Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-11
Mr.. SHOOTS DEFENSE
Ex-Gov. Mcconnell of Idaho
on the Stand.
PRAISES THE MORMONS
THOSE INTERESTED IN THE CASE
CROWD THE COMMITTEE ROOM.
Senator Knox, Recently Appointed q
Member, Attends the Hearing
for the First Time.

The defense in the case of Senator
Smoot of Utah was begun this
morning before the Senate commit
tee on privileges and elections. Ex-
Gov. Mcconnell of Idaho praised the
Mormons of his state. He declared
that he had never known them to
gamble and drink. He assisted in
bringing about the repeal of the test
oath of citizenship. He read long
argument in defense of the Nor
mons against the charge that they
sought to control political affairs
and claimed that there were other
reasons for their opposition to the
democrats in Idaho.
The defense in the Senator Reed Smoot
Investigation was begun today The room
of the Senate committee on privileges
and elections crowded during the
progress of the inquiry into the secrets of
the Mormon Church. which was conducted
by the attorney for the protestants against
Senator Smoot retaining his seat. Most of
the spectators We're women. Senator Knox.
recently appointed member of the COM
mittee. attended the hearing today for the
first time.
Praises the Mormons.
VIM J. Mcconnell of northern Ids no
the first witness called. The examination
was conducted by Waldemar Van Cott of
Salt Lake, who is associated with A. $.
Worthington of this city as counsel of Sem
ator Smoot Mr.. Mcconnell described his
occupation former merchant, half poll
itician and lawyer for his friends. He WAS
senator of the Fifty-first Congress and
was governor, of Idaho from 1893 to 1876,
inclusive serving two successive terms. lie
is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
The witness was asked to describe the po-
litical conditions. and took up early days
when he said he had lobbed nefore the
legislature when the first effort wa made
to disfranchise the Mormons. He declared
that he was prejudiced against Mormons.
but that he found that most of the Gen
tiles were practicing 1.-THE science which in
our country is called poker" He said he
had never known Mormons to gamble and
drink. He followed this testimony with 4
review of his acquaintance with MormoIS
during the agitation against the religion in
Idaho. He assisted in bringing about the
repeal of the test oath of citizenship. and
afterward went among the Mormons on u
lecture tour. He had observed the people,
he said, and their morals were of high,
praiseworthy character.
Senator Knox's Question.
Senator Knox asked counsel to inform
him as to what part of the case the exami-
nation of Mr.. Mcconnell was relevant.
Mr.. Worthington said he was unable to
answer that conundrum, but that a great
mass of irrelevant testimony was admitted
been made and overruled He said the tes-
timony of Mr.. Mcconnell was in reply to
this, and particularly to that of Charles E.
Jackson, chairman of the Idaho democratic
committee who testified that no candidate
for office, democratic or republican. could
stand against the Mormon Church.
The witness was asked concerning causes
of the Mormon vote being cast for Gooding
in his canvass for governorship, and said
he was surprised that any Mormons had
voted the democratic ticket. He gave as
one reason that he had challenged Senator
Dubois to a public debate, and received an
answer declining the invitation on the
ground that he could not afford time to de-
bate with any one who was not a candi-
date for Office in the party which was de
Tending criminals, as he believed the Nor
mons to be-" He submitted a Autographed
reproduction of Senator Dubois letter
''Was that letter personal to you?' asked
Senator Dubois.
ut was an answer to my challenge. It
was not marked personal.
'Well-all right. The senator started 10
reply and stopped abruptly dismissing the
subject.
Mormons in Politics.
Senator McComas objected to political
discussions. and when the witness digressed
to say that democrats left their party fol-
lowing the election of President Cleveland
the senator asked the witness to confne
himself to the question of whether the Nor
mons interfered in politics
Mr.. Mcconnell repeated number of
sons why the democratic party was boy
cotted by the Mormon church, saying that
one of the principal causes was that Sena-
tor Dubois called the Mormons criminals.
An abstract showing the result of the vote
in Mormon and nom Mormon counties dur
ing The last six years was presented by the
witness. This abstract showed general
increase in the republican vote in both the
Mormon and anti-Mmormon counties, indi-
eating, said the witness, that the republic
can increase has not been due to the in
fiuence of the Mormon church.
Mr.. Mcconnell said the Mormons are in
the minority in each of the political par
ties and in the Legislature and that the
Mormons in Idaho do not get everything
they want.
A Long Opinion Read.
On this subject he raid an opinion, which
he accepted as his own views, declaring
that there is no ecclesiastical support In
yoked by the church for the control OF
political affairs. The opinion was iong:
political argument in defense of the church
against the charge that the Mormon
church leaders would seek to control po-
Iitical affairs. The opinion dealt also with
bimetallsm and Senator McComas stopped
the reading to inquire If the witness in
dorsed the opinion given on the subject OF
silver Mr. Mcconnell replied that he did
not.
"You have been asked to give your opin-
ion on the Mormon question" said the ssn-
ator.
Mr. Worthington said the two questions
were intermingIed and The Witness added
that he subscribed on.y 20 the opinion on
the Mormon question.
Senator Pettus asked who had written
the opinion.
.It is an interview with Senator Dubois.
published in the Salt Lake Tribune In May.