Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-13
IN Assoclnled Prossl

Washington, Jan 13,-J. w n,
Whitocotton, on attorney Of Provo,
Utah. resumed his review Of
political affairs In Utah, when
the hearing opened today in
the smoot investigation. No effort
was made by the Church, he said, to
restrict the political liberties Of the
people generally or Of any individuals,
but II claimed the right to receive the
ume ANA energies OF men who have
Peen elected To important Church ofii-
cen The deduction he drew was that
NE Church did not try to prevent It's
members nom engaging IN politics
Without the consent or the Church, but
nat when certain members accepted
important Church Offices the Church
lia a right TO prevent such members
rom accepting other offices which
would take their time. Mr.. Whtecot-
ION SAID he never had seen any differ
cnco In buHIncss between Mormon"
ana Gentle, but he thought the Nor
mon voters adhered more closely than
me Gcntlles TO their party affiliations.
II was shown by the witness that
uentles had always held the most i'm
"Iiant state offices and that Gentle
Judges who had been active IN sentenc-
hk Mornon3' for polygamous Coz
ha0itollon received ms large a vote as
oIher candidates when they came up
ior reelection, 81 think the decided
continent Of the Mormon people I'm
,ulah Is hostile TO poIygamy' said Mr..
Whitecotton.
AZ 10 the sentiment I'm the state I'm
regard 10 the prosecutions for polyg-
amy Mr. Whitecotton said there had
oten % great deal said of an UNDER
Standing that there should be no prose
cluons, but that ne had never heard
OF such thing and did not believe 1t
existed.
Continuing. he said: But ! believe
me people generally do not want TO stir
'lls thing up and start II smelling
hsain-it has not a good odor. Women
went INTO polygamy-a dclusion, prob
hoy-because they thought plural mar
mage religious duty. Tho Church
Ifescrlbes that II a plural wife gets a
m!orce she cannot be married Ia an-
olner husband, and the people realize
lnat II she is cut or by prosecutions
ron her only protector she ana her
children are IN e precarious condition.
me sympathy of Gentlles and young
Nolmons' opposed to polygamy Is all
Ior me women, I never heard Of any
SInpathy for q male polygamlst, and
40 not believe there ever has been
sleh sympathy for one unless perhaps
ne should happen to be married To
'ulee or four viragoes."
epeaklnB OF the character of state
olcers Mr. Whltecotton said there had
.ol eeen n polygamlst elected since
statehood.
what would be the effect socially
ana politically on an official who insti-
uied proceedings in prosecution of a
U.iEkamlst"' asked Atty. Van Colt
would make no difference in his
sanding In the community"
What would be the effect IL he came
up for Officer"
~ probably would help him I'm his
sole' II would be felt that he was a
,;au or courage ana had nerve to go
wnieeaaa and do his duty" replied Mr..
Nhitecotton.
chairman Burrows asked whv q 70.
SSuIfu nerve for an official to do his
guly' and the witness explained thls
~ ewing the condition I'm which such
prosecutions would leave women and
innocent children. wv
=, What is the sentiment In regard IA
le polygamous familiesy' asked the
NAT Y was an awful condition"
~ mWiul condition, YOU say2" inter-
'unled the chairman.
40 an awful condition, one thai