The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-25
Greatly Strengthened the Position
Of the Majority.
scathing Decentralization Of the Utah
Leaders, who Made Pledges That
They Would Abandon Polygamy
to Procure the Admission Of the
state Into the Union and Almost
to q Man Have FIagrantly vio-
lated Their solemn Pledges
and Are Living in Open De-
nance Of the Laws OF Their state.

WASHINGTON, Jan. a. - The second
days debate in the house upon the Rob-
erts case was less dramatic than that Of
yesterday. The galleries were almost rs
crowded, but the ladies' were less demon
strative. The presidents pastor. Rev. DR..
Bristol, was in the executive gallery the
greater portion of the afternoon listening
to the arguments Mr. Roberts was not
present during the day. Had he been. he
would have heard the most scathing ex-
criation Of the Mormons ever delivered
upon the floor of the house.
Landis Wins New Laurels.
Lands Of Indiana, the young orator who
distinguished himself the last congress In
an oratorical duel with johnson Of his
state. won new laurels today. He charged
that Utah had been admitted to tho Union
as result of q Mormon conspiracy. and
reviewed the history of the apostles of
the church. whom he charged with living
in open and nagrant violation Of the
statute against polygamy, to show that
they had basely broken their solemn
pledge to the government. The other
speakers today were Messrs. Powers Of
Vermont and Meters OF Indiana, for the
majority resolution; Messrs Snodgrass of
Tennessee and Wilson Of Idaho for the
minority resolutions: Lacey Of Iowa for
his proposition to expel without swearing
in, and Crumpacker Of Indiana for ex-
clusion by two-thirds majority. The
speeches today greatly strengthened the
majority resolution, which seemed in dam
ger of falling after Littleheld's speech
yesterday, and Chairman Tayler was con-
fident today that they would be adopted
when the house votes tomorrow after
noon.
Debate Resumed EARLY.
The house resumed the debate on the
Roberts case at IL o'clock today The gal
leries were again well filled. most Of the
occupants. as on yesterday, being ladies.
Some minor business preceded the re-
sumption of the debate. The senate bill
to grant American register TO the steam
whaler. Bowhead was passed.
Powers Speaks of Exclusion.
Powers was the first speaker. He ar
gued in behalf of the exclusion OF Rob-
erts. The contention of the minority for
expulsion, he said. ran up against the
very precedents cited in its support. 1t
was the universal rule that a member
could not be expelled for an offcnse COM
mitted prior to election. While 1t might
be argued in Roberts case that polygamy
was continuing status. the crime itself,
the initial act, took place long before MIR.
Roberts was elected.
I'VE are not separating wife from hus-
band" said Powers. commenting on Rob-
erts' speech of yesterday: 'Polygamy has
never been legal In Utah either before
or after her admission into the Union.
Polygamy was illegal under the common
law of England. The moment he took
wife No. . the marriage was void. Rob-
erts knew the law. He cannot now plead
the baby act against the law and stern
justice"
SnOdgrass for the Minority.
Snodgrass followed Powers. supporting
the views OF the minority in favor Of
seating and then expelling Roberts. II
we were not to become the exponents OF
the French system of justice. which pre-
sumed guilt until innocence was proven.i'
he said, Roberts must be accorded his
prima facie right to his seat before be-
ing ousted
Landis' Powerful ArHumena.
Landis, member of the Roberts COM
mittee. who signed the majority report,
argued that Utah had violated her COM
pact with the United States. There had
been universal rejoicing In the land In
1896, he said, when Utah had been admit
ted into the Union. The people Of the
United States thought the birth of the
state worked the death of the system OF
polygamy. yet they were startled to learn
in 1898 that Utah had elected as her sole
representative in the house a polygamist,
and that he was moving upon Washing
ton with plurality of wives and a multi
plicity of children. u.aughter.)
Utah's Compact Violated.
He contended that Mr.. Roberts was not
entitled to admission because he had vio-
lated Utah's compact with the United
States.
Lands resented as unworthy Of belief
the charge made, he said, by Senator
Rawlips that the president had appoint
ed notorious polygamists to office The
senator might as well accuse the house
of indorsing polygamy. since 1t had pass
ed bill appropriating $4,000 for the sgri-
cultural college at Logan, Utah.
Poiygemists In Logan.
'"The president of that college," he said,
'is polygamist. living In open and mo-
torious polygamy with three wives. One
of his leading professors Is a polygamlst,
living with two wives. The trustee Is a
polygamist. living In open and notorious
pclykamy with seven wives (laughter1.