The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-12
IN DEFENCE OF THE MORMONS.
EN-r. s. SENATOR N'CONNELL or
IDlHO on the STAND.
lie Denies That the Mormons Dominate
Politics In Jtah and Idaho, and says
They Are The Equals OF the Cenuies ms
: Moral and PeAceable People Com
gresham French of Idaho COncurs.

WAsHISdToN. Jan 1.-THE Senate Conn
mittee on Privileges and Elections met
this morning and resumed consideration
OF the Smoot case. The professionals against
Senator Smoot having closed their case,
the defence took up the examination Of
It's witnesses,
Former United States Senator William
J. Mcconnell OF Idaho was the first witness
He Ia 65 years OF age. a resident Of northern
Idaho for twenty years and has served twice
as Governor He is Republican and
Presbyterian His experience with the
Mormon people has been long and varied
When fst went TO Idaho the Gentiles
were engaged mostly in the science OF
poker remarked Gov. Mcconnell, while
the MormonE were Woodworking and stayed
a home | was surprised TO find the Nor
mons moral and pesceable. They we're the
equals OF the Gentles in this respect and
superior to them az home builders.
Mr. MoConnel told why he had assisted
in securing the repeal of the test oath in
Idaho. which had been aimed directly at the
Mormons. The reason why he had done so
was twofod One was that the test oath
tended to Cypress frugal and home build
ing people and the other was that Idaho
pr, posed to give women the ballot, and no
sef-respecting woman could take the test
oath.
The witness denied that Gov. Morrison
OF Idaho was denied a denomination last
summer because Of the opposition OF the
Mormon Church,
We did not renomlnate him because we
feared We could not reel eot him, said Mr.
Mcconnell. The Mormon Church had
nothing 70 do with it
This was intended TO refute the testimony
OF Charles H. jackson. chairman Of the
Democratic Central Committee OF Idaho,
who testified that the Mormon Church domi-
mated tho politics OF Utah and dictated the
nomination OF Frank r. Gooding in place OF
Gov Morrison.
o CBy Mr. Vanoott Of Shoots COUNSEL
Did the Mormon Church influence the cleo
tons in Idaho from 1898 to 1902 A. No
more than any other people. They did not
as a Church.
O. Why did more Mormons work on the
Republican side than on the Democratic?
A. For the reason that Senator Dubois
called them criminals.
O. Have you any interest in this protest
against Senator Smooti A. Ny only interest
is az a citizen-of Idaho. In my opinion this
testimony has been OF great damage 20
lAdnOt DOM llOIdlly anu luhNtl iaiJ' NNhN
the truth to come out
Y. Is polygamy increasing or decreasing
in Idaho? A. 1t is decreasing.
Mr. Mcconnell was cross xamined by
X. W. Tayler regarding plural marriages
He admitted that he lived perhaps 500 miles
from the Mormon stronghold.
O You are practically as far as from
Washington 10 Omaha from the Mormons?
A. Yes, about that far.
Q. Nor sBv the Mormons are the best
people oil y, sc,7 A. ! did not say that.
=. You said the Genules were poker
playing lot A. u | referred to thu Legs
Iatire IF 1872 Llughterl
Q. The average Jormon is better man
than the Average Gentle. and better
legislator? A. w. sr.
The witness adn1l: ed q NJ while the Con- |
stitutior CT Idaho prohibited the holding OF /
office by yolygamist, he had appointed !
william fudge, a prominent polygamist,
a regent of the university,
Mr.. Mcconnell testified that II was the I'M
Outstanding when Idaho was admitted as /
State that the Mormons then living in |
polygamous oohabitation should be per
mitted TO care for their families and re-
main undisturbed.
O. Was it understood that they should I
he permitted to have more children? A.
1t was my understanding.
O. That's the reason you are here, Ia II,
because you believe it is right that these
poygamists should continue TO live with
their plural wives and have children by
them? A. The question of children was not
discussed But il was understood. OF
course. that il these relations should con-
tnue there would be more children
2 Did you ever hear until recently that
William Bulge poygamist2 A. No,
sir didn't know when | appointed him
regent that he was polygamist.
Q, Then do YOU presume to say that YOU
can pass upon the condition OF the south
ern counties az to poygamy when you
only recently heard that William Bulge
was the most notorious polyRanist in all
ldaho2 A. | most assuredly know because
in the last campaign ] made il my business
TO look thoroughly into this thing.
Representative Burton T.. French Of
Idaho was called. lie has served one
ninth Congress He lives at Moscow and
is non Mormon.
Mr.. French told Of his familiarity with
political conditions in Idaho. The Mormon
counties, he said. are Fremont Oneida.
Bingham Bear Lake Cache and Bannock.
He described as grossly incorrect the state
ment of anti-Smoot witnesses that Gov.
Morrison was rejected for denomination
through the influence Of the Mormon Church.
He also denied the statement OF Democratic
hartman jackson that Latah county was
swung against Gov, Morrison by Repre-
sentative French, At the behest OF the Nor
mon Church, 10 carry out bargain. Mr..
French dissented from the testimony nf
Witnesses on the other side that the Nor
mon Church was a political factor and that
anything II wanted it could get. The charge
first came up in last years campaign. he
said, and was generally UNDERWOOD 20 have
been made by Democratic candidates for
Office az a political devise, The object OF
the Democratic attack, said Mr. French. |
was TO change public sentiment in Idaho
50 as to AFFECT the Senatorial campaign
IT 1908. IN which it il expected that Senator
Dubois will be the leading candidate
Ia there any foundation for the state
nent that MoT1nons OF Idaho vote as
Init az tho dictation Of the ChurohiE asked
Mr. Morthington. counsel for Smoot
Il don't think 70. replied Mr.. French.
The Republican votes in gentle and Nor
mon counties are about the same. That h,
when the Republicans gain in gentle coun-
ties they gain at about the same ratio in
Mormon counties. Mormons in the Legs
lature divide on certain questions that |
recall Just az others do. and so far as |
know. there is no dictation by Church lead
ers in political Affairs.
Mr.. French said he did not believe there
was any increase Of polygamy in Utah No
plural marriages had occurred since the
manifesto Of 1880, in his opinion. The
Younger Mormons we're strongly against
polygamy.
. tBy Mr. Burrows) In your cam
paigns you take no thought Of the Nor
mon Church az an organization in politicsl