The age-herald., 1900-01-26
The Final Vote Stood 268
 to 90.
THE SEAT IS DECLARED VACANT
MT. Roberts Made Statement Justify . ing His Retention of Wives, and
 Said He Was Martyr to
 "Spasm of Prejudice"

Washington, January 25.-The case of Brigham H. Roberts, the Mormon represen- tative-elec from Utah, which has occupied so much of the attention of the house since the assemblage of congress was decided today by the adoption of a resolution to ex- clude him by vote of PTS to 70. The exact wording of the resolution was as follows:
 ''That under the facts and circum-
 stances of the case, Brigham H. Roo-
 erts, epresentatve-elect from the state
 of Utah, ought not to have, or hold seat in the house of representatiVes,
 and that the seat to which he was
 elected is hereby declared vacant
 The amendment to expel MT. Roberts without seating, offered by MT. Lacy was ruled out on a point of order and the house only voted upon the resolutions of the ma jorfty and minority of the committee. The latter to seat and then expel MT. Roberts was defeated S1 to PA. An analysis of this votes shows that ITO republicans, 72 demo- crats and two populists voted against at, and T democrats, six republicans, two popuFlsts and two silver republicans for it.
 The majority resolutions, to exclude MT. Roberts and declare the seat vacant, were adopted 268 to 50. The affirmative vote was divided follows:
 Republicans, 16S; democrats, g6; popuhsts .4 and the negative vote. democrats, AT; silver republicans, ?; populists, 1.
 There were over a score of speakers today and the closing speeches on each side were particularly able MT Lanham, of Texas, closed for the majority and MT. DeArmond, Missouri for the minority.
 MT Roberts was present throughout the day and only left after the result of the last vote had been announced. AS he did So he gave out a statement justifying his retention of his plural wives on the ground that his moral obligation was more bind ing upon his conscience than the technical obedience to statutory law, and saying that there was little excuse for the extra ordinary effort to crush system already abandoned and practically dead. He said he was martyr to a "spasm of pre- judice." He would not, he said, attempt te run for congress again, although he would go back home with light heart, re- gardful of the future.
 DeArmond Closed for Minority
 MT. DeArmond, of Missouri, closed the debate on behalf of the minority. He said that it mattered little whether he spoke long or briefly. The argument for the mi nority resolutions had been made beyond the power of any demand in or out of the house to answer, when the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Littlefield), concluded his mas- terly effort on Tuesday. Anything he might say would be, in effect repetition. The argument of the majority that the method of turning MT. Roberts out matter ed not, was the argument of Judge Lynch. The real question at issue, was shall the constitution be observed?" Roberts was entitled to be sworn in.
 Mir. DeArmond scored those who had un- necessarily abused MT. Roberts. MT. Rob- erts, he said, had not solitary champion O. defender on the fioor and the would scorn as beneath hhm and beneath contempt effort to evoke applause by denunciation. "I oppose polygamy; scorn it." said he, "but I don't feel it necessary in order to show how good I am, how I love mother hood and chastity, to lend myself to cheap abuse, whach requires neither ability nor courage"
 This utterance drew forth round of appIause.
 MT. Roberts, who sat within twenty feet of Mr. DeArmond his head resting on his hand, did not move a muscle.
 ME.s I4anlham of Texas closed the debate in beAaif of the majority resolution. His speech was listened to attentively and fre- cuantlv evolxed apnlause.