Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-12-09
ROBERTS ANSWERED.
Statement to the Public from
the GentiIes of Utah.
Refutes the Claims and Charges Made
by the Mormon
And Proves that He and Church Are Both
Violating the Law.

Washington, Dec. San answer to
Mr.. Brigham Roberts address to the.
American people was issued, today by
a delegation representing the Gentle
element of Utah, who are here to op-
pose Mr. Roberts. The answer in part
is as follows:
Mr.. Roberts claims that the prece-
dent made by his exclusion is both new
and dangerous. That ii is not new was
shown by Mr.. Tayler, Ohio. in his able
argument before the House and not ii
single precedent to the contrary was
cited where the ground of objection
was ineligiblity. Neither is tha prece-
dent dangerous. Whenever a "prima
faca' case is made against a members
citizenship by showing that under Il
conviction of felony against the laws
Of the United states he is disfra saG.
and further, that by reason Of His pres
ent maintenance Of the status Of a
polygamst he is again suffering from
civil disability under the t.dmunds
-pOlygamy act. such a member re-
fusing even to deny the charge should
be excluded. Nor is it dangerous. for
it is not likely. as Mr.. Roberts seems to
assume. that an entire minority of all
representatives Of large state are
coming to Congress carrying such a
burden.
Mr.. Roberts contention that no eVi-
dence of his guilt can h. received OK
cept a judicial record of his conviction
in Utah. as a matter Of lam. il erron-
eous ana as q matter " practice dam
gerous. bccaus. Mr.. Roberts Ana his
all-poWerful prizes hood can prevent
such conviction If they consider Ii
worth while
Ar pub,~i.' cl,in, tb.+ ,.bat.,.,,.
var. his ci,i1 Disabilities b.f,rn stato
hood tb.,. ,,.ar. r.r,,,....l Ia. ,I,, do.
finn nf Tho s,at. ,,,,+i,,,ti,,
If at the time Of the passage of the
enabling act Nh Roberts was, as he
seems in his appeal to admit. dis
franchised by act Of Congress and.
therefore. not a full citizen Of the United
States. as by the constitution he must
BE- to become a member Of Congress.
then he is still in the same condition
because the constitution If Utah could
not restore him to federal citizenship
ana the enabling act dfd not do it,
The enabling act Of Utah REQUIRED citi-
zcnship Of the United States as a ulIali-
fication for voting and did not confer
that citizenship upon those then not
such citizens.
Mr.. Roberts saws that he has not
been convicted since statehood. II
does not follow that he is innocent. He
is now fugitive from Justice in Sal:
Lake county on a charge of unlawful
cofa bitation and in Davis county.
Utah. where resides one of his pOIy-
ramous wives with her ilIecitimat,.
twins born. Aug. II. 1897. a charge Of
adultery "a felony under the laws Of
Trtah has been for two months pig
conhoIcd BY Il Norman prosecuting at
torney
NJ poharts insists +bot 10 l. only
cbargod With = ,,isdo,,a,na, IL
lrovs battar ro knows tba+ no bo,
hoo, cbarood v.itb ,ha fa,on,- Of ad,,I
,o,.,, &c v.au &c tn, n,iedap,aano,. ,f nm
1,u.frI c,b,bito+io, H. ,,sa,.+s +bo4
in 1880 no rraodod o,,iIt,, ~ , r,isda
,,,ea,,,,. n,,1,. 49, oieo e,,.e ,hat 20 h
,,,, ,r,;,., 80 IL, ,,,,, i, 49,,
Diat,.;r. IL ,I,,,,,o;o ..,',.o,, ,..r.,,,.I,.
u, !, It'll ,,,,,,,,,,, III ,,,,,,.,1.,. IT. lI,1,,I,
ia. il orrae+o1 ,haraf,,. ho,,,,,,.a /. u
ONLY II misdcmeanor. Here again Mr.. |