The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1905-01-12
DEFENSE IN SENATOR SMOOT IN
VESTIGATlON BEGINS CALL
ING WITNESSES.
IDAHO MAN THE FIRST TO TESTIFY
EXPLAINS ALLEGED BOYCOTT OF
DEMOCRATIC PARTY BY THE
rLlIiDrI
MORMON CHURCH.


Washington. Jan. 12.--'Fhe defense
In the Senator Reed Sm0ot nvestisa.
tion was begun during The day. The
room OF the senate committee on PRIV
ileges and elections was as crowded
as during the progress of the inquiry
into the secrets of the Mormon church,
which was conducted by the attorney
for the protcstants against Senator
Smoot retaining his seat. Senator
Knox, recently appointed member OF
the committee, attended the hearing
for the first time.
William j. Mcconnell Of Northern
Idaho was the first witness called. Inc
examination was conducted by Wade
mar Van Cott of Salt Lake, who Is as
sociated with A. S. Worthington OIL
WASHINGTON as counsel of Senator
Smoot. The witness was asked to de-
scribe the political conditions in Idaho
and took up early days when he saId
he had lObbied before the Legislature
when the first effort was made TO dls-
franchise the Mormons. lie declared
that he was preiudiced against Nor
mons. but that he found that most OF
the Gentiles were practicing the sci
ence which in our country IS called
poker" lie said he had never known
Mormons to gamble and drink. lie
followed this testimony with a revle"
of his acquaintance with Mormons
during the agitation against the rell-
gion in Idaho. He assisted in BRING
ing about the repeal of the test oath
of citizenship and afterward went
among the Mormons on lecture toui
He had observed the people, he said,
anu their morals were OF high,
praiseworthy character
Knox Quest ions Smoot's Counsel.
Senator Knox asked counsel TO in
form him as to what part OF the case
the examination of Mr. Mcconnell was
relevant. Mr.. Van Cott said the tes-
timony OF Mr. Mcconnell was in reply
particularly to that of Charles ii. Jack
son, chairman of the Idaho Demo
cratic committee, who testified that
no candidate for Office, Democratic OF
Republican, could stand against the
Mormon church, The witness was
asked concerning causes OF the Nor
mon vote being cast for Goodlng 10 MS
canvass for the governorsbip and said
he was surprised that any Mormons
had voted the Democratic ticket tie
gave as one reason that he had chat
lenged Senator Dubois to public de-
bate and received an answer declining
the invitation on the ground that he
could not afford time To debate with
anyone who was not a candidate foI
office in the party which was de
Tending criminals, as he believed the
Mormons to be" He submitted 2
Autographed reproduction OF Senator
Dubois letter.
WAS that letter personal to your
asked Senator Dubois
1T was an answer to my challenge
1t was not marked personal"
"Well-all right" The senator
started to reply and stopped abruptly
| dismissing the subject.
Mr. Mcconnell repeated a numbel
of reasons why the Democratic part,
was boycotted by the Mormon church
saying that one of the principal cause:
is that Senator Dubois called the Nor
mons criminals.
The defense closed its examination
with statement from the witness
| that he did not know of any polyga
nous marriages among Mormons since
| the manifesto.
On cross-examination the witness
| corrected his statement in regard L
| the poker playing Gentlles sayin!
! that it was confined TO the member
of the legislature and not TO the peo
pleE4~ a