The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-22
Utah Congressman Charged
With Having 3 Wives.
Congressman Dingley Bitterly
Opposes Roberts.
UTAH GAVE A PLEDGE
When Admitted as a State to
Drop POlygamy.
Missouri Representative De-
tends the Mormon

New York, Nov. 22.-A1though no
notice Of contest has yet been fled,
members elect Of the next house of rep
resentatives are already discussing the
question whether Brigham H. Roberts,
Just elected from Utah, shall be permit
ted to retain his seat. Mr.. Roberts, 1t
appears, was put forward as the can
didate of the leaders of the Mormon
church. but is in politics a Democrat
During the campaign it was charged
that he has three wives and has prac-
tfced polygamy since Utah was admitted
to the Union, although the territory was
created a state on the express pledge
that polygamy should be prohibited.
The only ground for a contest is on the
question of pOlygamy. Aside from that'
Mr.. Roberts claim to a seat seems to
rest on solid ground.
The New York Herald has interviewed
members of congress on the status or
Representative Roberts and has obtain
ed opinions on both sides of the ques-
ton.
when Utah was admitted to the
Union" says Representative Dingley'
"a solemn pledge was given that polyS-
amy should not be permitted That was
the condition on which the act OF az
mission was passed. 1t would now De
a very bold thing if this state, IN the
face of it's solemn pledge, should SEND
resentatives in the house. a polyg-
amist."
Mr.. DingIey said further that if the
charges made against Mr. Roperts
should be found to be true 1t would not
be merely an ordinary case of law
breaker being sent to congress; it would
be an affrOnt so grave that he thought
the house could not avoid taking some
notice of it. and it might be possible
that it would lead to the expulsion OF
the representative from Utah.
rNrTwa -
expresses opposition to pOlygany, but
few are prepared to pass upon the case
of REPRESENTATIVE Roberts before the
case comes before the house If 1T ever
Il don't think Mr.. Roberts will at
tempt to introduce all his wives to
Washington society at once" says Rep
reseutatiVe Pearce of the Eighteenth
Missouri district, "and so long as he
does not openly practice pOlygamy in
Washington, I think the question of his
eligibility will not be noticed officially
The Edmunds anti-polygaIny law is in
force in Washington, but as don't
know anything about the facts in Mr..
Roberts case, I could not say whether
he could be proceeded against on a
criminal charge. If, as understand It,
his various marriages were contracted
before the anti-pOlygany laws went
into effect, and he has not lived with
more than one wife since, I suppose he
may not be amenable even to the Grim
inal laws. Certainly, I know of no rule
from occupying the seat to which he
was elected"
James Cooney of the Seventh Missouri
district said: Mr. Roberts, beyond
doubt. was fairly elected by the people
Of Utah to represent them in congress.
I would not vote to unseat him if he
had a thousand wives and equal to
Solomon in all his glory"
Other members of the Missouri dele
cation were nOn-cOmmittal.
Representative Roberts has already
outlined his defense. In speaking Of
polygamy recently, he said:
THE settlement of that question, af-
ter years of strife and heartache, left
upon men moral obligations from which
no DEGREES Of the church could release
them and no act of the state absolVe
them.
THE demand of the American people,
as expressed through their representa-
tives IN the American congress in the
enabling act, went no further than
this: That perfect tolerance of religious
sentiment shall be secured, provided
that polygamOus, or plural marriages
are forever prohibited Thus the de-
mand went so far as to prohibit future
polygamous marriages. but 40 further