The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-23
ROBERTS OF UTAH.

take his seat in the 56th congress with
thoughtful people throughout the I'm
ion to prevent it. His impudent de-
Tense of his right to live with three
wives has aroused a national outcry.
Everywhere, right-minded men and
women are talking about it and are
endeavoring to influence public senti-
ment, so that congress may refuse Rob
erts participation in its counsels.
Special Importance attaches to this
movement, because it is asserted that
| the election of Roberts is the first step
in a carefully-pl planned campaign under
| taken by the Mormon church to secure
the establishment of legalized po-
lygamy. Since Utah was admitted to
statehood, Mormon influence has been
spreading rapidly through Nevada,
Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado
and Wyoming, and even reaching into
the eastern states; it's missionaries
have grown more numerous, it's prose-
| lyting more aes,..cns. The election of
Roberts to congress is cited as it's most
signal triumph thus far.
The question is curiously involved,
yet one upon which it is particularly
desirable to obtain just and non partf-
san views. OF unreasoning wrath and
impatient disgust, the rest of the coun-
| try, especially the east, should beware.
| On the other hand, the acceptance of
| this polygamist will give the lie to one
OF the dearest and most essential prin-
ciples of Christianity-a principle for
which the finer instincts of the human
| race have been doing battle ever since
mankind emerged from the dim shad-
ows of the animal state.
There are two grounds upon either of
which it might be possible to un-
seat Roberts. According to C. O.
Whittemore, United States district at
torney for the state of Utah. Roberts
| polygamy makes him ineligible to cleo
ton to congress. The Edmunds law
declared the penalty of conviction OF
| polygamy forfeiture of civil rights.
Not only could no polygamous mar
rlages be contracted in the future. hui
polygamous marriages already exist
ing We're to be dissolved. If it is true
that under this law Roberts was indict.
ed for polygamy in 1889, and that hav-
ing disappeared, he was rearrested IN
1891, pleaded guilty, was sentenced tc
Imprisonment for four months, and
served his time, then it follows that he
can neither vote nor hold office, ano
hence his election to congress is il.
legal.
On the other hand, Senator Edmunds
is quoted as saying that he knew of nj
way to prevent Roberts from taking
his seat. After he has been sworn in
however, the House may, by a two,
thirds vote, expel him if it sees fit
The probability of securing such {
vote however, would seem rather slim
when we reflect that Col w. C. p
Breckenridge was allowed to retain hi.
seat after his scandalous trial
The ground of moral sentiment offer.
an alternative to the legal position. A
movement is on foot to crystalize tn,
endeavors of earnest people all owe
the country into an organized protest
} based on just these considerations
and a national organization is to b,
formed for that purpose.
} Aaron M. Powell, president of tn,
/. American Purity Alliance; Rev. JOSIAH
Strong, D. D.. president of the Leagu,
, for Social Science; Rev. b. F. D,
: Costa, d. D., president of the White
, Cross Society; Rev. r. S. Macarthur
pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, New
/, York; Mrs. Isabella Charles Davis
) corresponding secretary of the interna.
tional order OF Kings Daughters anC
Sons; Mary McElroy, member of the
! New York state executive COMMITTEES
Of the international committee of the
? Y. W. c. A., and Rev Duncan ]. Nc.
MILAN, d. D., corresponding secretary
Of the Presbyterian Board Of HON,
Missions, compose the organization
committee. The, committee has in view
the constitution Of a national anti.
poygamy league, to prevent the seat.
ing OF Roberts in the seth congress
and to secure the enactment of a con,
sttutional amendment making a poly.
gamist ineligible to public office. As
q means to one or both ends, it con.
templates the presentation to con.
gress of a petition signed by million
or more men and women, asking thai
Roberts be denied admission to mem.
bership.