The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-09
ARGUING THE ROBERTS cAsE.as
First speech for the
ato- RawIfns' Views on situation.

Washington. January 1.-THE ROBERTS
investigating committee resumed IT'S
session today for the urpos OF
ing arguments and bringing the mquE
to an early conclusion
Chairman Tayler stated that the state
ment of a witness absent in Utah a
been received. but rs Mr.. Roberts de-
clfned TO admit il in an normal man
ner the matter would have 70 BE- taken
up later
Mr.. Schroeder. head Of tine gentle
delegation here to ppose Mr.. Roberts
then opened the argument against
Mr.. Roberts.
The evidence clearly shows" pro.
ceeded Mr.. Schroeder. that since lSSo
Mr.. Roberts has been in the status OF
a poaygamist and the question Is as TO
the effect OF this status"
He said that while Utah was a terri
tory, there was no doubt as 10 Roberts
disfranchiSement under the Edmunds
and Tucker act; and Utah was
! admitted TO statehood, Mr.. ROBBERS
citizenship was still impaired The
status of polygany was such that MT.
| Roberts could not relieve himself from
it without some affirmative act.
AS TO the right of the u TO ex-
clude. Mr.. Schroeder said: suppose
a raving maniac should present himself
at the bar of the house and ask admls-
sion on proper credentials. could not
the house in self-protection deny him
admission? Suppose a man affiicted
with leprosy presented himself wound
not the house have power 70 keep MIN
out?"
Mr. Schroeder said that Mr.. Roberts
! had admitted his relationship with ms
plural wives. He had publicly said
| = .-z.lI 90. I, - ha rr-Dslll give
up his wives. This was an offense
| again the public morals.
The afternoon hearing was enlivened
whan Senator RawlinS, OF Utah, was
drawn into a discussion of polygamy.
Chairman Tayler asked Mr.. Rawlfns.
| who was once a delegate from Utah, II
| il was not understood at the time the
state was admitted that polygamy was
ait an end.
1T was my understanding" said Mr..
RawHns. that the sOlemnization Of
polygamous marriages was i~nterdlcted
by the Mormon church and that TINS
would have a Salutary effect In term1-
mating the practice; but l did not hold
out to congress that family relations
already established would De broken
up"
Mr.. TayGer asked if it was expected
that the law against polygamy would
be violated.
Mr.. Rawlins answered that 1t was
thought there might be sporadic cases.
but as a general system, polygamous
relations would gradually terminate.
do you think" continued Mr.. Tayler.
that Utah would have been admitted
if it had been understood that in a few
years Utah would send to congress a
man maintaining pOlygamous rela-
tions?'
Mr.. Rawlins said he did not think
believed the practice of poly
gamy would be continued. The course
Of events in recent years had clearly
shown that the practice would end in
time.
Mr.. Schroeder concluded his arg
ument, which related mainly to the his
torical aspect of polygamy and the law
In the case.
Mrs J. Ellen Foster addressed the
committee in behalf of the great num-
Der of women interested in the case and
who were not represented before the
committee.
The committee adjourned until 1890
o'clock a. m. tomorrow.