The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-11
. DEFENSE BEGINS.
Senator Reed SmOot Presents
His Side Of the Case.
Committee Room Was Crowded
Mostly by Women.
SENATOR KNOX THERE.
Has Been Added to Committee
Since the Adjournment.
w. j. Mcconnell of Idaho the
First Witness Called.
SENATOR KNOX THERE.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE defense in
the Senator Reed Smoot investigation
was begun today. The room of the
senate committee on privileges and
elections was as crowded as during the
progress of the inquiry into the secrets
of the Mormon church which was con-
Quoted by the attorney for the Protest
ants against Senator Smoot retaining
his seat. Most of the spectators were
women. Senator Knox, recently ap-
pointed a member of the committee, at
tended the hearing today for the first
time.
William J. Mcconnell, of northern
Idaho. was the first witness called. The
examination was conducted by Waldo
mar Vancott of Sale Lake, who is as
sociated with A. S. Worthington of
Washington, as counsel for Senator
Smoot Mr.. Mcconnell described his oc-
cupation as former merchant, half poll
tician and lawyer for his friends. He
was a senator of the Fffty-ffth con-
gress and was governor of Idaho from
1888 to 1896 inclusive, serving two sue
cessive terms He is a member Of the
Presbyterian church The witness was
asked to describe the political condi-
tions and took up early days when he
said he had lobbied before the legisla-
disIranchise the MOrmOns. He declar-
ed that he was prejudiced against
Mormons, but that he found that most
of the GentileS were practicing ''the sci
ence which in our country is called pO-
ker." He said he had never known
Mormons to gamble and drink. He fol-
his acquaintance with Mormons during
the agitation against the religion in
Idaho.
He assisted in bringing about the re-
peal of the test oath of citizenship and
afterward went among the Mormons
on a lecture tour. He had observed the
people, he said, and their morals were
of a high, praiseworthy character.
Senator Knox asked counsel to in
form him as to what part of the case
the examination of Mr. Mcconnell
was relevant. Mr. Worthington said
he was unable to answer that. but that
q great mass of irrelevant testimony
was admitted for the Protestants to
which objection had been made and
overru1ed. He said the testimony of
Mr.. Mcconnell was in reply to this
and particularly to that of Charles H.
Jackson, chairman of the Idaho
Democratic committee. who testified
that no candidate for Office. Demo-
cratic or Republican, could stand
against the Mormon church. The wit
ness was asked concerning causes of
the Mormon vote being cast for Good
ing in his canvass for the governorship
and said he was surprised that any
bois to a public debate and received
an answer declining the invitation
on the ground that he could not afford
time to debate with anyone who wa
not a candidate for the party which
was defending criminals, as he be-
lieved the Mormons to be-" He sub
rnitted a autographed production of
Senator Dubois letter.
''Was that letter personal to you?''
asked Senator Dubois
.It was an answer to my challenge.
It was not marked personal"
f'Weu, all right" the senator started
to reply and stopped abruptly, dis
missing the subject.
Senator McComas objected to po-
litical discussions and when the wit
ness digreSSed to say that Democrats
left their party following the election
of President Cleveland, the senator
asked the witness to conf1ne himself
to the question of whether the Nor
mons interfered in politics. Mr.. Nc
ConneH repeated a number of reasons
why the Democratic party was boy
cotted by the Mormon church, saying
that one of the principal causes was
that Senator Dubois called the Nor
mons criminals.
An abstract showing the result of
the vote in Mormon and nOn-MormOn
counties during the last six years was
presented by the witness. This alb
stract showed a general reduction in
Republican vote in both the Mormon |
and anti-Mormon counties, indicating, (
increase has not been due to the in |
f1uence of the Mormon church. Mr.. |
Mcconnell said the MOrmOns are in 1
the minority in each of the political
parties and in the legislature and that /
the Mormons in Idaho "do not get
everything they want" On this sub I
ject he read an opinion which he ac-
cepted as his own view, declaring that [
there is no ecclesiastical support in |
voked by the church for the control
of political affairs. The opinion was |
a long political argument in defense of
the church against the charge that the |
Mormon church leaders would seek to |
control political affairs The opinion |
dealt also with bimetallism, and SEN |
ator McComas stopped the reading to |
inquire if the witness endorsed the |
opinion given on the subject of silver. |
Mr.. Mcconnell replied that he did
not.
"You have been asked to give your
own opinion on the Norman queS- |
ton" said the senator.
Mr.. Worthington said the two ques- |
tions were intermingled and the wit /
ness added that he subscribed only to
the opinion on the Mormon question. /
Senator Pettus asked who had written /
the opinion.
'sIt is an interview with Senator |
Tribune in May. 1895" said the wit
ness.
a speech of Senator Dubois made to
the senate on February f. 1903 on the I
subject of MormoniSm was ordered /
incorporated in the record after some |
controversy The senator said he l
would like to have it go in because
garbled accounts of this speech had I
been used in the campaign. The de-
fense closed its examination with a |
statement from the witness that he |
did rot know of any polygamous mar
riages among Mormons since the man |
ifesto
Mr.. Tayler. attorney for the protest.