The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-20
TWO WOMEN IN SHOOT CASE.
They Express High Regard for smoot and
Abhorrence OF Polygamy.

WARRINGTON. Jan. 1e.-Two women poll
ticians OF Utah we're witnesses to-day before
the Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections in the Smoot hearing. They
were Gentiles and Republicans and spoke
warmly of their regard for Senator Smoot
as a man Of high character Both ex-
pressed their abhorrencs OF polygamists,
and said they would not favor such man
for public Office. II is expected that Sena-
tor Smoot himself win be called 70 the stand
within day or two.
Mira Mary G. Coulter OF Ogden gradu
ate Of the law department of the Univer
sty ofAiichigan, was an interesting witness.
She is a gentle, but no t church member.
She was member of the fifth legislative
assembly in 1908 when Senator Smoot was
elected She said she put the question
directly to Senator Smoot whether or not
he was polygamlst before voting for him
for Senator, and got what she regarded as
a candid reply.
Were YOU exempted from financial con.
tributions to the campaign asked Mr..
Van Colt.
NO. sir" proudly replied the witness.
Il paid my full proportion with the rest
o. Do you find some husbands Demo-
Gratis and thelr wives h'PuulcalS, or vice
versa 4. Frequently. especially among
illterate people.
O. Would II have made any difference
with your vote II you had known that the
president OF the Church and majority OF
tne APOSTLES were living in polygamous cohabi-
tationl a u was the , ieGIln g., oil many Of
clean, enterprising man not IA poygamist
We gantiic5 would be glad 10 support him,
in ord or 10 show that we had no feeling gniust
the people OF account OF the religious difer-
Would you have voted Tor Joseph F,
Smith. knowing him 10 De practising polyg-
ANY, 4 Most decidedly not
Mrs. W II Jones of salt Lake City was
sworn. She went there in 1871 and in the
early DAYS thought that Mormon should
no, lie allowed TO live. She has been promi-
men in Republican politics. She spoke
highly Of senator Smoot and said no
polynamist could he elected to Office, in
her opinion. If the people generally knew
him TO be polyRamEt;
We were horrihed she said. when we
heard Of the testimony OF President Smith
az to his living in Po2lygamy we sup
posed they were IN that CONDITION, but
never asked about il
DIR. James Z. Talmage Mormon author
and authority on Church doctrine, was
vigorously crosse Iamined by Mr.. lay
lor counsel for the proteStants against
Smoot.
DR.. Talmage was asked regarding the
obligations he took in the endowment
house. He was asked il he had known
any obligation Of chastity He gave an
eyasiyp reply TO the effect that he re garded
himself under suoh an obligation whether
formally taken OF not. Az 10 the obllga-
tioD of sacrifice he aaid he considered him
self by implicit ion bound to advance the
cause OF truth hut not necessarily bound
to de- vote his time and substance TO the
Church.
lis there any obligation respecting the
prophets?- queried Mr.. Taylor.
Dir Talmage replied that he did not
understand the question. He did not re-
member any reference TO the prophets. nor
nny oath TO aavenge the blood OF the
prophets upon this generation. he said
This reference was entirely spiritual and
was not part Of any obligation.
Or. Talmage when asked by Chairman
Burrows TO give the nature OF the cere-
monies declined to describe them. He said
no uenalty was prescribed for the dis
closure OF the secrets. The obligation.
howe YER. he regarded as sacred and bind
{ ing upon his conscience. He declined
TO cay whether there was any change OF
/ apparel in the ceremony
John W Hughes, editor Of Trah, a Salt
I Lake weekly, described Joseph +. Smith as
I a fanatic in religion, but an honest man
: and one endeavoring TO keep the Church
( out OF politics. The public sentiment Of
[ Utah, he said, is against the prosecution Of
Mr., Hughes said he had made an investi-
| cation two weeks ago and found seventy
Z four men living with plural wives in Salt
Lake City Fifty of them. he said, are over
60 wears OF age, some are over 20 and one
over 80 Only two are under So