The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-26

cad. Bartlett. Brewer, Broussard of Louis
lana Burleson. Catchings. Chanler, Clay
ton OF Alabama. Cooper Of Texas, De
Almond. De Graffenried. Dinsmore, Elliott.
Fitzgerald Of New York, Gayle, Green OF
pennsylvania Griggs of Georgia, Hay.
Howard. Kitchin. Lester. Lewis, I.ittleheld,
Livingston. Mcclellan. McCulloch. Maddox.
May. Meyer OF Louisiana, Newlands. Rams
dell, Rhea OF Kentucky. Richardson, Rob
bins. Robertson Of Louisiana. Sims. Stay
den, Smith os Kentucky. Snodgrass. Ste
pheDs OF Texas. swanson. Turner, Under
wood. Wheeler of Kentucky. Wilson Of
idaho.
There were over a score OF. speakers to-
day and the closing speeches on each side
were particularly able. Mr.. Lanham. Of
Texas. closed for the majority and Mr. De
Almond, of Missouri. for the minority
RoBERTSS STATEMENT.
Mr. Roberts was present throughout the
day and only left the hall after the result
OF the last vote had been announced. As
he did so ne gave out statement justify
ing his retention of his plural wives on the
ground that his moral obligation was more
binding on his conscience than technical
obedience to statutory law. and saying that
there was little excuse for the extraordi-
nary efforts 10 crush system already
abandoned and practically dead He said
ne was martyr to "spasm of prejudice"
He would not. he said. attempt to run for
Congress again. although he would go
back home with a light heart, confident of
the future His statement, in part, fol-
lows:
Il was elected by the people of Utah
as their representative by the substantial
plurality OF 5.665 votes. An effort was made
BY what / believe TO be an unconstitu-
tional and unprecedented process to ex-
clude me from the House of Representa-
tiyes. In behalf of myself and my constit-
uents. comprising the entire population of
the State OF Utah. | did all / could to
maintain the position to which they had
elected me- but the House OF Representa-
tives. under the whip and spur of popular
sentiment. has decided to exclude me from
the House / have contended for my rights
and the rights of my constituents, single
handed and alone. to the best of my abil-
ity, but have been overwhelmed by force
or numbers.
From authoritative figures officially coll
lected recently by the Mormon Church il
has been ascertained that at the time of
the discontinuance of plural marriages
under the authority of the late President
Moodrun's manifesto. In September. 1890.
mere We're 2,451 polygamous families
throughout the whole Mormon Church.
Since then IL has been ascertained that 9S
or these families have ceased to exist
NJ.
leaving at the present time but 1543 polyg-
amous families in the church throughout
the world, and as most of these are we'll
advanced In years, and all beyond middle
life the system will soon be obliterated
from the EARTH and under these circum-
stances there has been little excuse for the
extraordinary efforts put forth through
out the country to crush system of mar
rage already practically abandoned and
dead.
TO the House of Representatives was no
effort on the part of the Mormon Church
10 revive polygamy or stuff ii down the
throat of the American Congress or peo-
pie. Nothing of the kind was contemplated
IN either his nomination or election. all re-
ports 20 the contrary notwithstanding. The
alleged statement often quoted TO the eff
feet that Brigham Young, on July %. 1915
or st any other time, declared that he
would make the American people swallow
Mormonism, polygamy and ALL and that
the election OF the present member-elect
from Utah was an effort to fulfill that
prediction, Is absolutely untrue. He made
no such utterance, and the recent agitation
respecting Mormonism and its being a
menace to the purity of the American
to-vc. Is ~tte~'y urwarranted by the facts
IN the case. . .
% Tar as this matter is q personal af-
fair may say that whatever happens the
member from Utah can congratulate HIM
self that from obscure birth and the con-
dtions of iron fortune. and in spite of
having espoused an unpopular faith, he
has fought his way upward until he
reached a sufficient prominence to be the
decided choice of the people of a sovereign
State to represent them in the American
House of Representatives. From that sum-
NIT he was hurled down by the House under
a spasm of prejudice arising from misrepre-
sentatfon and falsehood as to conditions
existing In Utah. That action will not ruin
him. Conscious of the rectitude of his own
Intentions, he will face the future undis-
couraged by this incident in his career,
and will weave again his fortunes; he will
face the future with light heart and de-
termination to succeed. No, he will not
stand for reelection as a vindication of
himself even should his people desire IL !;
he will ask that his exclusion shall be per-
mitted to close. for the present, this Incl
dent in Utahs history"