The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-24
WOMEN APPLA0DED ROBERTS.
STRONG PRESENTATION OF HIS
CASE WAS MADE.


Washington, Jan. 23.-The opening de-
bate in the Roberts case brought enor-
nous crowds 10 the House to-day Fully
three-fourths of the spectators were wo-
men.
1t was an oratorcal field day, and the
crowds remained Ions after nightfaH to
hear the impassioned words of the accus-
ed as he faced The House, like an animal
at bay, knowing that every hand was rails
ed against him.
Mr.. Roberts was very adroit in the han
ding of his case, and at times exceeding
ly dramatic. Taking advantage of the is
sue raised by the division of the commit
tee as 10 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 defended the
action of the Mormons in fighting the au-
thority of the United States for years, be
cause, he said they believed that senti-
ment would change.
He concluded with an eloquet peroration,
IN which he said he had never been con-
scious of a shameful act and if he was
sent forth he would go with head erect and
undaunted brow. Strange to say most of
the applause he won was from the wo-
men. But while they appeared to be his
only partisans, other women manifested
their bitter hostility by kissing him at
every opportunity.
The speech for the minority by Mr.. Lit
tlefeld who succeeds the late MIR. Ding
ley, was masterfal and stamps. him as one
of the coming men in the House The
manner in which he tore some of the argu-
ments of the majority into shreds jumped
him into the front ranks of debaters in
the House. The speech made a deep i'm
preston. In fact il is predicted tonight
by many members that the majority reso-
luton for expulsion cannot now carry.
Mr.. Lacey of Iowa has a proposition
which he will submit to expel Mr.. Roberts
by a two-thirds vote Without seating him,
which will have supporters, and this may
lead to a compromise proposition.
Roberts Daughter There.
Miss Roberts, daughter of Mr.. Roberts,
was in the reserved gallery throughout the
debate to-day The debate win close next
Thursday az 4:30.
Mr. Roberts was seated on the extreme
right of the hall, and every neck was
craned to view him.
Nearly every member was in his seat
when Mr.. Tayler of Ohio, chairman of the
special committee which investigated the
case, arose from behind a desk stacked
high with legal authorities and manuscript
and called up the case Mr.. Tayler is
young man, slight and pallid but with
energy and alertness stamped upon every
feature of his countenance. He spoke
clearly and earnestly. He asked that the
,sCv
minority of the committee for a vote ON
the case a 4:30 p. m. on Thursday be rati-
fed by the House.
Mr. Lacey of Iowa objected unless il be
understood that a substitute resolution
which he desired 10 offer should also be
considered pending. To this Mr.. Tayler
objected He also objected to having MIR.
Laceys proposition read although appeal
ed to by Mr.. Bailey of Texas and Mr..
Richardson of Tennessee.
This proposition, as il subsequently, de-
veloped, was for the expulsion of MIR. Rob
erts without swearing him. The majority
resolutions to exclude him, and the mi
nority resolutions TO permit him to be
sworn in and then expelled, were laid be-
fore the House, and without any agree
ment as to vote, Mr. Tayler opened in
support of the majority resolutions.
A Question of LAW.
T.
sents in bold relief a question of govern
mental life the basis of which is the law.
He said that though opinions might DIFF
fer as to the unwisdom of certain laws,
the people cannot stand for defiance of
law, and how much more must they stand
as respecters of such laws as have pro-
ceeded from the people, at their initiative,
and sustained by The deliberate approval
of substantially all the people
OF the more than 1000 600 of American
citizens. all but the merest handful be-
lieve, and believe with a mighty fervor,
in the kind of commonwealth which Jus
tce Matthews declares is founded on the
marriage relation existing for life between
one man and one woman. That idea has
been for many years crystalzed into sol
emn and deliberate law, whose principles
and form have been approved by the high
est judicial authority. Neither the pres
ence nor the absence of certain words in
the constitution can imply a certain mean
ing. If il is impossible that such meaning
could have been expressed.
If the member-elect from Utah is eligi-
bile to be a representative in Congress,
then for the purpose Of his case we must
read into the cons titution a proviso thnt
would read, PROVIDED that no person
shall be ineligible to a scat as such repre-
sentative who, in form and substance. in
word and act In life and practice, defies
the constitution ana the laws ana denies
their validity and supremacy"
summary of the Case.
Thus stands the case then: If the mi
nority be right the trainers of the consti-
tuition, If they had foreseen the Roberts
incident with its defiance of the constitu-
ton and the law and its denial of their
validity and supremacy as to him, would
nave said, Brigham il. Roberts Is eligi-
bic and must be seated If elected
II say that no such provision could have
been adopted; and If IT could not, cannot
be implied"
Passing aside the moral side of this ques-
ton, which, he said in the face OF the
great fundamental fact OF disobedience to
law plus audacious defiance of Il, he did
not care to assert now, he said
'But we are told that it is "A power that
may be abused. What power does the
House possess that It does not at some
time abuse? and shall they therefore be
shorn of powers?
III we do not exclude this man, we
strike down one of the most vital and
necessary powers that belong 10 a great
legislative body. Let not such a thing be