Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-13
MORMONS IN POLITICS
DENIED THAT THEY INTERFERE
IN IDAHO AFFAIRS.
Testimony Of the Chairman Of the Re-
publican State Committee - Other
Witnesses in Agreement.

AT the afternoon session OF the cehate
committee investigating the case Of sena-
tor Snoot yesterday. Frank Martin, an at
torney of Boise. Idaho, was called to the
stand. He was examined by A. 8. Worth
ington for Senator Smoot The witness
said he has lived in Idaho since 1886. and
has participated in politics for number of
years. as a democrat. He served at one
time as secretary of the state democratic
committee.
Mr.. Worthingtol asked Mr.. Martin what
he knew of trips being made to Salt Lake
to enlist the political aid of the Mormon
Church. The witness said he never heard
of any trips of that character being made.
The only Mormon the democrats have nom
mated for state office since statehood was
dropped by fusion of the party with the
populists, and only one republican Mormon
had been nominated, so far as the witness
knew. From his observation and common
report Mr.. Martin said he never had known
of any instance of Mormon interference In
the politics Of Idaho. He said he had heard
1t charged that Mormon influence had de-
feated former Governor Morrison for re-
nomination, but he believed so per cent of
the people did not credit the charge.
What Aroused the Mormons
The witness expressed the opinion that
it was an announcement by Senator Dubois
that he intended to push the Smoot inves-
tigation that provoked the Mormon con-
troversy of the last campaign. Mr.. Martin
testified that the conditions in Idaho did
not Justify the attack OF the Mormon
Church. THE Mormons felt said Mr..
Martin, that Senator Dubois, to aid him
self politically, was trying to dsfranchise
them. They did not oppose the adoption of
plank which would include all of the
sexual crimes, but were opposed to decla-
ration against polygamy and pofygamous
cohabitation alone
After the conventions of both parties
said Mr.. Martin, Mr.. Jackson, the demo-
cratic chairman, had placed across the
street a banner bearing the words: I'VE
are for men, not for sheep" The repub-
lican candidate for governor was a large
sheep owner. Mr.. Martin said he twitted
AR Jackson about the sign, and was in
vited to his office. Mr. Jackson invited
me to speak for the democratic ticket"
said the witness, land 1 told him 1 did
not approve the attack by the party and
would not campaign except to discuss ma
tional issues. ME- Jackson told me that
was not the class of speeches that was
wanted. / was not invited again TO
speak,
The witness detailed similar experiences
of other prominent democrats and said
that Mr.. Jackson insisted that the people
were tired of hearing about tariff that they
wanted to know about Mormonism. Accord
ing to the witness any democrat who de-
clined to talk against Mormonism was not
permitted to go on the stump.
Mr.. Clay's Campaign.
Mr.. Martin gave testimony concerning the
character of the. campaign conducted by
Mr.. Clay, the democratic candidate for
Congress- who is said to have cast serious
reflection on the morals of Mormon women
and girls, to show that the Mormons had
cause outside of ordinary political convic-
tons, to boycott the democratic party in
the last campaign. He said he had not
heard any of these speeches, and Senator
McColnas observed to the witness that he
was repeating something that some one
had told him that Mr. Clay had said'
MI. Worthington remarked that the wit
ness was giving common report, which
was the basis for more than half of all the
testimony offered by the protestants."
In regard to the charges made by wit
nesses for professionals that the courts in
Mormon counties are controlled by the
church, Mr.. Worthngton read statute
which gives to the governor authority to
designate any county judge to go into any
other county and hold term of court Ac-
cording to the witness the governor has
once acted on this statute.
AS to the campaign conducted in the
state, Mr.. Martin said Senator Dubois was
accompanied by Hyde Stalker, a republican.
who advocated the election of President
Roosevelt, but asked the people to vote for
former Senator Heitfeld for governor
Under examination by Chairman Bur-
rows Mr.. Martin said that at the time he
was secretary of the state committee the
question of what would be the attitude of
the Mormon Church in relation to the cam
paign had been discussed, but only as other
organizations, such as the miners union
were taken into consideration.
Mr. Martin at the close of his testimony
volunteered the statement that personally
he favored prosecuting those who continued
polygamous cohabitation, but the majority
of Gentiles believed the best way was to
let the old fellows die off,
MI
James H. Brady of Pocatello, Idaho,
chairman of the republican state commit
tee was called to the stand. He estimated
that there were between eight and ten
thousand Mormon voters in the Mormon
thousand Mormon voters in the state and
that the entire vote Of the state was about
70 900.
In a narrative form he testified in regard
to the last campaign in the state. saying
that it was not fairly started before 1t de-
veloped that the democrats were not fight
ing polygamy, but Mormonism, and were
arraying one class against another 1t
was apparent that Senator Dubois was try
ing to turn all Mormon votes into the re-
publican column. said the witness, and he
added that as chairman. of the republican
committee he tried to get all the votes he
could by infiaming the Mormons against
Senator Dubois methods.
He told of circulating copies of Senator
to the effect that he believed all Mormons
were criminals, and also speeches against
Mormonism and of circulating speeches Of
Mr.. Stalker, who appeared on the stump
with Senator Dubois and spoke for Presi-
dent Roosevelt and against Mormonism
The witness said he was satisfied that
Judge Parker, the democratic candidate
for president, was sacrificed wherever 1t
was possible to get vote for Heitfeld the
democratic candidate for governor He
said he had no doubt that the democratic
leaders tried to trade Judge Parker for
Heitfeld.
Few Polygamists in Idaho
Mr.. Brady said that he had made care
full investigation of the number of polyga-
mists in Idaho and to the best of his in
formation there were only fifty-six Fifty
eight were reported to him. but he said
that two had since died. He said that
Mormon precints in which Mormon polyg-
amists campafgned showed falling Off In
the republican vote. This information was
given to show that the younger Mormons
were opposed to polygamy.
1T is all bosh' said the witness, ITO
say that Mormons get everything they
want in Idaho-at least, II they do they
want very little" He denied that Nor
mons had anything to do with the denial
of second nomination to former Gov
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