Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-11
TRAMPLING RIGHT ANDJUsTICE

Under this caption the New York
World Of Dec. 6 comments as follows
on the action Of the House In the case
OF the Utah Congressman-eleot:
"The House Of Representatives yes
terday violated the Constitution Of the
United States boy refusing 10 receive a
lawfully elected representative OF the
people. The personality Of Roberts and
the question whether he should have
been permitted 20 retain his seat do
not enter into the matter The House
has transsressed the right OF represen-
tatlye government the supreme law Of
the Republic,
In the same spirit Of lawlessness the
Speaker OF the House went on to ap.
point as the committee Co sit as Rob-
erts's judges nine men who had voted
against admitting him, and TO appoint
as chairman of that committee, as d.
rector OF It's judicial proceedings, Mr..
Tayler o. ohio. the man who stood up
In the House as li0bertss aCcuscri
The tramplng Of fundamental
principle Of right was followed by the
tramphng Of a fundamental principle
OF justice.
are abhorrent 20 the moral sense Of the
American people. But what is the rela-
tive Importance Of Roberts's alleged no.
lygamous practices. his alleged viola
tons Of the moral sensiblllties of ciyili-
zatlon In comparison with such reckless
lawlessness as this?
III In a moment " great national peril
the representatives Of the people were
10 violate fundamental nrinciples under
stress OF dire necessity, they might have
a plea In justification OF their grave Of
Tense But what shall be said a such
disregard and diswspect for right and
justice under no greater stress than a
craven panic2
"A dangerous precedent has been IS.
established. a dangerous inr0ad upon the
rights Of an accused person has been
made No feeling about Roberts should
obscure these facts OF rapidly growing
dsrespect Cor personal and c0nstltu-
tl0nal rights from the public view"
The Springfield Republican thinks
the action Of the House win generally
be commended, but admits that Mr..
Roberts has strong case. That pa
per says IN part:
MIR Roberts of Utah has found that
only so members OF the House would
even 60 so far as 70 vote In favor OF
allowing him 20 take the oath ON the
strength OF his regular certificate Of
election. Yet Mr.. Roberts certainly
has a very fair legal case az Chat point
On the contest over his admission 60
COnert ss. Mr.. Tavler on Ohio. who led
the debate against Mr. Roberts would
not say that the Utah member was
guilty % the charges against him:
hence. che House. IN refusing 60 permit
him 20 be sworn n,sht acted simply
on charges that are not yet proved. II
d safe 90 say that such extreme action
would not have been taken, had the
case not aroused che country 20 a re-
markahle degree. judging by tho
immense majority against Mr. Roberts
yesterday. he could easily b. expelled
by a .wo-thlrds vote after taking the
oath and on that account the course
OF his opponents may have been un-
necessity
The Woodland. Cali Daily Democrat
Of Dec G, devotes an extended editorial
to the subject Of which these are ex-
tracts:
"The treatment OF Congressman Rob
efts has been one OF the most Migrant
outrages ever committed under the
cloak Of morality. He certainly Is no
worse and Is very likely much better
than nine out Of every ten congressman
who are trying 20 deprive him Of his
sent
John Q. Abbott, Republican who
Of one time represented on Ohio dis
u'ct M Congress. and who knows Rob
crts Intimately describes him az NOR
ally q pure man and one 90 the most
able men IN an this country. he Is as
eloquent 3 Foraker and as clean p8iin-
caily as any statesman Ohio has ever
brought forth. That Is a certificate
of character 90 which not many mem
hcfs of Congress are entitled.
80 ar as tie legal aspect OF the case