The Portland daily press., 1899-12-08
SAYS lie Is Being Tried By a Hos.
tile Committee.
Thinks 1t a Very Dan
gerous Thing.
Denies That He Has Any
Money or Has Hired Lobby.

Washington, December brigham II.
Roberts of Utah, who was not allowed to
be sworn In as representative In Con-
grsss of that stats. has Issued an address
10 the American people. 1t contains
much that was said by Mr.. Roberts on
the floor OF the House and by MIR. Rich
ardson. who opposed the resolution OF
Mr.. Taylor CT Ohio. After reviewing
the facts and pre- csedings resultingiin the
appointment of the committee. Mr..
Roberts s .ys, In part:
1.-THE member from Utah Is not al
lowed to take the oath of his off % and a
committee is appointed to try him as to
HE sllseed guilt Of the offences charged.
Nay, even more Is granted than was asked
on the floor of the Hors,, for o hostile
committee has been appointed to inquire
into the case. Its membership Is made
up entirely of those who voted to adopt
the method CT procedure. II the creation
of such a tribunal for such purpose be
allowed, there Is no reason why the COM
mittee should not be made up of menu
bers OF one political faith-for the MAORI
ty may do as it pleases about that
az ask the American people to stop and
think what that may mean to this coun-
try In times Of high political excitement
and party strife and passion.
GA formidtbl minority In tho
House may be reduced either to very
insignificant minority or even tlotted
out of existence.
'2-lhe representation to which q state
is entitled on the floor OF the House may
be denied to it-as In this Utah case-fcr
any length Of time this COMMITTEES may
elect to deny 1t such representation.
eff tho present House can thus deprive
Utah of her representation, there Is no
reason why 1t could rot deny Virginia
ters, even though she has ten represent
tstives.
.'3-This nav precedent also strikes
down tie constitutional guarantee of a
right to one accused Of crime to a
speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury Of the state wherein the crime shnll
have teen committed The proposition
Is not to deprive me of my scat In Con-
gress by the presentation OF records of
conviction for crime before courts before
watch I have been found guilty, but to
try me before the committee OF the
House; to send for persons and papers
and witnesses to ascertain my guilt or
Innocence of an alleged misdemeanor, re-
ported to have nesn committed in Utah.
The sovereign state of Utah in the sdop-
ton OF her state constitution In 1925. de-
clared what should bs the qualifications
of her electorate, and l possess them all.
AZ deny the ex s.ence of the lawful
power of the House to prevent me from
being sworn in on the presentation OF
the evidence of psima facie right upon
which others ere admitted to member
ship.
"I deny the right OF the House to re-
solve inseif into the justice of the peace
court, to try me for misdemeanor.
alleged to have been committed, in Or
der to find grounds of expulsion from tina
high office to which was elected.
81 deny its right to confer any such
lower upon Its committee.
''If were guilty OF the misdemeanor
charged, even, flagrantly so here in the
Capital, / could not even he arrested for
the offense, SO slight is it considered vn-
der the law. 1t is true that the rspresen-
tative from Utah Is Mormon. and just
now against the Mormon people there Is
wave Of popular sentiment. created by
falsehood. chiefly by the charge that
Utah has broken her compact with the
United States In the mattsr of polygamy.
/ solemnly deny that charge. I shall
do all can to maintain my rights and
indirectly, yours, too. under the consti-
tuition. 1 stand alone, save for the very
few who gave me their very guarded
support by voting against the monstrous
proceeding that prevents me from taking
the oath of oifcs. am without a dollar
at my command except the salary at
tached to my ofics, with which to tight
the battle now pending before the special
committee. i am without legal COUNSEL
except for the kindly suggestions of here
and there word from lawyer, acquain-
lance OF friend. And, indeed. prefer 1t
to be so now, ana / want the conditions
here named to stand as q reputation to
the sensational charges that have been
made about the Mormon church stand
Ing behind me, with any amount OF
money for legal counsel and the ulsinte-
nance of lobby in Washington"