Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-12-08
SAYS HE is BEING ABUSED
DENOUNCEs HIS OPPONENTS IN CON-
GREss AS "COwARDLY.~
Disputes Right of Congress to Keep
Him Out, and Declares He Is
Victim of Public CIamor
Against Nor
mOnism.


gress of that state, has issued an address
to the American people. 1t contains much
that was said by Mr.. Roberts on the floor
of the house and by Mr.. Richardson, who
opposed the resolution of Mr.. TayIer, of
Ohio. After reviewing the facts and pro-
ceedings resulting in the appointment of
the committee, he says:
The member from Utah is not allowed to take the
oath Of his ofhce. and committee is appointed to
try him as to his alleged guilt of the orenses
charged Nay, even more is granted than was asked
at least more than was asked upon the floor Of this
house, for a hostile committee has been appointed to
Inquire into the case Its membership is made up
entirely Of those who voted adopt the method OF
procedure. Not one who voted against II was al
loved TO find place upon that committee; and If
the creation OF such tribunal for such purpose be
allowed there is no reason why the committee should
not be made up of members Of one political faith
% L ~ .in no .an,e -, tna s ,bir
that may mean TO this country in times Of high po
litical excitement and party strife and passion:
Ffrst-A formidable minority in the house may be
reduced either to very Insignificant minority, or
even blotted out Of existence.
Second-The representation to which state is en-
titled the floor Of the house may be denied to it
in this Utah case-for any length of time this
committee elect to deny 1t such representation.
Suppose that, in this case, the committee shall
proper to proceed with reasonable expedition TO
alder the questions involved. but what is there to
hinder delaying its action under pretext or
otner as long as u peases: ~ may take week a
month to make Its Investigations. for it is
Inc witnesses and is not even instructed 10 report at
early date possible. II prolong its inyes
legations for two months as well as a month. or
year. II II SO elects and meantime deny TO stale
representation, and may defeat altogether the
pressed will Of people OF state TO their choice
OF representative.
If the present Republican house can thus deprive
Utah of her representation. there is why
could not deny Virginia hers, even though she has
ten for ten representatives easily
be turned away from the bar of the
house. and one state we'll another. If bare
ftv in Tho chr 70 hay Apdff
the present Republican house do this in the
Of Utah Virginia, there Is reason why the next
with representatives from Republican states. under
this new and unprecedented rule OF procedure.
Third-This new precedent also strikes down ths
constitutional guaranty OF right TO accused OF
crime 10 speedy and public trial by an impartial
jury OF the state wherein the crime shall have been
committed. The proposN ION is not to deprive me Of
my seat in congress by1 the presentation of records
of conviction for crime eeore courts before which
have been found guilty. BINDER the due forms OF law
The proposition is TO Try me before the committee
Of the house, to send for persons and papers and
witnesses to ascertain my guilt or innocence of
alleged msdemeanor, reported to have been COM
mitted in Utah. II will be useless to deny this
statement by saying that, in the charge against
binary committee Of investigation, 1t is said that
o transcript OF the proceedings of court in Utah
evidences the fact that the member from Utah plead
ed guilty TO misdemeanor in the year 1sss-twelye
years ago. and when Utah was territory. What
political disabilities created by that event
were removed by the sovereign state of Utah when,
in the adoption Of her state constitution in 1885, she
by her Sovereign power declared whasahould be the
qualifications of her electorate. and possess them
ali. And this side of the enabling act and the adj
mission Of Utah. ] am at the defiance of my enc
mics TO produce any court record Of conviction for
crime, or at time since the msdemeanOr of 1859,
and the house has no right to proceed on other
evidence than such court records
l deny the existence OF the lawful power OF the
house to prevent from being sworn in on the
of the evidence of prima facie
right upon which others are admitted TO member
ship.
deny the right of the house of representatives to
resolve itself into Justice Of the peace court to try
me for a misdemeanor, alleged to have been COM
Initted, In order to find grounds of expulsion
cluson from the high Office to which elected.
1 deny Its right to confer any such power upon its
COMMITTEES.
