Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-13
THE POINT Ar ISSUE.


son Of Tennessee. has been commente,
upon extensively By the press. Most O.
the remarks Il has ELECTED are very "a
vorable But We notice OCCASIONAL!
some criticism as to his failure 10 meet
directly, the charges against his person.
al conduct or course that comes from
his political opponents or from some Of
his religious enemies. They appear "a
take the ground that he was personally
on trial, aud that he should have stated
the facts as 20 his family affairs and
left Congress and the country 10 pass
judgment upon him, This shows that
they do not understand the situation.
The Representative from Utah was
before the House claiming a prima
facie right to a seat in that body This
claim was based upon the possession by
him Of all the constitutional and statu-
tory qualifications for membership in
that legislative assembly He disputed
the right OF his fellow members, at that
stage Of the proceedings, to inquire In
to his moral or religious status, He
took the solid ground that he was en-
titled to take bis seat, having the prop
er credentials and being ready to take
the oath prescribed, That he was right
IN this position, is admitted by all the
papers In the country which have met
the question sQuarely.
The gentleman takes that stand be-
fore the committee appointed TO in
vestigate his case. He demands rul-
Ing upon the question Of his prlma facie
right to the seat to which he was legally
elected and against which there is no
contest.
Why should he have entered into the
subject Of his domestic relations, at
time when neither law nor precedent re-
qulred either defense or explanation?
There is not a line in the Constitution
Of the United states nor in any statute
bearing on the qualifications Of mem
Der Of Congress, that justIhes inquiry
into such personal matters. Those who
think. he should have unfolded to the
gaze OF The world his domestic rela-
tons and Individual conduct, show that
they have no proper conception of the
subject.
II after taking the seat to which he
was without doubt legally entitled, he
had been charged with an offense for
which he might be expelled from Con-
gress, a ylndlcation OF the kind men,
toned by his critics might have been
In order, AS it was. he was perfectly
right In the position he assumed, and
that is well understood and appreciat-
ed by the best lawyers, parllamentar-
ians and journalists OF the United
States.
II does not matter 80 much to the
Representative from Utah, or to the
State which sent him to Congress, what
the result may be. 1t Is a matter Of
great concern to the people OF the
United states, and this is clearly per-
ceiyed by great many thoughtful peo-
pie In this nation. such remarks may
be found in leading newspapers, and
we have received many communications
on this subject which show the trend
Of public opinion,
one Of the strong mercantile men Of
San Francisco IN a letter to an attache
Of the News" Office, makes the fol-
lowing comments on the Roberts case:
IL have often thought Of you and my
has been largely with your
people and Mr.. b. H. Roberts. was
greatly In hope that he would get his
seat without any trouble and that the
nasty, fusty people opposing him would
see that they were defeated and With
draw, ana give your people no more
trouble, But. so far they are making a
hight against your Church as well as
your Congressman, and the better
thinking people are becoming weary Of
Il, ana your Church Is gaining friends
who never before gave IL any attention
whatever and In the end II win do you
great good.
Congress has done something that the
people Of the Y. $. win forever be sorry
Tor, and IN the end this same Republi-
IAN party viii also be- cory that they
,ver set the precedent Of forbiddlng a
from taking his oath Of
liiice. They will find the Democrats In
he majority, one OF these days, and
hey VIII use this same weapon TO keep
heir Republican opponents out Of Con- !
mess. and then they viii get their just |
Tues II VIII 90 our country no good |
md the practice will surely lead into |
rouble IN the future. but your people |
SIN not lose any friends. II will make |
'cu many more. and In the end you Will /
gain a great victory.
II IS astonishing how much sympa- |
by there Is displayed In our city among
men u business and worth. They are /
lred Of lhls thing and say that Mr. /
Roberts ~ prosecuted by a filthy press
nd lot Of producing preachers.
send you under separate cover a copy
4 our Evening Post OF yesterday. Il
ias only lately spoken o. your troubles
md Is now. I am pleased 10 see. TAX
ns O part Tor you that viii DO you all
10 harm.
AS for myself I am getting the rep.
Itation of being a full-hcdged Mormon.
say IN explaining myself 70 acquain-
ouccs that / am In sympathy with
nythng or anybody that has been mis-
epresentcd and oppressed I do hope
h1t Mr. Roberts viii gain his seat and
hen I meet our Congressman. Mr.
.0udwhom ! know very well. I VIII con.
rutulate HIN for voting as he has
one and he has made many friends
on 10 doing. he Is a Republican, but a
r0a1.minde1 man Va every sense OF
he word / have known him ana his
amlly for the past eight years"
Thu Houston, Texas. Daily Post. OF
oh, says
Southern Democrats. particularly. |
Tho voted FOR the Tayler resolution by