Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-01

Now. you know, I'm a woman. which is
to say. emotional and impressionable, and
I'll admit the devotion of his daughter and
his appreciation of it caused the celebrated
Mr.. Roberts to quite lose his dreadful ideIl-
tty in my sight. As a father he is emil
Hently 10 be trusted and much to be ad-
mired.
In the character Of the representative
elect from Utah. whom the women Of the
United States propose uH~eatng by brush
ing aside all technical defense" and taking
a stand on the broad principles at stake, ;"
Mr.. Roberts impresses me as man some
what to be feared-rather outside all caIcU-
latiOns that have yet been made about him.
He seems to possess a certain immopity of
purpose that looks at you out of his clear.
steady blue eyes that inspires you. eau
ton appearing in the firm lines of his
Square-cut, clean-fieshed jaw. and, above
all, that addresses you in the rare pOise Of
the whole man, the impressive quiet Of his
voice and telling moderation of his lam
gIage. The keynote of his character Is
self-COntrol. He knows Mr. Roberts per
fectly, believes in him implicitly and in am;
event directs the destiny of Mr.. Roberts
without reference to contrary opinion II
storms of opposition. He will fight to de-
fend his principles and his position. ] think
Ire Will give US very interesting chapter
of the coming Congress.
Legality of His Election
Mr. Roberts has told me that he means
to fight.
But the programs not to let you have
the chance" l answered; you are not TO
be permitted TO take the oath of office"
Il do not believe that proposed measure
viii be put in effect" said Mr.. Roberts. Il
think the very eTniuence of the counsel en-
gagged by the opposition against me is as
SGrance to the contrary Of that. In any
event, however, | am regularly, properly.
lawfully elected to Congress. and being 50
elected, if my constitutional right to serve
my constituents is violated by any arbi-
trary action in the House of Representa-
tiVes, inspired by hysterical women, l am
sure Justice Is not so herpecked in the
courts of the United States but I'll find
M ans of having my rights restored
Concerning tho legality Of my position,
there can be but one opinion. The constitu-
ton of the state of Utah requires that
pOlygamOus or plural marriages shall be
prohibited for the future. This retains part
of the territorial act which further defined
and punished continuous living in polyga-
nous relation. Now, this provision of the
territorial act defining and Furnishing con-
tnuous living in polygamOus relation was
omitted from the constitution Of Utah not
by the act of the Mormon Church or of Il
MOrmOn but by a Gentle, formerly United
States prosecuting attorney of the territory.
Doubt existed in many minds, including my
own, whether the omission was made on
the understanding that the law which was
retained and embraced in the constitution
was deemed to apply to continuous pOlyga-
NOUS relation The question was put in
the constitutional convention of which
was member. and the official records Of
that body contain the assurance given that
ii was not to be so understood. Later, I'M
der the statute law Of Utah, polygamy-thc
act Of entering upon plural MARRIAGES. de-
fined a felony. while 'pOlyEamOus relations
continuing from marriages performed prior
to the present law are describe as unlaw-
full cOhabitatiOn, punishable as a misde-
meanOr. | have not sought to enter into
polygamOuS marriage since it was pro-
hibited by law, and if misdemeanor were
proved against me, II could in nOwise
qualify my right to the office to which |
have been duly elected