Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-01
Washington Atmosphere Charged
with Antl-Roberts Sentiment
N. Y. HERALD's CANVASS.
House Has prejudged the Case Plan.
that May be Followed, "ir'
Charges are Proved,

New York. Dec. IA special TO the
Herald from Washington says
brigham n Roberts, thu member.
elect from Utah. Will meet with stat.
wart opposition when h. appears ~
claim his seat In the House ~ Repre-
scntatlvcs next Monday \ careful poll
made by the Herald shows this con-
ciusiVcly.
To obtain 20 far ~ possible the asnsc
~ the members Of the House of Ieprc.
scntatlycs. the Herald has caused TO be-
made a careful canvass of tho House
Each member who could b. reached was
asked how he would vote on the quca.
ton Of permitting Brigham II. Roberts
TO take and retain his seat. assuming
that the charge OF polysamy shall b.
proved TO be- true.
Responses have been received from
more than two-thirds u the entire
membership Of the House. of this num-
her only two-one from Michigan. aud
one from Goorgia--dcclatod themselves
In favor Of admitting Mr., Roberts rc.
Fardlcss OF the charge brought against
him. The Iicrald's canvass shows an
overwhelming sentiment IN favor ~ I'M
seating the mombcr.elcct from Utah
While more than onc-thlrd ~ tho
members express thOmaclNrH smphnti-
cnlly ns Intending 10 vote 10 unacnt Mr..
Roberts this proportion does not by
any means Indicate the whole number
of those who VIII 80 vote. Many new
members who have not yet taken their
seats nrc diainclincd o. express their
opinions Tor publication. There arr
many who take the ground that II
would be- Improper FOR them 10 an
nounco their opinion IN a case ON which
| they are 10 slt In judgment IN almost
| every instance. the members. while civ
I ing uonsCommlttul Interviews Tor pub
| LEGATION. privately admit that they cN-
| pect the evidence 90 b. such az 10 war
rant them Ia voting against Mr. Rob.
| prts.
Tho opposition Will not be- directed
against Mr., Roberts personally, nor viii
| II be- directed against the Mormon
| religion as u system Of religious belief.
II Will BE- directed against the practices
with which Mt. Roberts has been public
| ~ charged.
The atmosphere OF Washington seems
10 be- charged with nnti-RobcrtH scnti.
ment Representatives who have come
here undecided, after comforting with
! their associates, have dctc miucd Ia
vote against seating Mr.. Roberts. and
| have no hcsltnnCy now In publicly de-
clnfing their Intention Men who have
given non-committal interviews have
asked 20 have them changed. No polltl'
cal lines are drawn IN the case. Many
Democrats are umnrg the most deter
mined opponents d seating Mr. Rob
erts.
Mr.. Roberts seems 10 b. very conf
dent that he win b. sworn In, and that
he Will retain his seat throughout The
Congress. lie will not discuss his
plans. however. When the Herald cor.
respondent told Mr.. Roberts the result
of the canvass he said
III that be the condition. the Nom
beers Of the House have prejudgcd th'
case. and l have not word TO say
now"
II 10 probable that Mr.. Roberts Will
be- sworn In lust A. are the other mem
horr-eloct. Few, n any ~ tho repre-
Fcutatlvcs dispute the constitutional
power ~ the House 10 then begin pro-
cccdinga tn turn him out The coura,
that most members favor e. the adop'
tlnu of "a resolution vNuclllng Mr., Rob
orts. This would require a two-thlrdi
vote
There are others. ana Harry Smith
the parliamentary expert agrees with
these. who hold that the House can. hy
simple majority vote. declare the seat
of the representative from Utah vacant
ON the ground that the man sent 90 Tho
House 10 nh II, Is disqualified to serve.