The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1899-12-14
THE MORMON'S
STRONG POINT.
Two PoIygamists Appointed to
Office bv Mckinley.


Utah, are the men to whom Repre-
santative-elect Roberts referred in tn,
house as the polyganlists appointed
| to office by President Mckinley.
Both at the time OF their appoint
ment. he said, lived in state OF pc
| lygamy. and although the president
was urged to recall their appoint
ments, and the senate requested &c
reject them. both We're confirmed and
given office because there were 10
court record TO prove that they were
guilty of crime.
In speaking of these cases Mr.. Rob
erts said TO the POstDispatch core
spondent:
Nv hen those two men We're nOml-
mated protests were filed against them
on the ground that they were living
with plural wives. These protests
were supported by affidavits from the
sactarian sources from which came
the protests filed against me. | am
informed that persons came TO Wash
ington shortly after Graham and
Smith were appointed and submitted
these affidavits to the president and
to the senate committee on postOfficeS
to which the nominations had been
referred.
OF course. tie charges were not
proved by any court record any more
than the charges against me have
been supported by court records, and
the president very properly, | think,
refused to consider these men unqual
flied for office.
But my point in the matter is this:
If the people OF Utah are TO be con-
demned for refusing to consider Il
man ineligible for office simply be
cause it is alleged that he is guilty of
polygamous associations to the eX-
tent OF committing a misdemeanor
then certainly the administration is
also to be condemned for appointing
men to federal positions charged with
being in the same relationship.
La view of the fact that the offense
of both parties is nowhere declared
by constitutional provision or sub
Sequent statute to be n crime that
bars them from holding political Of
fee, the charges in both eases should
be ignored. but if the action of the |
people of Utah is to be condemned. |
then certainly the administration |
also cannot escape condemnation"
Regarding the report that the gov
ernor might appoint him TO fill Utah |
vacant seat in the senate, Mr. Rob
.rts said:
THE runor is entirely without
The governor is re-
publican and is not evelt my personal
riend ="
Mr.. Roberts said that he would in
person conduct his case before the
house committee of investiga ton.
Jnless public opinion forces the door
o be open the hearing of witnesses is
o be private. Chairman Taylor ex-
Uses this on the plea that certain
'hases may be unfit for the public.
1t is intended to allow Roberts to
'e present with counsel, if he desires,
t such time as the committee may
etermine.
OF the nine men composing the
ommittee seven are lawyers. Robert
\. Taylor of Ohio, the chairman,
aimed local fame as Il prosecutor
nd is serving his third term in the
ouse. He was chairman of the cleo
ion committee in the last house
Charles b. Lands was editor of the
'elphi %. Journal when he was first
ant to congress two years ago. Page
iorris Virginian, who was a circuit
ldge in Minnesota when he was elect
i to the 55th congress. Romeo H.
'reer was a county prosecutor in
Vest Virginia. Charles Littlefield
as a Maine Judge. who succeeded
ingley in congress. Smith McPher-
On was attorney-generalo OF Iowa and
his Is his first term in congress.
OF the democrats on the committee
avid A DeArmond is the best known
Ie was circuit Judge in Missouri
nd is serving his sixth term here.
:. ". L. Lanham of Texas is serv-
lg his sixth term and never attract
I particular attention. Robert ".
liers was a prosecutor and Judge IN
indiana until he was elected to the
9Th congress.
W.a c~iy-,s no r-sa,Fa r,1s an offer. nj +{;S