The age-herald., 1898-11-25
POLYGAMIST
 CONGRESSMAN
BY ARCHIBALD ". BUTT

Washington November 24.-(Special. .)-In addition to other questions to be settled by the next session of congress the Mormon religion may be thrust rudely before the members and the legality of a polygamist holding seat on the floor made de- batabe issue.
 One of the members of the fifty-sixth con- gress is Mormon, likewise a polygamst. He is the Honorable Brigham H. Roberts, of Utah, where he lives in peaceful posses sion of three wives. The action to be taken against him will not be based on jealousy, but from fear of contamination.
 Just how to get the question of polygamy before congress and incidentally the right of the Honorable Brigham H. Roberts to hold his seat is what is proving an interest ing question just now. Ills eligibility to represent Utah in congress will be con- tested by a rival candidate, the contest be- ing based upon the domestic relations or the congressman-electw with the three afore-
 said women. But it is a question of law as
 to the right of congress to deprive mem
 Der of his seat on a criminal charge unless
 proven to be true in the civil courts. Clear
 ly polygamy is contrary to the law or the
 land and this individual case clear viola
 tion of the Edmunds law of the District of
 Columbia. Criminal action may be taken
 against Mir. Roberts when he reaches here,
 especially if he carries out his boasted in-
 tention of bringing with him his three
 wives. It is said by the opposition that the
 Mormons brought about his election for
 the purpose of bringing attacks upon the
 Mormon religion by believing that the
 faithful would profit by free discussion of
 the question in congress. The contest over
 this seat may have far reaching results,
 and VIII doubtless be a source of much talk on the floor.
 The whole case is of great interest. MT. Roberts was a democrat nominee. He was put up by the Mormons as a representative of their interests. Beside having three wives he is a man of power In the Mormon church. He is active in his support of that faith and is one of the heads of the great
 Mormon propaganda. He is said to be a
 man of irreproachabe character in Utah.
 At the congress of religions held during the
 Worlds Fair at Chicago he represented the
 Mormon faith and took conspicuous part
 in the proceedings. When he was nomi-
 mated the word was passed around that the CnuTCn uGSucu HIS elSStioh. HIS WoS 1t that was necessary to elect him. The Gen. tiles, as the Mormons term those who do not hold to their faith, made a bitter fight on him, but to no avail They now intend to bring the matter before congress. Persons who may be wont to look upon the Mormons as small band of religious perverts will be surprised to learn that the Mormon sect is increasing very rapidly, and that it has overiowed it's own state borders and has become power in adjoin- ing territories and states.
 The Mormon church has the political ma- chinery of Utah entirely in it's grasp. It is a recognized power in politics in Idaho and is making inroads in Nevada and Colorado. Arizona and New Mexico, which are clam bring for statehood, admit the influence of Mormonism as an influential factor. Not content with making converts in the im- mediate vicinity of Utah, the propaganda | is reaching ont to the east.
 There are a number of petitions now be- | fore congress from the mountain regions | of West Virginia and Tennessee calling at- | tention of congress to the preaching of the l Mormons among them. One petition from West Virginia relates number of incl | dents where converts have been made to l the ruin and desolation of families in the | mountainous districts of the state There are numberless petitions slumber- l ing in the judiciary committee rooms of the l capitol, urging the adoption of an amend | ment to the constitution for the purpose of l suppressing the Mormon religion. None of | these have ever been called up, one reason l being that the question is a vexatlous one, i and many think it best to let the religion 1 be stamped out by the natural influences l of the Christian religion and the advance l of civilization. But it is exclusively
 shown that these influences have not been 1 able to wage a successful war against the 1 plausible missionaries of the Mormon faith l who work quietly in a community until an | opportunity comes for open preaching. The opponents of Mir. Roberts will en- | deavor to secure the cooperation of the
 various religious bodies in their fight on l him. The contest will begin on the hy-
 pothesis that MT. Roberts is ineligible to
 his seat. The best authorities here do not believe that this will be sufficient in itself l to unseat him; that he will have to be con- | victed in the criminal courts for practicing l polygamy before congress can take any ac- l tion in the matter.