The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-05
| The two Republicans and Mr.. Roberts


of the hall. There he established himself
Mr.. Gardner CRep., N. J) then an
nounced the death of Vice President Ho-
: bart in fitting words, referring briefly to
| his. brilliant and useful career and the
profound grief with which the nation had
| received the news that he had passed
av ay. Later he said he would ask the
house to set aside day to pay approprl-
ate tribute to his memory.
OPENING PROCEEDINGS.
AS the minute hand of the clock, op-
posite the speakers rostrum, overlook
| the hour hand at noon, the gavel of the
| clerk of the last house, Maj. Mcdowell,
| descended with q bang. The 1ndescrlD-
| able buzz ceased The members arose
| and the spectators in the galleries bowed
| their heads. In this stiffness the voice OF
the blind chaplain, Rev. Henry Couden'
| Of Michigan, was elevated and his prayer
| made the occasion reVerent.
After the invocation, the reading clerk
| began calling the roll and minute later
| the buzz had recommended, making
| noisy background for the staccato notes
of the clerk, as he called out the names.
Mr.. Roberts sat listening intently for his
name, and when 1t was called he respond
ed, Here" in a loud voice. But he look
ed nervous and Ill at ease. There were
no demonstrations during the roll call.
| When 1t was concluded, Clerk Mcdowell
announced that S52 members had answer
| ed to their names, a quorum.
1.-The next thing in order" announced
! the clerk, 'is the election of speaker"
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa, offered reso-
! luton which vas adopted viva voce, pro-
vlding that the house proceed to the cleo
| tion of speaker for the Fifty-sixth
| congress. Thereupon, Mr.. Grosvenor, OF
Ohio, as chairman of the Republican eau
| Gus, presented the name of David B.
| Henderson, of Iowa
The mention Of the name of Gen. Hen
derson was greeted with a round of ap-
| plause from the Republican side
Mr.. Hay, of Virginia, chairman of the
Democratic caucus, nominated James D.
Richardson, of Tennessee, and mis- name
drew the plaudits of the Democratic side.
Mr.. Ridgely, Of Kansas, nominated John
| c. Bell, Of Colorado, as the Populist can
Ooate, and Mr.. Wilson, of Idaho, placed
! Francis G. Newlands, of Nevada in nom
ination as the candidate of the silver
| party.
Each party having put forward It's can
| didates. by the direction Of Clerk Nc
| Doweil the roll was called, and each mem
| Der voted for the candidate of his politi-
| cal aff1liation. Mr. Morris. of Mime
sota Mr. Overstreet, of Indiana, and Mr..
Carmack, of Tennessee, were appointed
tellers.
Mr. Newlands, himself candidate,
~
resulted: Henderson, III; Richardson. 153.
BeL' g. and Newlands, 2. The clerk there-
upon announced the election OF Mr. Hen
uerson, amid great Republican applAnsa
lie designated Mr. Richardson, Mr., New
Iahds and Mr.. Bell as a committee TO es
cort the speaker to the chair.
OBJECTION TO ROBERTS.
When the name of Brigham H. Rob
Is vas reached In the house roll call,
| tne Otah member-elect proceeded alone
20 the area In front of the speakers
uesh' ana awaited the administration of
! the oath. AT the same time Representa-
tive Taylor, of Ohio, secured recognftion
ana amidst breathess interest protested
against the swearing in of Roberts on
the ground OF his being a polygamist, and
! not a properly naturalized American ctt
/ zen. MT: Taylor spoke calmly and dis
! passionately. Mr.. Roberts stood gazing
/ intently at him, and did not move q mis-
Gle through the protest. Mr. TavIor
! said: IVA
y do so, Mr.. Speaker, on nv. responsi-
| blllty as member of the house and he
! cause specific, serious and apparently
"ell grounded charges of ineligibility are
mace against him. The transcript of
the proceedings of the court in Utah evi.
dences the fact that the claimant was in
1883 convicted, or that he pleaded guilty
or the crime of unlawful cohabitation
AIndaVlts and other papers In my pos
session indicate that ever since he has
been persistently guilty of the same
crime and that ever since then he has
been and Is now a polygamist If this
transcript and these affidavits and pa
pers tell the truth the member-elect from
Utah Is IN my judgment ineligible to be
member of this house Of ?-epresenta-
tives, both because of the statutory dis
qualification of the Edmunds law and
for higher and graver and quite as sound
reasons. 1 ought also to saw. in addi-
ton to what 1 have just said, I have
In my possession a certified copy of the
! entry under which the claimant to this
! seat was naturalized, and that eminent
| counsel assert that if this be the record
| In the case this claimant Is not a citizen
| of the United States. I offer and ex-
press no opinion on that proposition
| Mr.. Speaker, If 1t was possible to
| emphasize the gravity of these charges
! and the responsibility that is at this mo-
ment imposed upon this house. We will
! find that emphasis in the memorials. but
small part of which could be physically
cared for In this hall, but all of which
1 now present to this house, from over
100000 American men and women, pro-
testing against the entrance of the rep
|. resentative-elect from Utah"
|. Mr.. McRae, of Arkansas, followed by a
I, protest from the Democratic side saving
4! this issue was one involving the sacred
| ness of the American home a sentiment
| that brought an outburst of applause.
! Speaker Henderson then addressed Rob-
erts, saying:
"Will the gentleman stand aside until
the roll call is completely"
Mr.. Roberts assented with the state
ment that in so doing, he waived none
of his rights.
II can assure the gentleman an
| swered the speaker, that he valves none
! of his rights
Mr.. Roberts resumed his seat and the
! roll call proceeded.
The usual resolutions to inform the SEN
ate ;tnd the president that the house was
organized were adopted A committee,
! consisting of Messrs. Payne, of New
| York; Cannon, Of Illinois, and Mr. Rich
! ardson, Of Tennessee, were appointed to
| wait upon the president with a similar
| committee from the senate.
In accordance with the time -honored
! custom, the oldest member of the house
in point Of service, Mr.. Harmer, of PENN
| sylvania, administered the oath to the
speaker. The speaker then announced
that the oath would be administered TO
the members by states. AS the names OF
the members were called, they appeared
| at the bar in groups of about a dozen. and
with raised hands. We're sworn in bv the
| speaker.
SENATE'S BRIEF SESSION.