Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-01-26
ROBERTS EXCLUDED.

Brigham II. Roberts made his last
appearance on the floor of the House ss
member elect OF the 58th CoDgress
yesterday afternoon, for at 6:20 o'clock
Speaker Henderson announced the res.
outions submitted by the majority Of
the special committee appointed to con-
slider his case had been carried by vote
Of 268 to so.
The exact language of the resolution
was as follows:
That under the facts and circum-
stances OF the case Brigham H. Roberts,
representative-elect from the State of
Utah, ought not to have or hold seat
in the House of Representatives, and
that the seat to which he was elected is
hereby declared vacant"
The amendment to expel Mr.. ROB-
orts without seating him, offered by
Mr.. Lacey, was ruled out on point OF
order, and the House only voted upon
the resolutions of the majority aud mi
nOrity of the committee. The latter
TO seat and then expel Mr.. Roberts
we're defeated-S1 to 244.
An analysis OF this vote shows that
16S republicans, SO democrats and four
populist voted against it, and II demo-
Gratis, six republicans, two populists and
silver republicans for it. The MAORI
ty resolutiOns-tO exclude Mr.. Roberts
and declare the seat vacant were adopt
I'd by 27S to so. The affirmative vote
vas divided % fullows: Republicans,
164; dea ocrats SO; populists T. And the
negative ote: democrats AZ; silver re-
publicans 2; popullst /.
MIR. Roberts saw which way his case
was going when the vote ON the mi
nOrity resolution was taken, and left
The House at exactly O'Clock. He
bad been defeated, but he still carried
himself with the same self-contained
air which had characterized his appear
ance throughout his struggle to gain
he seat in the House to which had been
elected.
Mr.. DeArmond, of Missouri, made
an eloquent plea for constitutional pre-
cedure and to allow Mr.. Roberts to take
his seat and then expel him. Mr.. Ian.
ham closed the derate aud advocated
the majority demand.
There was no excitement attending
the vote other than some applause on |
the floor and in the galleries, and a.
soon as it was announced, Representa-
i've Payne, the republican fl DOR leader,
moved to adjourn.
Mr.. Roberts issued a statement to |
the public and apparently gives up the |
fight.
In Mr.. Roberts's statement, among
other things, he says:
Notwithstanding all that has been |
said, the people of Utah are not law
lees people. Those of them who have
been involved in the past in the plural
marriage system are not wantOn viola.
tors of the law; but, fading
themselves 10 position where
the law commands them to do |
one thing, and moral obligations,
sacredly entered into under the
sanction of the Mormon Church,
them to do another,
they are placed in very
trying situation; and some few OF
hem, including the member from Utah
may have found it necessary to regard
heir moral obligations as more bind
ng upon their conscience than their
technical obedience to statutory law.
The condition referred to, however, is
rapidly passing away" Mr.. Roberts
here produces figures showing that pc
ygamy is gradually but surely dying
)ut and Gays there has been little ex-
,use for the extraordinary efforts put
orth throughout the country to crush
. system of marriage already practical.
y abandoned and dead. "The election of
he member from Utah to the House of
he says" was no effort
~ the part of the Norman Church to
'evive polygamy, or stuff it down the
hroat of the American Congress or PEG.
BE. Nothing of the kind was contem-
plated 10 either his nomination or cleo
ion, all reports to the contrary notwith-
,snding." He will not stand for re-elec.
ion as q viudicstion of himself, even
hould his people desire it; he will ask .
hat his exclusion shall be permitted to
lose, for the present, this incident in
abs history.
Size doesn't indicate quality. Beware of a