The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1899-12-14
ION. W W. kICHIN ON THE
ROBERTS CASE.

Washington, D. C.-The Roberts
case will be Investigated publicly. 1t
was a. first thought advisable TO try it
ID executive session, but the committee
has decided that the people ought to
nave the facts from day 10 day. OF
course the ultimate verdict inn.. be
Rat OF the voting masses. From a
legal standpoint, the subject is seri-
Gus one. It IS a dangerous Grsce- lent
% establish. Bat, it Is said, the i,.yes-
legation viii develop The fact that
Roberts has FIVE wives instead O! I'll ZEE !
He now occupies seat On the floor.
with his daughter. who acts is his Sec
rotary.
Mr. Kltchin says as regards III. views /:
''Mr. Small and myself both voted
against tn Taylor resolution, and /
suppose we did so fiom tie Same rea-
sons. We thought it dangerous and
Unauthorized precedent. <'f ca,uIs5 we
desplse polyga ny as much as any one,
and Our vote is n no wise an approval
Of It.
''The question was, to state it sin ply,
whether we should presume end de.
clare Roberts disqualified by denying
him membership before investigation
Or should refer the whole matter to the
proper committee for investigation of
The facts and law before passing iudg-
ment upon him. He was the duly
elected representative of the people OF
the sovereign State o: Utah, possessing
the constitutional qualifications, with
duly authenticated credentials. Thus
clothed as were all other members. he
demanded the right to be sworn as a
member. In my Judgment, the only
rlghtful power the other representa-
tives had was to admit him, and then
refer his case to the proper committee
to ascertain the facts upon which ex-
pulsion would depend This was the
course demanded by the great majority
OF the petitions against him. This
was the course demanded by the Rich
ardson resolution, for which voted.
With great respect for the gentlemen
who took, and honestly and conscien-
tlonsly took, a different view of the
matter, tie denia! of membership to
MIN before trial Or investigation seemed
to me in the nature of mob violence,
which under clamor often leads GOOD
men to do that which In cooler mo-
ments they regret.
"The fact that we are against po1yg-
amy did not justify an unusual and to
nv mind an unconstitutional method
OF procedure against him. If such
procedure Is to be approved, the time
may come when other representatives
Tor other causes may be denied admls-
sion. In great crisis majority of
one on assembling day may thus stand
twenty-five mem bers aside and then
having twenty-slx majority with ease
proceed to unseat them one by one, and
Ii the meantime have large working
majority for all their purposes, good or
bad, just or oppressive. You can eas1-
~ see how representative government
may thus become farce. A fair trial
by proper body before judgment
against individuals or States should be
a principle dear to every just m an. On
this principle we dlsapprove of lynch
law, and on it are founded all lust laws.
'sNo, am not afraid of being hurt
by my vote, though my position may
be at first misunderstood. But Ethe
people I represent know me and T
think they are very apt to know the
facts before passing judgment, and I
know they expect me to act consc,en-
tiously upon my best judgment, and in
accordance with my oath, which I
took as a member, upon all questions
as | understand Them