The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-22
REPORT OF THE MAJORITY.

REPORT OF THE MAJORITY.
If the reasons assigned by the ma
jority Of the Roberts Investigation COM
mittee for excluding the congressman
elect constitute the essence of the op-
position 20 his taking the oath of Of
fee it would look just as well and
sound better to say nething, relying
upon main strength ana force of num-
bers alone. If there is nothing else to
be said on that side of the question. it
would be far better for the majority
TO abandon all pretext of apholding the
dignity of the law and confess frankly
that. believing Roberts had disregarded
it, they all propose to follow suit ST.
lence would have been more dignified
and impressive, and quite as effective
as the excuses assigned by the com
mittee fer arbitrary action.
Boiled down, there is nothing left but
sediment. the substance OF which may
be stated thus:
l. Roberts violated the Edmunds law
by contracting plural marriages several
years ago
?. ROBERTS is in open rebellion against
the laws and tee government OF the
Inited States
s. his election as representative was a
direct violation or an agreement by WlIch
L tab was admitted into the Union
T. II permitted 10 take his seat IL would
DE q violation of law ana OF the consul
tuition 10 eXpel him on the showing made
s. Arbitrary action is recommended be-
cause neither mouse OF congress mas ever
4fafH- ~
him as a mem Der, OF inconsistent with MS
public duty as such
g. On the contrary. both houses nave
many times refused 10 eIpel where me
guilt of the member was apparent, where
the refusal TO eXpel Was put upon the
ground that the house or senate, as the
case might be. had no rlsht 70 eNpe4 LOT
an act unrelated to the member as suen,
or because 1t was committed prior TO his
The house OF representatives has
never decided that a mesnber-eiect may
not be excluded for OifensSS alleged to
have been committed outside Of its juris-
diCIiou or before his election as a mem
Der of tna5 body. wherefore it is possible
10 stretch a point and prevent Mr. koo-
erts from taking the test oath or any
other oath.
what q showing for TIE Pre- ecution'
With the combined wisdom, experience
and interest of DR.. Tiff, =. T. schroe-
der. Z. A. Mcdaniel c. Mostyn Owen
and P. Henry Lannan-all in Wash
ington together and for the same pur-
nose-these. are the best excuses the
TayIerites can offer for the high
handed proceeding they contemplate!
Let us review these fine points:
First Roberts. in common with
George O. Cannon. John Henry Smith
and other prominent members Of the
dominant church in Ut3H who have
been honored by the Republican party,
entered INFO the plural marriage sys-
TEN in vogue in this STATE for a half
century; a2pointees Of the present ad-
uinistration may be included in the
same category. Yet national leaders
of the Republican party have encOur-
aged all these men in their political
ambitions,
Second. If Roberts is in open rebel
lion against the government as much
eff the regular army as can be spared
from service in the Philippines or from
herding union labor in the mountains
should be called out to suppress him
without leaving such wariike business
to the prudish Mr.. Tayler.
Third. The agreement by which Utah
was admitted as a state was the en-
abling act, the language of which upon
the question involved is followed YER
batim in the state constitution, no vie
Iation of which has been proved against
T. II. Roberts.
Fourth If the law ard the constitu-
ton enuue the representative-eiect to
hold his seat, why should the law and
the constitution be construed to permit
an arbitrary majority to prevent his
taking that seat? Have any of the
crusaders ever accused the Mormon
leaders of any more despicable at
tempts to cireumvent tie law
Fifth. Since neither house Of congress
has ever expelled a member under the
circumstances which surround this
case. why should de,iberative body
be asked to do Indirectly that which
it has not only failed but refused 70 do
direetly2 The object Of this crusade.
of this inquisiton, Of the contemplated
action in this case, men tell Us, is to
impress upon the people Of Utah the
majesty of the law. 10 teach them to
obey the law. Is this the way to do it?
Where is the majesty Of that which
lawmakers treat with contempt?
FINALLY. why should II be conclusive.
since congress has never passed on the
question of excluding polygamists, or
members of an unpopular sect. or adyo-
Gates Of financial policy at variance
with that supported BY majority OF
the members that it IS the right OF
congress to take such action now? As
well say that, HAVING. aever excluded
q red-heaaed man, or q fat man from
membership, such exclusion is there
f6rel<lways IL order.
There is a legal way ard an Illegal
wa to dispense with Utah's congress
fnas-eIect The majority report ignores
he law, or points our way TO get
around it. The minority report recon-
mends thai the law be followed that
re rights Of the people CT Utah be re-
snaeted. and that Roberts be. perlnitted
= take the seat to waica ne Is entitled
~ his credentials. subject to the fur
+se~ pleasure Of the house.