Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-02-06
A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.


The New orleans states Of January
3lst has this to say Of the exclusion OF
Hon. b. II. Roberts from Congress:
There are very few people in this
country who sympathize With Roberts,
the Mormon representative from Utah,
who was recently expelled from the
lower house OF Congress on the charge
OF polygamy. but a majority of thinking
Americans object TO the manner In
which he was expelled, because Il es-
tablished dangerous precedent. Ii was
argued with much force by the minority
of the committee on privileges and cleo
tons that Roberts should have been
sworn In as member OF the House on
the credentials ne held from the Cover
nor Of Utah. and then tried on the
charge Of having more than one wife.
Roberts. however, was not permitted TO
take the oath, because, first Of all he
was a Democrat, and an opportunity
was offered to reduce the Democratic
membership OF the House Following
the precedent, which has been estab-
lished in the Roberts case some future
House no doubt will exclude a member
elect for some alleged crime, or for that
matter a half dozen members-elect, and
In this way Increase the majority In the
House OF one political party or the
other. In this lies the danger OF the
action OF the Republican majority in
the case of Roberts, and II could have
been avoided by swearing him In and
then expellng him after a fair trial on
the charge preferred against him. Con-
gresham Littleheld. OF Maine. the only
Republican who Joined the Democrats
In their minority report. declared in the
very able speech he made In supporting
the report, that the organization and
control Of the House some OF these days
may be stolen away from the rightful
side by using the precedent In the Rob-
eras case"
The same paper quotes this from the
Chicago Journal.
But nobody who mas watched the
case can greatly Jubilate over the re-
suit, or the manner In which II WAS
reached. 1t Is safe TO say that the ma
jority OF those who voted 10 exclude
Roberts did so not on the facts and the
law. but because they We're stampeded
into Il by pettcoated constituencies
shrieking lot of'nysterics about the
threatened sanctity OF the American
home-a thing that has not been threat
ened and never was in danger. fair
sample of anti Roberts argument was
furnished by Congressman Lanham, OF
Texas. who closed the debate for the
majority report with this thrilling per-
iod:
"In behalf OF the affairs and firesldes
OF our common land-the roof trees OF
American homes-the holy estate OF
matrlmopy. and the sacred and inviola-
BILE associations Of the family circle,
with a solemn regard for the Consutu-
tion OF my country and the dignity OF
the popular branch Of It's legislature,
with a decent respect to the opinions OF
mankind and the fear OF God before my
ewes. | declare my belief that Brigham
II. Roberts ought not, for one instant OF
time. 10 be admitted 20 membership in
the House Of Representatives.
GLOW is that for fine language? Bev-
eridge couldn't have done better him
self Indeed, II will be relief TO get
rid of a question that calls for the use
Of such argument as that in the Con-
gress OF the United States, and, above
ain Il will be relief for the represen-
tatiye OF the pettlcoated constituencies
10 be rid OF the quiet, digniiied, and
f,iendless man whose presence those
Who were batting him with such high
flown rhetoric must have felt was some
what a reproach TO them
"Tt is well that Roberts has been ex-
c,uded. II would also be well II the
country could forget the motives and
the methods by which his exclusion was
accomplished.