The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-02
POLL OF THE HOUSE MADE.
Opposed to Roberts If the Charges
Are Proven

New York, Dec. IA special to the
Herald from Washington says: Brig
ham II. Roberts, the member-ele from
Utah, will meet with a stalwart oppo-
sition when he appears to claim his
seat in the house of representatives
next Monday. A careful poll made by
the Herald shows this conclusively.
To obtain, so far as possible, the
sense of the members of the house of
representatives, the Herald has caused
to he made careful canvass of the
house. Each member VINO could be
reached was asked how he would vote
on the question of permitting Brigham
H. Roberts TO take and retain his seat.
assuming that the charge OF poiygamy
Shall be proved to be true.
!. Responses. have been received from
more than 'two-thirds' of the entire
membership of the aouse. OF this num-
ber only .two-one from Michigan and
one from Georeia-declare themselves
in favor of admitting Mr.. Roberts re-
gardleSs Of the charge brought against
him. The Hecald'S canvass shows an
overwhelming sentiment in favor OF
unSsating the meSnber-elect from Utah.
While more than one-third of the
members express themselves emphati-
cally as intending to vote to unseat
Mr.. Roberts, this proportion does not
~
ber of those who will so vote. Many
new members who have not vet taken
their seats are disinclined to express
their opinions for publication. There
are many who take the ground that it
would be Improper for them to an
nounce in advance their opinion in a
case on which they are TO sit in ludg-
ment. In almost every instance the
members while giving non-committal
irfc for - tel V a d
nit that they expect the evidence to
be such as to warrant them in voting
against Mr.. Roberts.
The opposition will not be directed
against Mr. Roberts personally, nor
Will it be directed against the Mormon
religion as a system of religious belief.
1t will be directed against the prac
tices of which Mr.. Roberts has been
publicly charged.
The atmosphere of Washington seems
to be charged with anti-Roberts senti-
ment. Representatives who have come
here undecided, after comforting with
their associates, have determined to
vote against seating Mr.. Roberts, and
have no hesitancy in publicly declaring
their intention. Men who have given
non-committal interviews have asked
TO have them changed. No political
lines are drawn in the case. Many
Democrats are among the most deter-
mined opponents of seating Mr.. ROD
erts.
Mr. Roberts seems 10 be very conf
dent that he will be sworn T.. and that
he will retain his seat throughout the
congress. He viii not discuss his plans,
however. When the Herald correspond
ent told Mr.. Roberts the result of the
canvass he said:
IF that be the condition, the members
of the house have preiudiced the case,
and / have not a word to say now"
1t is probable that Mr.. Roberts will
be sworn in just as are the other MEM
bers-ele Few, if any, of the repre-
sentatives dispute the constitutional
power of the house to then begin pro-
to turn him out. The course
that most members favor is the adop-
ton of a resolution expelling Mr.. Rob
erts. This would require a two-thirds
vote.
There are others, and Harry Smith,
the parliamentary expert, agrees with
these. who hold that the house can, by
a simple majority vote, declare the
seat of the representative from Utah
vacant, on the ground that the man
sent to the house to fill it is disqualified
to serve.