Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-17

declared that there WAS Il taClt uilic'
standing IN Utah. that one senator
shCu!l be Murrcoa. and ore Gentle.
Tie judge s::i.i il Was his opinion that
too much Importance was attached 10
tl'" church as II political factor. ard
that as Il matter of fact there Was lit
Tie Interference.
JUICE james A. Miner &c salt Like.
I;ah formerly of tn" sui,l"1Hc court
of I'tIh. vas recalled To-Day. rs II WI
ness in The SinnOt investigation. be
for. ia" ScuItr committee on privileges
:;.d rlnctinMe. ~" testified to Mr..
Smort's good character AID 10 his
prominence politically in 1S9p When
Judge Mircr went 1" t'tdl. II" sad
that Mr.. Smupt VS. regarded as oi'''
Of tie coming n-ru AID one IN" had
ALWAYS stood FOR Tia enforcement -
TIE laws. r"lygamy was decreasing
SO rapidly. s::ii IL" Witness. that n"
believed Utah would il" h"tt"r III II
years than amy state. in IL" I'i"".
There is no :uove poiysamous a.
unlawful cob" bitation in Utah tina"
there is in New York or Tie District
Of Columbia" he added.
IN reply 10 Chairman Burrows ="
said il was NOT z -nerally undcrSto ~.
hrfo"" thiSi investigation. that tn
hcads of the church were continuing
tn" practice Of pn!ygamnus cOhabita-
tion. but that the testimony given lal
thi""n further light on the subject.
Elias A. Smith of Salt Lake cashier
of the Desert Savings Bank. was the
next witness. He is a Mormon and
was Il member of the Peoples party
Ghc Mormon parity until it was dis
solved in 1891. He denied that at tho
meeting held for the dissolution Of this
PARTY. Instructions were given by tn"
church that certain persons should b"
Democrats. others Republicans and
some independent in politics. Every
person was free to follow his incliHa-
ton.
NJ. Smith asserted that the Mormon
church does not control any business
organization. although i: does owl
stock in many concerns. He declared
that Mormons are independent in poll
tics anG that they resent "thc whisper
ings that Mormon Off .ials seek t" in
tluencr the Mormon .-Ot1s."
Mr. Smith said he s lhe second ,'ou-
sin Of President Smith. ON crnss-"x-
animation. Mr.. smut. said that IL his
opinion it would he no wnrs" for Prcsl-
dent Smith ~ perform q plural mar
ria-e ceremony than for an unelcrln.
to do SO Sine" the manifesto. he said
many polygamiStS nave ceased to CO.
habit with their plural wives. AMI thar
these women nave not hc;r ostracizcl
hecalIse OF their position.
VIM =. O'Mdra. a resident of SdIi
Lake since 1890. testifr | that the scnti-
mcnt Of young MorIn"ns is aGains,
polygamy. He believed that the church
the eligibility of Senate: Smoot for a
high political Office had been recognize
ed for a number of years.
Without concluding the CXa miHatiou
Of Mr.. OMara L "cccss was taken.
Mr. OMcara. ut the afternoon session
testified that stocks OF Mormon compa-
MICS We're offered for sale and not cor
nrrcd by The Mormun>.
Judge Charles w. MurS" of Salt AXE
Il Judge Of the di9tri"i court. e stii"d il
regard to the work of Il special grand iur,
in 1893 which Investigated tho question OF
polyeamous relations. The jury rladr
unanimous report to the effect tha; thcir
were no rev cHscS found.
Taking in consideration the r'Itt"r III
public sentiment do Won think tn. r., VIII
he a movement low 9" put Il stop to
p"lNGam"us tohabitati"n''" asked Chair
man burrows
Judge Morsr said he though, there
would be no prosecutions unless there
was some unlocked for change OF srnti-
m"nt.
William NJ Mccarthy % Salt LAX.
lUtlc" of tn" SuprcI"c CGu!t. "h0 had
served as assistant United states dstric'
attorney in Sewer county. said that he
mad" inquiry concerning gentle in tah
closing eyes in to'cra ton Of III 'rriacrS
contracted before the manifesto. he said:
ly against tn" practi OF rGlyGan'y, even
IN cases whcr" the marriaEc took riaGr
not want to IL Oh record as prusct,itors''
Chairman l'rrro~S asked Judge Mccar-
thy whether W. thought tn" president OF
the church. ooufcssedlr living in polysa
nous relations. had II tendency to pro-
mote o. discourage the practice amen:
the people.
'''ro proiro:c it. uaaucs tionabIy. | should
say" WAS the Response.
Mr.. Taylor avoided referring to the re
asked Judge Mccarthy ii it represented
tn" state of the public mind in Utah, Be
fore permitting al answer. Mr. Worthins
ton demanded a ruling and questioned the
right of the committ"" to brin. IN testi-
ninny ot that character without giving
an opportunity for cross examination
answer III" Question and he replied thn;
President Smith went too far when h.
said tha! The people generally approved o.
III" conditions and. continuing. said:
II am surprised that these r"mOnStra
tors should cypress S,'rpriSC at the condi-
tiu'ls untirr which many leaders of tn
church are living. | knew tina; Praside.;;
Smith Aiostl,-S John Henry Smith. ~
mn ,nwle> and some others. We're liz
ing in rolyEamous relations.
: ;."~~."r - ',lc> ions hv Senator Du-
hos Judge Mccarthy said there was /;
most tacit understanding that orc sa'' tol
should he Mormon and one gentle.
MIR. Taylor asked Judge Mccarthy II he
approved of this agreement. and he said
'Oh. l don't. 1t recognizes the Mormon
church as Il factor in politics and | be
lieve that fitness for Office should be th'
only consideration.
At the conclusion OF the testimony ~
Judge Mccarthy. Chain man Burrows stat
ed he had found that the remcnS;r'nC'
objected to by Mr.. WorthinStou had be'''
Introduced in The SerTte. last Ap,il AM
WIS a part Of the public records
The committee adjourned until tomnr
row.
BURNED TO CRISP.
Ao>d AtLtoeo, - -, E,iI. -. .