The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-05
THE OATH OF OFFICE IS
REFUSED Mr.. ROBERTS
Details of Proceedings in the House
of Representatives.


Washington, Dec. 4.-The case Of
Brigham H. Roberts. representative
elect from Utah. was the magnet that
drew crowds of people 10 the halls of
the lower house of congress today.
The expected sensational develop
ments. however. did not occur, for the
matter was quietly disposed of tenn
porariIy by Mr.. Roberts stepping aside
when requested to do so by the speaker
after objections had been made to the
oath of office being administered 10
: him.
1t was shortly before II O'Clock when
Mr. Roberts. in silk hat and black
frock suit, made his way through the
crowd to the members private lobby
Here he chanced 10 meet Mr.. Richard
son. and the two held a short confer
ence as to whether Mr.. Roberts would
seek 10 address the house. A buzz Of
comment followed the gentleman from
Utah wherever he went. but there was
no disrespectful demonstration
Senator Rawlins came over from the
senate wing and held an earnest con-
ference with Mr. Roberts. Mr.. LentZ
of Ohio took part in the conference.
After il was over the report was cir
culated that Mr.. Roberts would not
present himself to be sworn in But
this was Immediately denied. Mr.. Rob-
erts himself said he had not decided
what he would do, but that he might
desire 10 be heard when his case
came up.
All Eyes On Roberts.
He took a seat to the right Of the
main aisle and soon became the cyno-
sure of ali eyes. His daughter sat in
the members gallery. Mr. Taylor OF
Ohio. who represents President Mckln-
leys district, who wSs 10 conduct the
case against Mr.. Roberts, was con-
ferring with his colleagues on the Re-
publican size.
Very early in the day a monster pc
tition, said 20 consist of 100000 names,
protesting against the seating of Mr..
Roberts. was brought into the hall. 1t
had been collected by a New York
eight rolls of names, each about two
feet in diameter. encased in the Ameri-
can flag.
These rolls We're stacked UP in the
area in front of the clerks desk and
were viewed with great curiosity. Later
Major Mcdowell. clerk of the house,
ordered all except two of the rolls Ia
ken out into the lobby.
The Formal Protest.
The formal memorial and protest
against the admission of Mr.. Roberts
to a seat IN congress was circulated in
printed form and placed on the desks
of the members during the day The
main points are that Roberts is not a
citizen. since "at all times after 1888
he was and now is a bIgamist and
polygamist, contrary To the law: that
he had heeI prosecuted and punished
for unlawful cohabitation with more
than one woman; that he was born of
British parents within the British realm
and has never renounced his allegiance
to Queen Victoria"
After reciting the legal and moral OBJ
jections to Roberts. the petition asks
that he be net allowed TO take the oath
of office, or TO take a seat in congress:
that a. special committee investigate the
subject. and that the Roberts seat be
declared vacant. The document is
signed by Josiah Strong. New York.
president of the League of Social Ser
vice, and many Others.
Answers to His Name
When the name of Brigham II. Rob-
erts was reached in the house roll call.
the Utah member-eiect proceeded alone
to the area in front of the speakers
desk, and awaited the administration of
the oath. AT the same time Represen-