The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-06
ARGUMENT in THE
ROBERTS CASE
A Letter From Ex-SeGre
tary Carlisle
STILL A POLYGAMIsT
| Never Abandoned Relations Assumed
by the Plural Marriage.
THE NORMAN ARGUES HIS CASE.
DweIt With Especial Emphasis on the
Ri.h. of a Constituency TO Deter
mine the aloral Character OF
Their I;eprcsensative.
Plural Marriage Not
Proven.
THE NORMAN ARGUES HIS CASE.

WASHINGTON. jan 5-The Roberts
Investigating Committee continued 1t5
session, to-day with a large crowd OF in
terested spectators present. Among tfese
was Miss Roberts. the daughter OF the
Utah menher-eiect who sat nsar MN
and followed attentively the argument
presented by her father
Chairman Tayier, OF Ohio. seated at
the outset that he had received from E,N-
Secretary John 6. Carlisle, 81 latter Civ
ing his view on the case. Mr.. Carlisle
said he was suffering from u cold and
was unable to make an oral argument az
this time. As 10 the case he said:
The resolution under which the COM
nlittee is proceeding directs II TO as
certain and report. no, only upon Roberts
prima facie right. but upon his hnal
right. He seems to have objected to the
evidence unless it shows that he was
guilty. OF unlawful cehahitatlon since ths,
fourth of March last, when he claims to
have become a member of the House. ]
think the testimony shows prima facfe
that he has been so co-habitatinS; eut
this Is not material in my opinion. even
though the committee had no jurisdiction
TO inquire into conduct prior to March
fourth 1899 because he is undoubtedly ~
poiygauiist and has been poiyg1mist
ever since he married his first plural
wife, within the meaning of that term as
defined by the Supreme Court OF the
United States in the Ramsey case. He Is
at this very moment a polygarist. NOT
having at any time abandoned or re-
nounced the relation assumed by the
plural marriage. and co-habitation with
the plural wives IS not at all necessary.
Therefore the committee will decide upon
the question of final right whether an
undoubted polygamist who justifies the
doctrines and practices of polygany shall
be allowed TO hold a seat In The House;
SPOKE QUIETLY.
Mr. Roberts then began his argument.
He spoke quietly and deliberately with
some evidence of hoarseneSs.
Mr.. Roberts took .rp a -tyFe-wri&tsrs
statement reviewing in detail the pro-
ceedings of his cass UP TO date. 1t SAID
regarding his case:
siIt is a case in which there is no con-
test and where 1t appears, so far as the
proceedings before the committee is con-
cerued the representative-elect possessed
all the qualifications prescribed by the
Constitution of the United States and
where there is no STATUTE. so far as made
10 appear BEFORE this committee. either
| in the State OF Utah or the United States,
| applicable to the case which disGualihes
| the office of Congressman in the lower
| House CT the American Congrss.
| sIr Roberts dweit with special EN-
| phas;s on the right of a constituency 10
determine upon the moral character OF a
! member
TT is taft to those constituents to de-
| termine" he said, what shall be The
| moral status of the man shey wish To send
| to Congress as their representative, ana
| ,,,>t ba IJIo,r.e, of Congress.
In support of this he read with emphatic
| and approving comment a congressional
| report signed by e. F. Butler, Dan Ell w.
VOORHEES, and others, in the course nt
which it. is said that the House OF tSeP-
| resentatives shall be composed of mem
| bers chosen by the people OF the +St4se5
| ard not by the representatives or otnsr
! states according to the notion OF tho
necessities of self preservation and ssi-
| publication which might suggest them
| selves to the reason OF caprice OF mem
! hers from other States in any process OF
| 'purgatfon of purification.
DENIED REPRESENTATIONS.
! Mr.. Roberts declared that Utah, one Of
| the greatest silver producing States. had
| been denied representation OF late. while
| the important HinaEcfl Jbi.l, involving
! IJtah,s silver mining and silver industry,
| was considered and passed
| Mr.. Roberts analyzed the evidence.
questioning it's directness and conclusive
| ussS.
| ..It has not even been established" he
| said. ..that e. E Roberts was ever mar
| RED 10 Margaret Shipp Roberts.
| It had been shown that he had been
| seen near the house. and once In the
| house, but there was no testimony OF mar
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