Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-11
THE FIGHT ON ROBERTS.

poiygamist. Miss Helen Gould has
started anew the s~helf-worn discussion
relative to the fitness of Congressman
Roberts to sit in the national house of
been studied from all points Of observa-
ton whenever religious body passes res
olutionS against Roberts, or a prominent
parsonage betrays a personal interest in
the pending contest, it is again gone over
with the customary attention to detail
Roberts has the distinction of bein.
the most talked about man in the United
States, not only in the columns Of the
press but in sewing circles. quilting bees.
and other religious gatherings. The eight
respective ears belonging to Roberts and
his triumvirate of wives must put in more
time tingling with the reflex action of
universal gossip than they do in hearing
things.
As the outcome Of universe sentiment,
it seems to be definitely settled than an
attempt will be Ia to prevent the
Utah congressman from taking his seat
when congress %convenes in December.
While the friends of Roberts industri-
ously maintain that inasmuch as he mar
ried his several and respective better
halves before the Edmund's law went in
to effect he shows nobility of character
in standing by them, il Is held by his op-
pcnents that at least two-thirds of his.
wives We're contracted for since the inhi-
bltlon was placed on the ~polygamous
relation in Utah.. This is, of course,
merely a matter of proof, and does not
alter the general fact that Roberts is a
polygamist and is worrying along with
to have.
The moral sentiment of this country
! stands for the sacredness of the home,
and whatever may have been the causes
leading up to his excessive accumulation
OF wives, Roberts is to-day in the attitude
of a ma who seeks to take part in the
making of laws for the government of the
people when he is himself confessedly a
v~iolater of a law that has to do with the
preservation of society. 1t is no defense
OF Roberts to claim that immoral men oc-
cupy seats in congress, and that he is
essentially better than a libertine, for
while all this may be true crime must
be adjudged by it's effects. Roberts has
been and is publicly violating the law
that regulates the domestic relations of
his people-a law to which the masses of
civilized men yield cheerful obedience.
The sooner his friends cease to justify
his curse as a law-breaker, and fall bac.E:
on his constitutional rights as the duly
elected representative from a sovereign
state. the better will it be for his case.
Opinions differ materially as to whether
his seat can be denied him in default Of
his conviction in the courts of having
violated the law. That he was duly
elected and holds n certificate of election
is not denied. The accusation that he is
a ~polygamist stands as an accusation
merely until the facts are legally estab-
lished.
The house of representatives is the
Judge of the qualifications OF its own
members, but qualifications in this in
stance do not mean mental, moral or
physical qualifications. but legal quail
fications. 1t is not a court Of justice in
which a man holding a certificate of cleo
ton is to be tried for alleged infractions
of the law, except wherein his acts have
a bearing on the validity of his election
to office. 1t follows therefore than UNI
less some enterprising individual like
| Helen Gould sees fit to bring an action
against Roberts as a bigamist, in advance
OF the meeting of congress-, he is likely
to be seated. whatever steps may be SUBJ
~sequently taken to unseat him in the in
~terests of public morals and the honor of
the home.