Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-12
POLYGAMY IN UTAH
REPRESENTATIVE FRENCH SAYS
TT rs DECREASING.
Yesterday Afternoons Session of the
Senate Committee Investigat-
ing the Smoot Case.

AT yesterday afternoons session of the
Serate committee investigating the protests
against Senator Shoots retention of his
scat Mr.. Mcconnell was again called to the
stand and Mr.. Worthington asked concern
ing challenge that had been made by Mr.
Borah to Senator Dubois. The witness had
obtained this challenge by telegraph, in
order to get it in its correct form. He read
the challenge, which was to the effect that
If Senator Dubois would point out single
Mormon who had aiken a plural wife since
the manifesto he CMr. Borah) would prose-
cute such a case. The dispatch from Mr.
Rorah said that he was still waiting to
hear from Senator Dubois
Inquiry by Chairman Burrows brought
out the statement from the witness that
when Idaho was admitted as a state it
was tacitly understood that polygamsts
would be permitted to continue to live with
their several wives and increase their fami-
lies.
And the reason you are here today is
that you understood and believed it right
that polygamists should continue to live
with their plural wives and raise children?'
asked Mr.. Tayler.
Il am here to tell the truth. because 1
was subpoenaed," said the witness.
In answer to Mr.. Tayler, Mr.. Mcconnell
said it was not the understanding that the
political rights of polygamsts should be
abridged, but that he did not know of any
polygamists holding office. His attention
was called to the case of VIM. Bulge and
the witness said that at the time he APP
pointed Mr.. Bulge a regent of the univer-
sity he did not know his appointee was
polygamist
Mr.. Tayler read list of names of alleged
polygamists submitted to Mr.. Borah by
Z. M. Owen in response to the challenge to
Senator Dubois, and Mr.. Mcconnell said he
had seen the list and knew most of the
persons named, and had been surprised at
the number.
Mr.. Mcconnell said in reply to question
by Senator Dubois that he had not heard
that Mr.. Bulge had been arrested and that
he had pleaded guilty to the charge of
pract1cing polygamy as early as 1856
Political Conditions in Idaho.
Representative Burton L. French of Mos
cow, Idaho, member of the present Con-
gress, was called to the stand He testified
that he had been teacher a member of
the legislature and that all his life he had
been close observer of political affairs in
Idaho. He was examined by Mr.. Worth
ington in regard to political conditions.
Mr.. French declared to be grossly in
correct the charge made by several wit
nesses for the protestants that former Gov.
Morrison failed to get a second nomination
because the Mormon Church opposed him.
The various statements made by witnesses
from Idaho to the effect that the Mormon
Church used undue influence in political
affairs were denied by Mr. French, who de-
clared that the issue never was raised in
Idaho until 1904 --.-
Then said the witness, 81 believe it
was raised because the democrats knew
that Idaho believed in the administration
of Mr.. Roosevelt and that the state could
not be carried on national issues"
The witness declared that many demo-
Gratis and nearly all of the democratic
newspapers in Idaho refused to support
the state ticket in 1904 because of the
plank in the platform against church in
reference in politics Mr.. French said that
Mr. Clay, the democratic candidate for
Congress, used arguments intended to drive
all Mormon votes into the republican
column, in order to have an effect upon
the election in 1906, which campaign will
involve the election of a United States
senator. He said that SO far as he knew
there had been but one Mormon repub
lican elected to a state office. He was the
attorney general, who served during the
last two years and was not renominated.
Polygamy in Utah Decreasing.
Polygamy in the state was said by the
witness to be decreasing. In regard to the
statement made by one witness that about
as many persons said Gov. Gooding was
Mormon as said that he was not, the
witness asserted that the governor was a
Gentle and that no one in the state had
charged seriously that the governor was a
Mormon.
Mr.. French said he could not answer a
question he often asked himself, as to why
people did not prosecute polygamists, mar
ried before the manifesto, but had come
to the conclusion that the conditions were
the best that could be brought about, In
view Of all existing conditions.
Mr.. Tayler directed Mr.. FrenchS atten-
ton to the case of William Bulge one of
whose sons was judge and another dis
trict attorney, and asked if Gentiles did not
refrain from prosecuting him for fear of
being ostracised.
Must Let the Evil Die Out.
The witness thought that prosecutions
would not remove the evil and that it must
die out with those who are now living In
polygamy.
Replying to Chairman Burrows, Mr..
French said that in canvasses of his state
he had not taken account of the Mormon
Church as a church, but, of course, had
talked politics to Mormons as individuals
Mr.. French was asked what would be the
effect on his political fortunes if he should
be the instrument in the prosecution of
polygamists?
1T is my judgment that the Mormons
would resent it, said Mr.. French He
added that he believed that even the young
er Mormons would feel that the understand
ing of 1880 had been violated.
'"Then it is rather necessary in politics
to keep clear of Mormon prosecutions?" OBJ
served the chairman.
On redirect examination of Mr.. French
Mr. Worthngton asked if Gentiles in Idaho
had not resented the injection of Mormon
persecution into the democratic platform.
An affirmative answer was given.
The committee adjourned at 430 until 10
o. clock today. Hereafter, it is expected to
continue the hearings until pm. and
shorten the noon recess.
core 80 ,,,a,.;oo Manf