The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-01-24
ROBERTS FACES THE HOUSE
DR4MATICdLLY IND ADROITLI
 DEFENDS HIS RIGHT TO SEAT.

l Takes Advantage or me Issue Naiseu ny
 the Division of the Committee-Hts
 Plurality of Marriages Believed Then
 in the Righteousness of the Doctrine
 Discusses the Crime of POlygamy-
 Some Women Cheor and Others Hiss
 Him.
 Washington, Jan 23.-This has been an oratorical field day over the case of Brigham Roberts, the Mormon rep resentative-elect, from Utah. The gall leries were packed to suffocation chiefly with women and the spectators after | listening attentively to the arguments of MT. Taylor of Ohio and MT. Little field of Maine, for the adoption of the majority and minority report respec- lively of the special committee that in- vestigated the. case remained long af- ter nightfall to hear the impassioned words of the accused as he faced the house like an animal at bay, knowing that every hand was raised against him. MT. Roberts was very adroit in the handling of his case and at times exceedingly dramatic.
 1 Taking advantage of the issue raised | by the division In the committee as to the method of busting him, he appro- priated to himself the arguments of the minority that he was entitled to | be sworn in and the arguments of the majority that once sworn in he could not be expelled. He defended the ac- tion of the Mormons in fighting the au- thority of the United States for years, | because, he said, they believed that sentiment would change and dramatic ! ally stated that in those days he would rather had had his flesh hewn from his bones than to have renounced his relig | ious tenets He concluded with an elo- 1 quent peroration in which he said he 1 had never been conscious of a shame full act and if he was sent forth he would go with head erect and undaunt- ed brow. Strange to say most of the ap- plause he won was from the women, But while they appeared to be his only partisans, other women manifested their bitter hostility by hissing him at every opportunity. The speech made 1 to-day by MT. Ltttlefield, who succeeds lIIc idtt MI. Olil6lCyJ III utLtHoc Ol lilt minority proposition to seat and then expel MT. Roberts, was a masterful effort, and stamped him as one of the coming men of the house. The manner in which he tore some of the arguments of the majority into shreds jumped him into the front rank of debaters in the house The speech made deep impression. Tn fact 1t is predicted to- night by many members that the ma- jority resolutions for exclusion cannot now carry. MT. Lacey of Iowa has proposition which he will submit to ex- pei Mir Roberts by two thirds vote without seating him which will have supporters, and this may lead to a compromise proposition. Miss Rob- erts, daughter of MT. Roberts, was in the reserved gallery throughout the de- bate to-day. The debate will close next Tuesday at 4:3O o'clock.
 Beginning of Roberts Speech.
 MT. Roberts when he first commenced to speak was scarcely audible, but his voice grew louder as he proceeded He appeared quite at ease and spoke with out evidence of temper. The two argu- ments just presented, he began, made it
 
 opinion as to the method of procedure in the case of the member from Utah." From his standpoint he could agree with neither view presented.
 Roberts Causes Lnushter.
 q find myself In the position" said he, "where I might say with propriety; "A plague on both your houses since both propose my undoing." Gaughter). But, he continued, the situation was not altogether without it's advantage. He was convinced with the minority that the house had no right to exclude him and with the majority that, once admitted he could not be expelled Between the two," he said, matters fall out about as l would have them and substantial justice will be done" Renewed laughter)
 Warming md m Appeal.
 MT. Roberts said that he should ap- propriate the arguments of the major | ity against expulsion and those of the minority against exclusion. His con- stitutiona qualifications were admitted by both the majority and minority of the committee and he declared that the members of the house if they had re- SdIu lO tIle COISlllullOH WOulu Cdll IlI1l back to the bar, from which he had l been improperly turned away. He | warned the house that nations fell be- 1 cause they departed from their trad- tions. If nation indulged in consti- tutional immortality it died as did the l individual who was guilty of physical | immortality. He beseeched the house ! not to yield to the clamor of unthink- ing people.
 Hts Marriages.
 What was the emergency for this pro- posed departure from the constitution? | A man who had married in the sanctity | of the church a plurality of wives had | been elected to congress The cry had gone up that the American home was endangered and these extraordinary proceedings had been inaugurated against him.
 oiyGam Discussea.
 Mr Roberts discussed the nature of | the crime of polygamy in order as he said, that we may ascertain whether it is so awful in it's aspect as to war rant a more lawless act than polygamy itself in order to rebuke a man who has been elected to the house. He re-