, 1899-12-09
ROBERTS ANSWERED
UTAH DELEGATION OF GEN
TILES AT THE CAPT.
tai.
They Oppose Roberts and Issue a Re-
ply to His Address to the Ameri-
can People'-Reasons Given Why
He Should Not be Given His Seat
Contest Is Bitter.

Washington, btC. o.-Au answer TO
Brigham H. Roberts Address to the
American People" was issued today by
a delegation representing the Gentle
element in Utah who are here to op-
pose Roberts. The answer denies that
the precedent made by his (Roberts')
exclusion was both new and danger
ous,' and says: Whenever a prima
fscie case is made against a members
citizenship, showing hat under con-
viction for felony against the laws of
the United States he is disfranchised,
and, further, that by reason of his pres
ent maintenance of the status of a
polygamist he is again suffering from
civil disability under the Edmunds
anti-polygamy act, such member re-
fusing even to deny the charge, should
be excluded"
Referring to Roberts claim that
whatever were his civil disabilities be-
fore statehood, they were removed by
the adoption of the state constitution,
the statement says:
IF at the time the passage of the
enabling act, Roberts was, as he seems
in his appeal to admit, DISTINGUISHED
by act Of congress, and therefore not a
full citizen of the United States, as by
the constitution he must be, TO be a
congressman, then he is still in the
same condition, because the constitu-
ton of Utah could not restore him to
federal citizenship, and this enabling
act did not do it.
Mr.. Roberts says he has not been con
victed since statehood. 1t does not
follow that he is innocent. He is now
a fugitive from justice in Salt Lake
county on the charge Of unlawful CO.
~habitation, and in Davis county, Utah,
where resides one of his polygamous
wives, with her illigitimate twins, born
Aug. II, 1897, the charge Of adultery
felony under the laws Of Utah) has
been for two months pigeonholed by
the Mormon prosecuting attorney.
Many sentimental people are being
misled by Roberts very ingenious sug-
gestions, from which some people infer
he took his polygamous wives when it
was lawful to do 30. This is a mistake.
Adultery was a crime when Roberts
was born, and at the time of the pas
age of the Cullom anti-polygamy act,
Roberts was only 6 years old. His plea
for sympathy, therefore, amounts only
to this. that he should be allowed to
continue the criminal practices, not
withstanding he took polygamous
wives in defiance of law. We demand
that he should support his families, but
also demand that he shall cease beget-
ting further Legitimate offspring, and
this is our only bone of contention, the
only thing demanded which he refuses
to yield. In this matter We disclaim
any desire to have him declared ineli-
gible because he is a Mormon, but
solely because he is violating and defy
ing the laws Of our state. Of the United
States, and common decency.
Ex-Congressman w. H. King was
and is a Mormon, and no claim Of incl
igibility was ever made against him.
We point to this fact as showing that
we oppose Roberts not upon the ground
Of any religious opinions entertained
by him, but because of his criminal
practice. Neither is this a matter Of
religious or political persecution or
prejudice. The undersigned include
men of different churches and men who
belong to no church, those who are
republicans and those who are LEM
ocrats."
The statement concludes with a spe-
cifc charge Of violation OF the compact
between Utah and the other states, as
49, -,L1lN aota