Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-13
SMooT CASE
Entire Days Proceeding
Relative to Politics.
Votes Snapped in Recent EIec-
ton by Democrats.
Plural Marriage Era Passed-!ncidents
at the Hearing.

Washington. Jan. l2-Noarly the en-
TIRE DAY in the Smoot investigation
was devoted to testimony relating to
political conditions in Idaho. Frank
Martin and #. ii. HolZheimpr, promi-
nent Idaho Democrats. testified that a
majority of the Democrats of the state
opposed an unnecessary attack" on
The Mormon church, which they said
was the effect of the anti-polygamy
plank in the party's state platform.
james II. brady. chairman Of the Re
publican state committee. told of TAX
ing advantage of the Democratic
ynarges. in order to get votes for the
Republican ticket. He charged alSo that
III" Democrats traded off Judge Par
l;cr. the Democratic candidat. for Pres
idcnt. for votes for Former Sena .or
iieitfield. tho Democratic candidate Cor
governor. j. ". n. Whitccotton Of Pro-
70, Utah. gave evidence in relation To
political conditions III Utah.
The defence in the Senator SmOOt in
VeStigati0n netorc the senate couiaIit :
zee on privileges and elections, today,
called To- the stanu +. H. Holzheimer
y
in Utah about y years before going to
Idaho about tVo years ago. He belongs
10 he Episcopal church ana said he al
ways had been 4 Democrat except for
y time III Utah. yhen in common with
all G-ntilts, he belonged 10 the Liberal
tariy.
Tine examination # Mr.. Holzhcin;er'
vas confined IinoS, entire iy to politi-
cal conditions in ICano. H., was a MEM
Der OF tie last Dem Jrratic convention
which adopted an anti Mormon plank
d':G served on the resolutions commit
Ice. lie declared thai he had opposed a
plank for the determination OF poly
aamy ana p4lygamou, coha bita ton and
tho separation OF church and state"
IN the grounds tua, no riaak OF that
chnra, ter was needed as there had been
no plural marriages III the state since
The m9niie#to. The witness, said Il ma
jority Of The delegate; were opposed TO
the plank but that TIL" resolution was
forced or the convention, because it
was understood thar Former Senator
Heitfeid. who i1Gd be III endorsed for
co> e,nor, had nnde the pledge to the
Hational convention that it should be
ny the convention Tor Congress. but
declined to run be cause trc party lead
us proposed 10 conduct Il caInnaiasn
against the Mormon church These
leaders called il a campaign of rurifi-
"atiun of Idaho homes.
because they were told that they would
have to conduct their campaign on
high moral plane" Democratic leaders
not in sympathy with an attack on III
Mormon church refused to make speech
es in tn" 1901 campaign. said the witness
lie thought there was no necessity for
the GlreCt attack. all the Young Nor
mons were oppose to rolvgamy. He said
that the practice of polygamy in Idaho
is only in isolated cases: and that there
are not more than 20 or % plural families
in the whole state.
Have You ever seen any evidence of
interference" by the Mormon church in
r"liti"s?" asked Attorney Van Colt.
II have not" replied Mr.. I1olzheimer.
can the Mormon church get anything
ii wants from the Legislature in Idaho
Il should say decidedly rot-they have
never had ANYTHING. They are il the mi
nority both in the Legislature ana in the
state" was the reply.
The witness was then cross eX1 mined by
MI. Taylor.
MI. IlOlZh"im"" could name only two
Democratic headers who refused TO sup
port the anti-Morm0n campaign. hut he
named six Democratic newspapers that
wcr" opposed to the campaign of the par
ty. which he declared was one Of villif-
cation ard 10 attain personal ends
Chairman Burrows Questioned the wit
ness concerning The sentiment i'll Idaho
on the Subject OF legislation to prohibit
polHgamY. Mr.. Ilolzheimer said he beIicv-
cd the people would favor constitutional
amendment prohibiting polysamy in al
states A recess was then taken.
At the afternoon session. Attorney Mar
tin of I;ose. Idaho, said he has lived i'm
idaho since 1856 ard had served as Secre-
tar! Of the Democratic state committee.
Mr.. Martin said he rever had known of
any instance Of Mormon interference, i'm
tn, politics Of Idaho. He cxpres sed the
orinion THAI il was the announcement nv
Senate" Dnhois that it was intended 20
push the SmOot Investigation that pro-
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