Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-01-12
Gentle Members Of idaho legis
iature Given Bad Name BY For
ms { Governor M'connel.
MORALITY AID SOCIOLOGY
The Man Who Takes Plural Wife
and Cares for Her and Her Children
is Far Better Than One Who sus.
tains Illicit Relations With Woman
and Abandons Her. the Argument
iBy Associated Press,

w WASHINGTON. d. C.: Jan H.
Testimony intended to prove that the
MormonHmoralc is OF the highest tyne.
and to$*refuta the word OF witnesses
who have declared the contrary to be
true. was offered by counsel for Senat-
or Reed Smoot today
w. J.%McConnell formerly a United
states senator from Idaho and twice
SoVarnorso Of his State. and Representa-.
tive BurtonsL. French, a member Of the
present Congress and reelected for
another term. were the witnesses. 1t
was theopenine session Of the defense
in the Smoot investigation. Senator
Knox. ANEW member of the commit
tee. attended 70" the first time.
Committee Room Thronqed.
The committee room was crowded.
There is a sentiment in the commit
tee in favor OF pressing the inyestiga-
ton to conclusion and with that end
in view5.it was announced that begin
ming tomorrow longer sessions of the
committee will be held
Both witnesses today denied many
statements directed against the Nor
mon church and its alleged interior.
ence in political affairs
He Offers Comparison.
Former Governor Mcconnell said
that thGsGaltile members Of Idaho's
Legislatures &c, .Jnog~asz high morals as
the Mormon members and that. If 1T
We're not for questions Of geography
and knowledge of executive needs, the
interests of the State would be better
served by an entire Mormon legisla-
ture.
Mr. Mcconnell repeated a number of
reasons why the Democratic party was
boycotted by the Mormon church, say
ing that one of the principal causes
was that Senator Dubois called the
Mormons criminals. An abstract show
ing the result Of the vote in Mormon
and non-Mormon counties during the
last six years was presented by the
witness.
Mormons in Minority.
This abstract showed a general in.
crease in the Republican vote in both
the Mormon ana anti-Mormon counties,
!ndicatin, he said, that the Repub.
lican increase has not been due to the
influence of the Mormon church.
Mr. Mcconnell said the Mormons
are in the minority in each. of the polit-
lcal parties in the legislature and that
the Mormons in Iadho do not get
everything they want On this sub.
ject he read an opinion, which he &C
cepted as his own views. declaring that
there is no ecclesiastical support in
voked by the church for the control
OF political affairs.
Morality and Sociology.
IN defense OF the Mormons, Mr.. Nc
Conneli said he considered the man
who took a plural wife and cared for
her anil her children far better than
one who sustained illicit relations
with woman and abandoned her and
her children to the scorn Of the world
Witness admitted he had appointed
William Badge, polygamist, as regent
Of the State university.
Inquiry by Chairman Burrows
brought out the statement from the
witness that when Idaho was admit
ted as a State it was tacitly under
stood that polygamists would be per-
mitted to continue to live with their
several wives and increase their fam
lies" Mr.. French said that in can
vases OF his State he had not taken
account of the Mormon church as ~
church, but of course had talked poll
tics to Mormons as individuals
a Political Necessity.
Mr.. French was asked what would
be the effect Of his political fortunes if
he should be the instrument in the
prosecution of polygamists
1T is my Judgment that the Nor
mons would resent it, said Mr..
French, He added that he believed
that even the younger Mormons would
feel that the understanding of 1890
had been violated
Then it is rather a necessity in
politics to keep clear OF Mormon prose
cutions," observed the chairman
The committee adjourned until to-
morrow.