Ohio standard and observer., 1900-01-27
FACED HIS ACCUSERS.
Brigham H. Roberts, the Mormon,
Defends Himself in the House.
A Compromise Proposition May Re
Adopted Which Will ExpeI MIR.
Roberts BY a TwO-Thirds Vote
Without Seating Him

Washington, Jan. 24.--It was an ora
torical field day in the house over the
case Of brigham III. Roberts, the Nor
mon representative from Utah. The
galleries were packed to suffocat;on.
chiefly with women, and the specta-
tors after listening attentiyeIy to the
arguments of Mr.. Taylor, of Ohio
and Mr.. Littlefield, of Maine, for the
adoption of the ma jOrity and minor
lty reports respectively of the specia,
COMMITTEES that investigated the case.
remained long after nightfall to hear
the lmpasSiOned words of the accused
as he faced the house, like an animal
at bay, knowing that every hand was
raised against him.
Mr.. Roberts was very adrOit in the
handling Of his case and at times ex-
ceedingly dramatic. Taking advant-
age of the issue raised by the division
| IN the committee as TO the method
ct 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 ma ajOrity, that once sworn in, he
could not be expelled. He defended
The action of the Mormons in fighting
The authority Of the United States
Tor years, because. he said, they be-
Ieved that sentiment would change,
and dramatically stated that in these
lays he had rather have his flesh
hcwn from his bones than to have re-
nOunced his religious tenets.
lie concluded with an elou' ~ her
0ration in which he said he lad ,ter~r
been conscious of shameful ac aa,S1ss
t he was selst forth he would =, sri cn
head erect and ,ndauntc.LIaiIso With ar
Mr.. Lacey, of IsetSEd brow. lii
tion which he Iva. has a PROPOSE 10,
Roberts byEwilI submit to eNpel Mr.. IN
seating n two-t ..lrds vote without ag
'rsswnim, which will have support ca
sand this may lead to compr0m- la
proposition. Miss Roberts, daugh- bt
: of Mr.. Roberts, was in the reserv- Gu
gallery throughout the debate. +,
Jan. 25.-Thc second
VS. debate in the house upon the a.
,berts case was less dramatic than 81
e first. The galleries were almost IN
crowded, but the ladies were less n
The presidents pas Ia Ia
r. Rev. DIR. Bristol, sat in the eX- Of
utive gallery the greater part of the "
ternoon listening to the argune ents. M
Mr. Roberts was not present during re
G day. Had he been, he would have m
ard the most scathing eNcoriauOn n
the Mormons ever delivered upon N
@ floor of the house. Mr.. Lands, OF i
diana, the young orator who distln- ii
lishcd himself during the last con-
'ess in an oratOrical duel with Mr.. ht
of his state, won new lau- 6'
Is. He charged that Utah had been ii
limited to the union as result or Il Il
ormon conspiracy, and reviewed the
story of the apostles of the church, $,
HON he charged with living in open h,
I'd fragrant violation Of the statute Ii
yainst pOlygamy, to show that they o
ld basely broken their solemn r,
edge to the government. u
The other speakers were Messrs. +,
overs (rep., Vt.) and Miers (dem.,
,dO. for the majority resolution; $
essrs. Snodgrass (dem.. Tenn.) and j
rilson (sil. rep, Idaho), for the MI
oritv resolutions: Mr.. Lacey (rep..
n. for his proposition to eXpel with
ut swearing in, and Mr.. Crumpacker :
rep, Ind.), for exclusion by two
,irds ma iority. The speeches great
: strengthened the majority resolu-
ons. which seemed in danger OF fall-
,p after Mr.. Littlefeld's speech, ana
hartman Tayler is confident that
hey will be adopted when the mouse .
otes on the subject. {
DrnHATNC r.