The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-14
SENATOR SMOOT'S BERESIES.
JUDGE THITECOTTON SAID He
MAD LOTS or THEM.
One was That OF "Pr0tectlon" 10 Eis Wool
len Vim and Another was Opposition
TO PoyEamy was Regarded ms
One q the Young Wen 10 Redeem Israel

One q the YOUNG wen 10 htdeelh isIaei
WASHINGTON, Jan i3-1hree witnesses
In behalf of Reed Smoot were examined
by the Senate Committee on Privileges
and Elections to-day They were gentlIes
and they told the same story, 10 the effect
that polygamy IL dying out that the Nor
mon Church does not interfere In politics and
that Reed Snoot would have been elected
United States Senator even If he had not
been an apostle Of tho Church One OF
these witnesses was j. w n. Whitecotton.
Shoots attorney: another was Hiram l..
Booth a salt Lake lawyer and Tho third
was Arthur Pratt, warden Of the Utah
Pententiary, who testified that he was a
particular friend % Senator Smoot.
Former Judge Whitecouon of Provo Utah.
resumed the stand this morning, and told oil
political conditions in Utah wherein the Nor
nous wero involved. He said the Mormon
Church was charged with being Republican
While its official organ, the Dcsord Neos.
was Democratic. In his own opinion. how
ever the Deseret Neus is neutral in politics
He said he had seen no evidence to satisfy
himself that the Mormon Church as an
organization was interfering in politics.
The sentiment of the Mormon people
in Utah is decidedly against poIygamy
said the witness They are also opposed TO
Church interference in politics.
O. by Senator Know Do you recall
any case OF a court presided over by a
Mormon Judge. with a Mormon District
Attorney. in which any Mormon has been
convicted Of unlawful cohabitation1 A.
don't know of any.
Q. (By Mr., Van Cottl Has there been
e g ali
Statehood who has been u po!ygamist2 A.
Not 70 my knowledge.
The witness said Senator Smoot 'hnd
always had lot Of Republican heresies
in his head. He was manager Of a oollen
mill. and always talked protection for that
mill
O. Did he have any other heresy, such
ns opposition 70 polygamy? A. Yes, he
was much opposed to polygamy. Flo IVES
regarded as one Of the young men who
were to redeem Israel II was generally
understood there that he was u strong
anti-polygamist
Q. (By Senator Overrnn). Vas anY other
Mormon a candidate for Senator besides
Mr. Smoot? A. don't remember. except
Gov Wells. But Gov. Wells was urder
the difficulty tLat the Constitution lad pro-
/ hill tied the Governor from running for
the ! ni.ed States Senate during lis term
OF Office.
O. (By Mr.. Foraker Whit Il the stand
ing Of Mr. Smoct in Utah? 4 No man
stands better. have been associated with
rim for GONE years. ] am counsel for the
bank of wi ch he is president
q Does he have the sgme high standing
among the gentilesf A. Yes. sir.
O. (By Mi Taylerl Nou testified that the
Mormon Church was understood to have
the rigH to give or withhold consent to
candidates for Office on the ground that
the candidates. likes Mose thatcher. were
hired men. Do you 70 gard Reed Smoot
as hired man Of the Church, A. think so.
Q. Is he hired to do the will # the Church
as a hired man or is he one Of the APOSTLES
and equal to the o,hers' A. J think he is
an equal. tut probably the majority rules.
Judge Whitecoton said he heartily dis
approved Of the tchrg Of pul0l wives
by Moruons and that PERSONS guilty. Of i
and those performing tho ceremony should
be prosecuted.
O. You have not heard Of any Of them
being prosecuted, have your A No,
have not.
Hiram f. Booth. attorney at law, Of Salt
LAKE City. was sworn. lie has lived in
Utah 10 years. Il have no affiiation what
ever with the Mormon church, be said.
when | went 10 Utah / joined the liberal
or non Mormon party and remained with
II until IL disbanded in ls93, and then joined
Nut lNtIJuJ lNili bti IL How " 90 WYNN
to the state Senate. am well acquainted
with the peope OF Utah. ! know MoTmons
as well az non-Mormons. ] prepared
table showing the Mormon and gentle
State officers in Utah. and tter saanes.
IN November 1901 The GENT c. Gained
they we're not getting their proportion OF
Offices and that's Why prepared the table.
The GENT 90 received Sl4.jC0 in county
officers in Salt Lake county. and The Nor
mons sli,5oo. They are about equally
l.. Il ,r . fr.fa 30
O. Does the Mormon Church Interfere
N political afiairs7 A, In my opinion. the
Church as a church docs not influence
poltics Tic Church i divided. ike other
people, and the 'eaders 90 not act o. a unit.
The Mormon people are tenacious IN their
political views and loyal 10 their party
whether Democrats or Republicans
The witness gave Instances Of gentiles
being elected over popular Mormons, largely
by Mormon votes.
o. What about poygamy in Utah1 A.
7 believe it is as dead as slavery.
o. WHY A We'll the sentiment Of tho
Younger people Of the Church IS against IL.
Poly ynmy IS rapidly dying out
Mr.. Booth was then sworn He declared
that 9olvgamy was not countenanced in
the Church and gave an instance Of ono
Droub y. who was convlc ted OF adultery
and proved 10 have married a plural
wife He was communicated.
There would be an Immediate revolution
u the President Of the Church should pro-
ynnlgatea revelation authorizing polygsmy.-
said Mr. Booth The members Of polyg-
amous families are against polygamy
Tho children al oppose 1t. For that reason
Il is doomed
O. Do YOU know Senator Smo3tl A.
Yes sir, for ten years
@ What do you say 70 the assertion Of
Judge H;les that Snoot would never have
been elected If he hal not been approved
by the Mormon Church and If he had not
been an apostle, and that when the people
heard the Church had indorsed Smoot
they threw up their hands and said. Il hat
( cities itH7 A | should say that il is
Incorrect and does Senator Snoot a grave
Injustice He was very prominent and
could have gained any Office to which he
might have asTi cd ! favored George
Sutherland for Senator, but through the
votes of a number % Eentles the Snoot
candidates for the Legislature were elected.
-. LiA Tic & .urDi .4IJer mt tie usntf
A; IL was not % G Iugch matter az all
o, (By Mr.. Blu rOwsl-Nhat would have
neen the effect # .1r. SHJOt Lad noe OBJ
tanned cons ant OF the { urch and had
persisted Ia bdlg a canuidat,7 A. think
he would have been nominated and elected
because he had political influence IN ad-
ditior to his apostolic influence, think
the ,urch knew this and therefore gave
its con cent,
Mr. Rooth told OF charges of rOlve-ayr NV