Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-18
DECLINED TO ANSWER
MR.. YOUNG WOULD NOT TELL
MORMON SECRETS.
Efforts Made to Discredit Witnesses
for the Protestants in the
smoot Inquiry.

that the first presidency, or the apostles,
must be sustained at the semi-annual con-
ference just the same as they are sus-
tanned when originally elected?"
The witness thought that the conference
could not or at least would not vacate a
position unless charges were filed and the
official tried prior to the conference.
Attorney Worthington for Senator Smoot,
and Senators Burrows and McComas en-
gagged in an argument as to the propriety
of question as to whether the endowment
house ceremony contains anything hostile
to this government when the witness de-
cllned to give the wording Of the oath
taken by Mormons who go through the
ceremony,
The members of the committee took the
position that If partial answers were given
the inquiry should extend to the entire
subject, and the witness questioned as to
the exact obliga ton Of such Mormons Mr..
Worthington likened the situation to an
INQUIRY into Masonry or other secret or
should be permitted to say that he had
taken no obligation hostile to the govern
1nent, and then, in line with examinations
or other witnesses, decline to reveal a
Givulge.
After the argument Mr.. Worthington
asked:
rs there anything in the oath that re-
L don't know that would understand
my status If l answered that question.
do not want to be in contempt of the COM
mittee, and l should like the chair to teal
me whether this is to be followed with
further inquiries" said the Witness
Chairman Burrows ruled that If the oues-
ton were answered he would inquire of the
witness as to the character of the ceremony
then declined to answer Mr.. Worthington's
question. He said in answer to further in
curry that he had never heard of any per-
son being harmed because of revealing
oaths of the endowment house.
The Smith Remonstrance.
T.. II. X. Thompson, an attorney Of Salt
Lake and Gentle, testified concerning the
circulation of remonstrance against the
testimony OF President Smith that the Gen.
tiles condone the offense Of polygamous CO.
hab1tatton. At the meeting where this re-
monstrance was drawn, a committee, OF
which Mr.. Thompson was chairman, was
appointed to form non-Mormon party
out on account of the sentiment that it
was best to permit polygamy to die out
without interference prosecutions by
Gentiles the committee was never called
together.
The witness said that one OF his neigh
bors was Bishop Morris, and that it was
understood he had three wives and has had
children by them since the manifesto
Reading from the remonstrance, which Mr.
Thompson had signed Mr. Tayler asked
him if he had read with amazement. in
d1gnation and disgust the testimony OF
President Joseph F. Smith," The witness
replied in the affirmative 1t developed
that he had not read the remonstrance,
ana on crosS-examnation many things
We're pointed out to which he would not
subscribe as a witness.
Charles DeMoisy of Salt Lake, commits
sioner of the state bureau of statistics and
q pn
cal affairs. He said that the sentiment in
the community on the subject Of prosecu-
lions for polygamous cohabitation was to
let the practice alone until 1t died out
He said he thought the story Of church
interference in politics sis a bugaboo Gre
ated for the benefit of disgruntled polit1-
clans" He declared also that Senator
Smoot was the logical candidate for the
senatorship, and the fact that he was an
apostle made no difference in his candi-
dacy.
Denounces Lundstrom.
F. S. Fernstrom of Salt Lake, who has
been a Mormon for more than thirty years,
swore that August Lundstrom could not be
believed under oath. Lundstrom was wit
ness for the protestants, who gave what he
alleged to be the endowment house cere-
mOny. The witness said Lundstrom turned
against the church because he was asked
to pay money he borrowed from his bishop
G. P. Anderson, an assistant editor of a
Swedish paper at Salt Lake, corroborated
the testimony of Mr.. Fernstrom in regard
to the reputation of Mr.. Lundstrom.
H. j. Hayward Of Salt Lake, contractor
and builder, also testified that Mr.. Lund-
strom could not be believed under oath.
Jeus Christian Nielsen, Danish Mormon
testified that he was the husband of Mrs
Annie Elliott, who was a witness for the
protestantS concerning the endowment
house ceremony, and who also testified that
Nielsen died six years ago. He was put on
the stand for the purpose of discrediting the
testimony of Mrs. Elliott. She obtained a
divorce from her husband in 1899.
Efforts to Discredit Witness.
William Langton Of Salt Lake, a Nor
mon, was asked concerning J. H. Wallis,
ST., another witness. who revealed what he
said was the endowment house ceremony.
When Mr.. Wallis was on the stand he testi-
fed that he had not charged any person
with setting fire to his store and that he
had not had any trouble with any person
over a difficulty of that kind. Mr.. Worth
ington sought to bring out that Mr. Wallis
had attempted to extort from Mr.. Langton
a sum of money under pain of charging him
with arson.
Chairman Burrows would not permit the
state that Mr.. Wallis general reputation
Mr. Tayler in cross-eXamination merely
brought out the fact that Mr.. Langton was
Mormon and had been a polygamist
At the close OF Mr.. Langtons testimony
the hearing was adjourned until today.