The Washington times., 1905-01-13
Against Stirring Up Of
fensive Odors of Ill
Smelling Proposition
SO SAYS WHITECOTTON
Smoot's Attorney Defends
His Character Before
Committee.

Senator Smoot's attorney at his home
in Provo-J. w. n. .Whiteeotton-was
the witness of this morning in the
Smoot inquiry by the Senate Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections
He was on the stand late yesterday
afternoon, telling of general conditions
in Utah. and today went more into de-
tail about his chiefs good reputation
among the people of the State. long be-
fore his election as apostle and then as
Senator
Mr.. Whitecotton, who is a heavily
built man, with very ruddy complex
ion, spoke emphatically about the view
taken by the people or Utah against
stirring up the offensive odors of an ILL
smelling proposition. This was his ex-
PLANTATION why prosecutions against
violators of the law against polygamy
Were not looked upon with favor.
Reviewed Utah Politics.
The witness. who was on the stand
all the morning, the most of the time
under direct examination. showed
familiarity with the politics of the State,
giving interpretations which We're al
most always favorable TO his home
client, and the Mormons generally.
He took up the conditions In the cleo
ton of 1880 and continued down to the
present time. He told of petitions to
Congress circulated in Provo TO disfran-
chise Mormons. but nothing ever came
Of it. He cited the Thatcher episode,
which has been frequently discussed
heretofore and the trials of poiygamists
In 1888 up to the time OF the manifesto.
and said they veraged 100 arraignments
a year Since 1890 they had averaged
IJxy
Mach Brotherly Love.
Witness whitecotton then described
the improved conditions. in business and
politics, between Mormons and Cen
tiles
Since 1890, the improvement has been
marvellous, said witness "A Gentle
deputy marshal. who had been arresting
Mormons for polygamous practices. was
elected marshal over a Mormon who
wes Republican.
'Mormons adhere more closely to their
party than the Gentiles do, because
there never has been an organized re-
volt as there was in the Republican
party recently"
Witness said the supreme court also
was an evidence OF the liking of the
MorrnoEs fer the Gent tes. as most of
the judges are men who had been en-
gagged in prosecuting polygamy before
they were advanced TO the bench.
Mormons Against Polygamy.
II think he decided sentiment of the
Mormon people in Utah is hostile TO
polygamy. said witness. The people
are strongly opposed TO interference in
politics They want TO be independent
IN their suffrages.
LAS 10 the prosecution OF people who
entered into polygamy prior to 1890,
must say that is hard question to an
swer. The people of Utah think there
are conditions which have to be taker
into consideration in discussing the best
way to proceed
They do not want to stir up this
question and set il TO smelling again
IL has not good odor. When they 81
out TO punish people. they think of the
consequences to such a mans family
and his children and so are slow IL
take action which would affect the lat
ter. Plural wives who have children
are in a very precarious position if they
become separated from their husbands
since, il divorced. the church does no
permit them to marry again.
THE truth OF the matter is, / have
never heard anyone express sympathy
/ for a man who is living in polygamy
unless he has two or three wives wht
are regular yiragoes The sympathy, i
shown at all. is always for the wive:
and families.
Snoot Kicked Up Row.
Witness was asked whether. in 1896
Senator Smoot had not supported
George Sutherland, Gentle, for mayo
of Provo. He was not sure of tn
facts. and answered, as TO Smoot:
II know he kicked up a row in Provo
but whether he supported Sutherlant
for MAYOR | do not know"
Witness wanted to submit a table o
political figures TO show how much NOR
influence the Gentiles lad than tn
Morrnons and how the Gentiles file
all the State Offices
The table was printed In a Salt LAX
newspaper. and this led TO some inquire
BY Attorney Tayler and Senator Fora
ker, as TO the authenticity OF the pub
lication Witness knew nothing abou
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