The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-24
Dramatic Appeal by the Mormon I'm
Behalf of Recognition of Himself
as n Member OF the House.
NEW ORATOR FROM MAINE
SPEECH BY MR.. LITTLEFIELD IN FA.
voR OF MINORITY REPORT.
Mr.. TayIer Speaks for Majority-Rep-
erts To-Day-Compromise Possible.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.--The House be-
gan this afternoon consideration of the
Roberts case as II is set out in the majority
and minority reports OF the special COM
mittee appointed at the beginning OF the
session to investigate IL after the House
had denied him the right TO be sworn in
and take his seat on his prima facie case.
Mr.. Tayler, of Ohio. chairman Of the spe-
cial committee, who made the original OBJ
lection to his being permitted to take the
oath Of Office. and who prepared the ma
jority report excluding him from the House
altogether in spite of the fact that he had
been duly elected and possessed the aualid-
cations required by the Constitution. led on
the debate In a new two hours speech In
support of the resolution of exclusion re-
ported by him on behalf Of the majority OF
the committee. He was followed by Mr..
Littlefield. of Maine, successor OF the late
Nelson Dingley, in two hours speech In
support of the minority report OF the COM
mittee that Roberts be seated and then ex-
PEELED If the House regards him as fit
subject for that drastic course. He in turn
was followed by Mr.. Roberts himself in a
speech Of an hour and a half in his own
behalf. Mr.. Roberts is to have a like time
later in the debate If he desires IT, The
debate will continue until z:so zoclock on
Thursday afternoon next, when the House
will proceed to vote on the case.
The galleries were packed to suffocation,
chiefly with women. and the spectators.
after listening attentively to the arguments
of Mr.. Tayler and Mr.. Littlefield. remained
long after nightfall to hear the impassioned
words of the accused as he faced the
House. like an animal at bay. knowing that
every hand was raised against him. Mr..
Roberts was very adroit in the handling OF
his case and at times exceedingly dramatic.
Taking advantage of the issue raised by the
division in the committee to the method
OF ousting him, he appropriated TO himself
the argument of the minority that he was
constitutionally entitled to be sworn In and
the argument of the majority that, once
sworn in. he could not be expelled. He de-
Tended the action of the Mormons IN fight
ing the authority OF the United States for
years. because, he said. they believed that
sentiment would change and dramatically
stated that in these days he had rather
have his flesh hewn from his bones than to
have renounced his religious tenets. He
concluded with an eloquent peroration In
which he said he had never been conscious
of shameful act, and II he was sent forth
he would go with head erect and undaunted
brow Strange to say. most OF the applause
he won was from women. But while they
appeared to be his only partisans other
women manifested their bitter hostility by
Roberts, daughter OF Mr.. Roberts, was in
the reserve gallery throughout the debate.
One of the features of the debate to-day
was the speech Of Mr.. Littlefeld. 1t re-
vealed that Maine had sent another able
man to represent her in the House, where
she has been ably represented for a time
the memory Of man runneth not TO the con-
trary. He Is a worthy successor OF Blaine.
of Frye. of Reed. Of Dingiey. His speech
was a close compact OF well-knit legal ar
gument lit up by flashes of biting wit ana
humor, with an occasional passage In which
he rose to the height OF eloquence, as when
he apostrophized the fraternity that now
exists between the North and the South
succeeding the estrangement which led up
to and followed the great war In which the
doctrine Of secession was strangled in the
blood OF half a million OF the bravest OF
North and South. and again when he
quoted from the report OF Speaker Hender-
son. made in the last Congress. as chair
man of the judiciary committee charged
with examining into the right OF General
Wheeler and others to hold their seats In
the House and commissions In the army.
the following words: "No mere patriotic
sentiment should be permitted TO override
the plain language OF the fundamental
law" and declared that they should be in
scribed with a graver of steel upon eternal
rock for the guidance OF American statesmen
| for all time There was no rant. no fustian
about Littlefield's speech. 1t was logical.
clean-cut legal argument. yet so plain in
its statements so simple in it's language as
| TO hold the attention OF the iaymen as well
as of the lawyer He spoke like a lawyer
in court. not like a spellbinder on the
stump appealing 10 reason, not prejudice.
| and pleading for law and order not for the
execution of the will OF a mob.
Representative Landis a member OF the
| special committee. has been assigned 10 the
task OF replying particularly 10 Roberts.
| Mr.. Lands will consequently take the floor
| Immediately after the reading OF the
| journal tomorrow. He Is cogent and
convincing speaker, possessed OF wit and
| humor and eloquence. The occasion Is one
| to stir him TO the best efforts OF which he
is capable. and that is very good. indeed.
| IL is predicted tonight by many men,
bers that the majority resolutions for ex-
clusion cannot now carry. Mr.. Lacey. OF
Iowa. has a proposition which he WIN sub
] nit TO expel Mr.. Roberts by a two-thirds
vote without seating him. which VIII have