Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-01
A BIG MAJORITY
OF the House FayOrS Un-
seating Roberts.
CANVASS HAS BEEN MADE
And Only Two Congressman Have
Come Out Openly For the Utah
Man--Opinions Divided as to the
Best Way of Ousting Him.

New York, Dec. IA special to the
Herald from Washington says: Brig
nam IL. Roberts. the member-elect from
Utah. will meet with a stalwart opposi-
ton When he appears to claim his seat
IN the house of representatives next
Monday. n careful poll made by the
Herald has caused to De made a careful
tam SO far as possible the sentiments
OF the house of representatives, the
Herald ha caused to be made a careful
canvass of the house. Each member
who could be reached wa asked how he
would vote on the question of permitting
Brigham FL. Roberts to take and re-
tam MS Seat, assuming that the charge
OF p~olysalny shall be proved to be true.
responses nave been received from more
IMAM tWo-thirds of the entire member
snip OF the house. OF this number only
tWo-ohe from Michigan and one from
GeofSla-declare themselves in favor of
admitting Mr.. Roberts regardless Of
the charge brought against him.
Inc Herald's canvass shows an over
Wlelming sentiment in favor of unsaat-
ing the member-elect from Utah. While
more than one-third of the members ex-
press themselves emphatically as intend
ing to vote to unseat Mr.. Roberts,, this
proportion does not by any means in
dictate the whole number of lose who
VIII 50 vote. Many new members who
have not yet taken their seats, are dis
inclined to express their opinions for
publication. There are many who take
the ground that it would be improper for
them to announce in advance their opin-
ion IN a case on which they are to sit
in Judgment. In almost every instance.
the members while giving non-committal
intervieWsc for publication. privately ad-
mitted that they expect the evidence to
be such as to warrant them in voting
against Mr.. Roberts.
The opposition will not be directed
against Mr.. Roberts pe rsonally. nor will
it be directed agains. til. Mormon reli-
gion as a system Of religious belief. 1T
will be directed against the practices Of
which Mr.. Roberts has been publicly
charged. IN atmosphere Of Washing
ton seems to. be charged with anti-Rob-
erts sentiment. The representatives
who have come here undecided, after
consulting with their associates. have
decided to vote against seating Mr.. Rob
erts and have no hesitancy now in pub-
licly declaring their intention. Men
who nave given non-commital inter-
views, have asked to nave them changed.
No political lines are drawn in the case.
Many democrats are among the most
determined opponents of seating Mr..
Roberts.
Mr.. Roberts seems to be very conf
dent hat he will be sworn in and that he
will retain his seat throughout the con-
gress. He will not discuss his plans,
When the Herald correspond
ent told MIR. Roberts the result Of the
canvass. he said: IF that be the situa-
ton, that representatives nave pre-
judged the case, | Lave not a word to
say now 1t is probable that Mr.. Rob-
erts will be sworn in just as are the other
members-elect. Few, if any, of the
representatives. dispute the cOnstitu-
tional power of the house then beginning
proceedings to turn him out. The course
that most members favor is the adop-
ton of a resolution cxpelling Mr.. Rob
erts. This would require a two-thirds
vote. There are others and Harry
Smith, the parliamentary expert, agrees
with them. who hold that the house can,
by a simple majorit. vote declare the
seat of lie representative from Utah va
! cant on the ground that the man sent
to the house to fill it is disqualified to
serve.