The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-06
MIR. ROBERTS MADE A
FIVE HOURS SPEECH
Tayler Refuses to Let Him
Bring Out Important Facts.

Washington, Jan. 5.-The Roberts in
vestigating committee continued its
session today. Miss Roberts, the
daughter of the Utah member-elect
sat near him Chairman Tayler
stated at the outset that he had re-
ceived from ex-SecretaIy John G. Car
isle a letter giving his views on the
case. Mr.. Carlisle said he was suffering
from q cold and was unable TO make
an oral argument at this time. As TO
the case, he said;
1T seems to me that the question of
citizenship has been abandoned, or at
least nothing is said about it in the
testimony. The record of Roberts ap-
plicatiOu and admission to citizenship
does not comply with the law as / I'M
derstand it, and 1 do not think he would
be allowed TO vote in any state upon
a certificate based upon that record.
THE resolution under which the COM
mission is proceeding directs 1t to as
certain and report not only upon Rob-
erts' prima facie right, but upon his
general right
Still Polygamist,
This Mir. Carlisle discussed on the
evidence ana said: He is at this
very moment pOlygamist, not having
at any time abandoned or renowned
the relation assumed by the plural
marriages, and cOhabi1atiOn with the
alleged wives is not at all necessary.
The question, therefore. is whether the
committee viii decide on the question
Of final right than an undOubted polyg-
amist who justifies the doctrine and
practices of polygamy shall be allowed
10 hold a seat in the house
It was determined by the committee
10 ask Mr.. Carlisle for his views more
at length on the general right Of con-
gress TO exclude a member
NIT. Roberts then began his argument.
Mr. Roberts read a typewriter state
ment reviewing in detail the proceed
ings Of his case up TO date. 1t said in
part:
Argument of MIR. Roberts.
THE questions to be considered are
the prima facie and final right of B.
H Roberts, representative-eIeCt from
Utah. TO d seat in the house of repre-
sentatives, 20 which he was elected in
the month of November, 1898, by the
people of Utah; the electorate of said
state gave him a plurality vote of
5.e65. II is a case in which there is no
contest and where it appears. so far
as the proceedings before the commit
tee are concerned, the representative
elect possesses all of the qualifications
prescribed By the constitution OF the
United States and where there is no
statute 90 far as made TO appear before
the committee either in the state OF
Utah or the United States applicable
TO the case which disQuali1es the rep
Tes6utatiVe-elect from the office of con-
gresham IN the lower house Of the
American congress
Mr.. Roberts dWelt With special en-
phasis on the right Of a constituency
10 determine on the moral character Of
& mCrnb6c-
Duty CT Constituents.
ct IS left to those constituents TO
determine said he. what shall be
the moral status of the man they wish
TO send to congress IS their representa-
tive and not to the house Or congress.
Tn support Of this he read with en-
phadc and approving comment con-
OCCASIONAL report signed by Is. h. But
Ter. Daniel W. Voorhees, and others, in
the course Of which it is said that the
house Of representatives shall be COM
posed Of members chosen by the peo-
ple of the states and not by the repre-
sentatiyes Of other states, according
10 the notion of the necessi lies of self
preservation or publication
which mi2ht suggest themselves to the
reason or caprice Oh IIlt+4lDGLS II plti
other states in any process Of 'purga-
ton or purifisation-
Mr.. Roberts declared that Utah, one
Of the great silver producing states,
had been denied representation of ate,
while the important financial bill. vital
IN involving Utah's silver mining ana
silver industry. was considered and
passed.
Tayler Becomes Uneasy.
Mr.. Roberts took up the evidence Of
the witnesses who appeared against
him and was questioning some Of the
statements when Chairman Tayler in
1errupted
Mr.. Roberts. if you wart 20 testify
YOU ought TO go on the witness stand. "
This developed some difference of
epinion among the members OF the
committee. Mr.. DeArnond and Mr.
Lfttlefeld said the statements were in
the line OF legitimate argument. Alr.
Tayler insisted that Mr.. Roberts should
not be permitted 20 make statements Of