The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-01-06
ROBERTS INVESTIGATION

ANN8'A4NA
The Polygamist Pleads his Own Case
and DsaisS ANY One TO Prove That
he Contracted Three POlygamous
Marriages.
WASHINGTON. Jan. t.--The Roherta
investigating committee continued ito
session to-day. Miss Roberta the
daughter OF the Utah member, cat near
him.
Chairman Tayler, tohio). stated sA
the outset that no had received from
ex-secretary John G. Carlisle a letter
giving his views on the case. Mr.. carr
Isle said he was suffering from cold
and was unable to make an oral states
ment at this time.
1t was determined by the committees
to ask Mr.. Carlisle for his vieWs more
at length on the general right OF Cons
gress to exclude member.
Mr.. Roberts then began his argue
ment. Mr.. Roberts read type-written
statement, reviewing In detail the pros
ceedings Of his case up TO date. It saia
In part;
''The questions to be considered are
the prlna faele and anal right Of B. H
Roberts. representatlve-elect from
Utah, to seat in the house Of repres
sentatives, to which he was elected in
the month Of November, 1898, by the
people Of Utah; the electorate Of said
state gave him plurality vote OF 6,esb.
It is q case in which there is no con-
test, and where 1t appears, 50 far as the
proceedings before the committee 10
concerned, the representatlve-elect pos
sesses all OF the qualifications pre-
scribed by the constitution of the
United States, applicable to the case
which dlsquallfes the representative
elect from Utah for the ONCE OF con-
gresham in the lower house OF the
American Congress"
Mr.. Roberts dWeit with special em-
phasis on the right Of a constituency 70
determine upon the moral capacity Of a
member. at is left to these constltu-
ents to determine he said, what shall
be the moral status OF the man they
wish to send to Congress as their rep
resentative, and not TO the houses Of
Congress-"
In support OF this he read with em-
phatIc and approving comment a eOn-
gressIonal report signed by B. F. Butt
Ter, Daniel w. Voorhees, and others. ia
the course OF which It is said that the
house OF representatives shall be COM
posed OF members chosen by the people
of the states and not by the represen~
tatIves OF other states. according TO
the notion OF the necessities Of self
preservation and self publication,
which might suggest themselves to the
reason or caprice of members from
other states, in any process Of 'purga-
tion or publication.
He analysed the evidence OF other
witnesses and In general questioned tho
directness and eonclualveness Of the
testimony.
TT has not even been estabiiahed."
he said, that B. H. Roberts was ever
married to Margaret c. shipp Roberts"
How do you account for your pic-
ture being found in her house?" tn-
quired Chairman Taylor.
II don't know how to account for It,
answered Roberts.
In the main the evidence was rs to
general repute. he contended. which
was short OF that conclusive proof re-
qulred. He challenged the charge that
he had contracted three polygamous
marriages.
Mr.. Tayler said he had never heard OF
such charge, as three polygamous
marriages would mean four marriages
in all.
81 challenge this" said Mr.. Roberts,
because It is one Of the charges on
which excitement has been worked up"
Mr.. Roberts declared that Utah, one
OF the great silver producing states,
had been denied representation Of late,
while the important financial bill. vital
ly involving Utah's silver mining and
silver Industry, was considered and
passed.
Mr.. Roberts vehemently exclaimed
against those who had "hounded' him,
They were not the bankers, merchants
lawyers and other substantial citizens
OF Utah, but they were In the main mis-
sIonaries, who had gone 70 Utah to op-
pose MormOnlsm.
AT one point, Representative MeRher-
son, OF the committee, asked: Under
YOUR faith, wns the taking OF plural
wives merely allowable or was It re-
QuIred7"
III was mandatory" replied Mt Rob
crts." according to the view OF leading
Mormon authorities"