Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-08
PLEA To THE PEOPLE.
Roberts of Utah Makes a New
Appeal in the Case of the
House VS.. Himself.
COMMITTEE Is ALL ON ONE SIDE,

He Says, There Being None on 1t Who Did
Not Vote for Tayler's Resolution-Other
Objections to the House Procedure-Bill
introduced by Cullom That Will Add
Many Names to the Pension Rolls-Cap-
ital City News
Washington, Dec. S.-Roberts of
Utah. who was not allowed to be sworn
.n as representative i'll congress of that
state, has issued an address to the
American people. 1t contains much
that was said by Roberts Oh the floor
of the house and by Richardson, who
opposed the resolution of Tayler OF
Ohio. After reviewing the facts and
proceedings resulting in the appoint
ment of the committee. he says:
The member from Utah is not al
lowed TO take the oath of his office.
and a committee is appointed to try
him as TO his alleged guilt of the Of
fenses charged. Nay. even more is
granted than was asked. at least more
than was asked upon the floor of this
house: For u hostile committee has
been appointed to inquire into the case
Its membership is made up entirely OF
those who voted to adopt the method
of procedure. Not one who voted
against ii was allowed TO find place
upon that committees; and If the crea-
ton of such n tribunal for such pur-
pose be allowed there is no reason why
the committee should not be made up
of members of one political faith-fof
the majority may do as it pleases
about that.
Wants the People to stop and Think
Il ask the American people to stop
and think what that may mean to this
country in times of high political ex
citement and party strife and passion.
20 \ formidable minority in the
house may be reduced either to Il very
insignificant minority or even blotted
out of existence.
CD The representation to which 4
state is entitled Oh the floor of the
house may be denied to it-aS in this
Utah case-for any length of time this
committee may elect to deny il such
representation. If the pres
ent Republican house can thus deprive
Utah of her representation there is no
reason why it could not deny Virginia
hers, even though she has ten repre-
for ten representatives as
easily as one can he turned away from
the bar of the house, and one state as
well as another if n bare majority in
the house chooses to have it so.
Declares 1t d New Precedent.
down the contitutional guarantee of Il
right TO one accused of crime, to a
speedy and public trial by an impair
tial Jury of the state wherein the crime
shall have been committed.
1 deny the existence of the lawful
power of the house to prevent me from
being sworn i'll on the presentation of
the same evidence of prima facie right
upon whic: others are admitted to
| deny the right of the
house of representatives to resolve it I,
self into the justice of the peace
court to try me for a misdemeanor, al |
legged to have been committed. in order |
to find grounds of expulsion or exclu- |
sion from the high office to which l
was elected If | were guilty |
of the misdemeanor charged, even |
so-here in the capital-I
could not even he arrested for the Of |
fense, so slight is it considered under |
the law"
Roberts declares that in his case vio- |
lence is threatened to the safeguards of |
the liberties of the whole people.