Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-07
WHO Is 1T THAT "FoRGETs q''

Roberts was stopped q moment on the
threshold that question or two might
be asked him. and he was given full
permission 20 set himself right. He oc-
cupied nifty minutes. but his explana-
tons did not explain. The men VINO
sympathized with him and hoped that
he would set himself right. were forced
to decide that his defense was fatally
deficient, and that there was nothing
TO do but TO deny him the place he
sought"
The foregoing Is in the customary
style of the paper that has been en-
gagged FOR more than a year, with
coterie Of religious ministers. In arous-
ing public sentiment TO the point OF
fury, that members OF Congress would
feel compelled to set aside all precedent
and regard for constitutional proyls-
ions, 80 as not TO be in conflict with the
popular demand.
But II is not the News that forgets,
1t 10 the author of the paragraph we
have quoted who forgets. That is
common falling. II that writer could
only remember what appeared In the
columns Of his own paper on wednes-
day he would perhaps perceive his er-
ror. There is nothing IN the report OF
the proceedings in the House of Repre-
sentatiyes on Tuesday which shows
that Mr.. Roberts was stopped mo-
ment on the threshold. that question
or two might be asked him, and he was
given full permission to set himself
right" He was stopped on the thresh-
old by pre-arranged scheme to shut
him out, and that did not provide for
any interrogation Of the victim.
He was not asked to give any EEK
PLANTATION" or expected to set himself
right" All that was to be referred to
a committee Of examination, The de-
bate was on a parliamentary PROPOSE
ton. IT was as TO the constitutional
power Of the House to refuse a duly
elected aud qualified member. bearing
credentials from sovereign State as
It's Representative. the right to take
the oath prescribed by law and the seat
TO which he was thus entitled, pending
an investigation OF charges against his
personal conduct.
There can be no honest contention on
this point The telegraphed press re-
port TO all the papers settles II beyond
fair dispute. When Mr.. Roberts pre-
scented his naturalization papers, which
We're recognized as In due form, he met
the only legitimate objection to his
taking the oath. one Of the qualih.
cations OF Representative In Congress
is that he must be a citizen Of the
United States. Ii had been asserted
that the gentleman was not natural
tied He furnished proof that he was.
Other legal qualifications required are,
that he must be 25 years OF age and an
inhabitant Of the State in which he was
chosen. There was no contention on
these points.
The resolutions introduced on which
the debate took place were, on the part
OF Mr.. Tayler, that Mr.. Roberts was
ineligible and that before taking his
seat the whole matter should be re-
ferred to special committee; and on
the part Of Mr. Richardson. that Mr..
Roberts should be sworn in as a mem
Der upon his prima facie case, and then
the question arising as to his eligibility
and all other matters relating to his
case be referred TO the committee on
judiciary. Thus the question at issue
was simply and entirely one Of parla-
mentary procedure and not for the pur-
pose Of giving Mr.. Roberts an oppor-
tunity to "set himself right
Nor was anybody then forced to de-
eide that there was nothing to do but |
10 deny him the place he sought" The
House did not 80 decide lie was not |
then denied the place he sought" In /
order 10 satisfy tremendous popular |
clamor. as tacitly admitted by Mr.. Tay- |
Ter, the investigation as TO Mr. Rob- |
erts' right TO retain his seat was re- |
ferred 70 a committee. before instead |
OF after his taking the seat, It may be
argued that, considering the force Of
public sentiment and the vote OF the
House the case Is practically decided
against Mr. Roberts. but that at pres
ent is mere matter Of opinion. II may
be, and probably Is a correct forecast,
but Il is not yet fact accomplished.
That a denial Of his seat win be the
result Of the lahors Of the committee,
may be inferred from the evidence that
the whole matter was prearranged, that
the committee is wholly composed Of
persons who voted against his being
sworn In, and that II Is not unlikely
that more pains win be taken 10 collect
evidence prejudoial than 10 present
facts and proofs FOR the defence. But
all that goes to show, beyond successful
contradiction, that the case Is still
pending, that the member-elect has not
been denied "the place he sought" aud
that he has not yet been placed In a po.
siIon ito set himself right" We have
no doubt that he will endeayor to DO
that in good time and in good style But
the situation is exactly the reverse Of
that set forth by our contemporary in
the paragraph al the head OF this artl.
Gle, and It is clear that IL is not the
News" but that paper which Tor
gets"