sworn. Mr.. Hatfield took the endow-
ments at the time he was married.
He was twenty-one years old then and
left the church about year later.
). II. Brady, chairman of the Re-
publican state central committee of
Idaho, was recalled by Mr.. Tayler and
examined further concerning the anti
Mormon campaign conducted by the
Democrats last autumn. Mr.. Brady
said:
81 believe I was correct when I said
the people were opposed to prosecut-
Ing the old polygamists, but we are
going to pass the laws and put it up to
Senator Dubois to prosecute these
polygamists. My position is that if
Senator Dubois and his friends will not
prosecute these cases, they cannot ex-
pect other good citizens to do so.'
"Put 1t Up to" Dubois
1t was brought out that the Idaho
legislature had just passed an anti
polygamy law and the witness said
that he had advocated its passage for
the one reason that he wanted to 1put
1T up to Senator Dubois to prosecute
the old polygamists if he meant all he
said during the campaign.
While you were inf1aming the Nor
mons against my position" asked SEN
ator Dubois, were you not also as
suring the gentiles that the Repub-
llcans would pass the laws I was de-
manding?"
yes, sir, told them that while the
Democrats were passing resolutions
We would pass laws" replied Mr..
Brady.
Would the Idaho Republicans pass
law against unlawful coflabitation pa
asked Senator Dubois
Mr.. Brady replied that he thought
they would. He was asked if they
would also pass a law providing for
change of venue and said he thought
they would, but that the authority of
the governor was sufficient to cover
the needs of such a law
Samuel N. Cole, of Corinne, Utah, a
gentle banker and treasurer of Box
Elder county, testified that he ran
ahead of his ticket despite the fact
his opponent for treasurer was a Nor
mon. He corroborated the testimony
of other witnesses for Senator Smoet
that the sentiment of the state is
against polygamy.
"Penped' Numerous Mormons
Judge James A. Miner. of Salt Lake,
who went to Utah in 1890 and was on