Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-20
AS TO ROBERTS.

There are so many comments adverse
to the action Of the House in the Rob-
erts case, that We have not space for
a 1.-THE Of them. We append here an
editorial from the New York Post. and
letter to the Denver Post, which touch
the same matter from different stand
points and are samples Of others 10 the
same effect:
The New York Evening Post re-
marks:
1T is already evident that the more
sensible and candid among those men,
bers Of the House who refused 90 let
Representative Roberts of Utah take the
oath on Tuesday regret that they were
swept off their feet by the wave OF pop
ular clamor. The pleas which were made
for this hasty and revolutionary action
do not stand examination, while the ar
guments In favor OF following both the
presidents and the obvious dictates OF
justice, by admitting Roberts and then
expelling him II a fair investigation
should warrant the step, grow stronger
the more carefully they are examined.
The situation Is made the worse BY the
fact that the investigation which has
been ordered Is 10 be made by packed
committee. II is always the custom in
a legislative body, az II Is the obvious
dictate Of justice, that the minority
should be allowed representation on eve-
~ committee. Nearly sixty members
voted with Mr. Richardson Of Tennessee,
the Democratic leader, TO let Roberts
take his seat and refer the charges
against him TO the judiciary committee
for Investigation, but not one OF these
men was given place on the special
committee which was finally ordered.
This unfairness on the part OF Speaker
Henderson Is only another Illustration Of
the way in which one false step leads to
another In legislative body as in every
other relation of life.
"A great deal has been said In the talk
concerning this case about the necessity
OF preserving the sanctity of the Anne
rican home" the lOudest voices raised
being those Of editors who have done
most TO demorallze family life by their
newspapers. The truth Is that the safe
" OF the home, as Of everything else
worth preserving, depends upon the
maintenance Of justice. Every sensible
person appreciates this when IL Is
case OF lynch law by a mob, like the
shocking one at Maysville KY, last
week II Is equally true when the
principles Of lynch law are accepted BY
Congress as happened in the House on
Tuesday. The personality Of Roberts
has no more to do with the issue In
volyed In this case than had that Of
Jay Gould years ago. when he repre-
sented the maintenance OF the rightsfof
property In this city. Investigation may
show that the claimant Of a seat from
Utah is an odi0us wretch. who ought
20 he expelled by the House, but to re-
fuse him admission on mere allegations
Of his badness. when he meets all the
requirements OF the Constitution and
the laws for the swearing In Of a Rep
tesentative-elect, is an outrage. The
homes OF Maysyille would be more sac
red TODAY IL the people had allowed the
law to take its course In the case OF
the negro criminal whom the mob
burned and tortured 10 death. In like
manner. "the sanctity OF the American
home" would have been better main.
taIned lt Congressman had visited upon
Roberts the punishment which he prob
ably deserves. by expelllng him In an
orderly and impressive manner than
by violating the principles of justice
and offending the sense Of fair play"