If were guilty of the misdemeanor charged. even
fzgrsntly so-here in the capital-l could not even
under the law. The constitution gives the M
bers of congress immunity from arrest for misde-
eanors except for breach of the peace and yet for
an alleged misdemeanor for which l could be ar
rested while in attendance upon the house. or while
going to or from IT, am deprived OF the right TO
take the oath OF office: my final right to seat is
In jeopardy the people of Of the sovereign states
is denied representation so long 1t shall suit the
purpose of the committee 10 have it so, and the ex
pressed will of the people of state is in danger of
being defeated
But why this appeal to the American people? Be
violence is threatened the safeguards of
liberties Because the right Of the rule Of the ma
,ority in of the sovereign states in the Union
Is being denied Because the safeguards of the rights
and liberties OF the Individual and of the states,
are being knocked down. and many OF your repre-
sentatives too cowardly to even make q protest
against such proceedings. because they fear they
would endsnger their chances for reelection If they
voted against the high handed measures now taking
place.
II is true that the representative from Utah is a
Mormon" and there is Just against the Nor
mon people wave of popular sentiment, created by
fRsehood chiefly by the charge that Utah has broken
ner compact with the United States in the matter
Of polygamy: that her people contemplate the re-
vival OF poygamous marriages; that the seating Of
ltahs representative would be regarded by her Nor
mon population Endorsement of pOlygamy, and
would be a menace to the American home. Upon
my honor representative from the state OF Utah.
in whom the state Of Utah has reposed their
both non Mormons well Mormons.
solemny deny those charges. They true
The only thing chargeable some few men in the
state of Utah is that they have deserted the
plural wives they married years ago. previous to the
settlement Of the polygamy question between the
Of the United States and the state of
Utah by which polygsmous plural marriages are
forever prohibited In the state OF Utah. penalty
affixed by constitutional provision, and the whole
made unrepeasble without the OF the United
States and the consent of the people of Utah.
Even continuing the relations formed before this
settlement Of the queston-though their disruption
was neither demanded by the enabling act nor con
empated in the provisions Of the state constitution
but IL has not been regarded necessary 10 good
morals or public policy prosecute people for this
nnense, and neither by the Republican party or by
Democrats has the existence such relations been
considered bar to political preferment until the
political and religious enemies of the present repre-
from Utah thought proper urge them |
against him. But such have been elected TO |
offices OF high honor In the state of Utah others
against whom such charges were made by affidavit |
were appointed 10 federal offices In the state nat
withstandng such objections were urged against |
hem
submit TO you the question whether Il is worth |
while for your representatives in the lower bnnsa
of congress to break down the safeguards which pro-
ect both the rights OF individuals and the rights
of the states. and which menaccs representative
government itself in the states-I ask is il worth
while 10 countenance procedure involving dangers
herein set FORTH in order 10 reach man charged
with misdemeanor under the laws of his own stste
'nd which Is, IN the eye OF the law. an ofense 50
ligh that, under the rights guaranteed 10 him and
his constituents. he could be arrested for 4, |
rhile in attendance upon his duties in congress.
American citizenr. il is Mormon who Is the /
bject OF the popular olamor to-day. Nav i, NOT he
he Catholic. the Methodist or the frea-,bIntnr
o-morruw2 II the rights Of the representotiys frn
Utah and OF his state cannot be safeguarded nv fb
PROVISIONS of the constitution and the laws from tbs
renzy of popular fury set on fire by falsehood ard
distortion. what guarantee have that anyon.,s 4
lights secure? And II is true that this noh
av by indireetion is TO reach within what should
the sacred precincts Of the house repreeutaives
tself? ] shall do all can to maintain NV rights
ind. Indirectly, yours, too under the constitution
stand alone. save for the very few who gave me
heir very guarded support by voting against the
nonstrous proceedings that prevents from takin,
he oath of office. ] am without dollar al nv
except the salary attached 10 my Office
Nth which TO fight the battle pending before
he special committee. am without legal counse,
Except for the kindly suggestions here and there
/ word from lawyer acquaintance or friend and
indeed. prefer II TO be now. for my cause is SO
,rmly rooted in Justice that II needs but a ni.ip
statement OF the facts and fair application of IN.
sw them in order to make my right 10 my srst |
pp1rent. And l want the condition here mentioned
o stand refrtaton Of the sensational charges
hat have been made about the Mormon church stand
ng behind me with any amount OF money for legal |
counsel and the maintenance OF a lobby in Wash. |
ngton.
But it is possible. in the present state of public
entiment, that sophistry and special pleading |
droitly put may be accepted for the law and many
4 your representatives Influenced by the fear they
isre OF your disapproval Of their acts. may vote
gainst what clearly the constitutional rights |
n the