The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-04-21
Roberts Shows How He
Was Elected.
QUEER MORAL SQUINT
In Telling of His Relations With His
Plural Wives Roberts Shows Up
More of the Crazy Quilt
Ideas of The Latter.
Day Saints.
(By the Associated Press.)


re-opening of the investigation in the
Reed Smoct case, before the Senate Com
mittee on Privileges and Elections, the
prosecution devoted considerable time to
drawing from righam H. Roberts the
character of the oaths which tire said 10
benecessary for a Mormon official to
take in order to have the support of the
c,-Irch for political office. Members oil
tho committee showed an equal interest
in the obligations which are said to be
taken by Mormons who go through the
endowment house."
Along both lines much evidence was
brought out which is expected to haV.
considerable bearing on the fitness OF a
Mormon church official to mold seat
III Congress.
mony that without the consent of the
Mormon church he tailed OF election tc
q seat in Congress and -ater with church
recognition of his candidacy he was elect
ed In relation to the endowment houso
obligation Mr.. Roberts was extremely
reticent. Mr.. Roberts said he has thre-
wives cne married in 1877, the second in
1886 and the third in 1857. He said he
has had children by all OF the wives anc
bv the first plural wne since MS election
to Congress.
Senator Overman inquired OF Mr.. Rob,
erts whether his first wife and his second
wife had consented TO his third wife.
mo. sir" said Mr.. Roberts. They did
not learn OF the marriage for three OF
four years"
How was that?' asked Senator Bever-
idge do you mean to say mat the mar
riagc was not known to any one"
'It was known to some OF my friends
but not to MY wives was the answer
"Why was this marriage concealed iron;
them?'' asked Chairman Burrows.
Because l did not wan. to embarrass
them
How embarrass them
well we knew .Ae marriage was ilie-
gal and it might be embarrassing to them
If they should for any reason be ca,Etd
on to testify"
Mr.. TAYLOR asked Mr.. Roberts why ht
thought it incumbent upon him to take
plural wives.
From boyhood." replied the witness,s.,
had been taught the rightfulness OF plural
marriages, and | believed this practice 70
be the law of God. / knew that this
practice was contrary to the mSndates OF
Coneress. but believed that the law 9i
God was the highest rule and I ielt I'M
PEELED TO obey it,.
chairman Burrows asked a number oi
noiuted questions which brought out the
confession from Mr.. Roberts that he stu
believes in and is Dracticing poygamy.
He said that he believes that the wood
ruff manifesto was devineiy inspired ana
that now in practicing poiygamy he
knows he is disobeyng both the laws OF
the land ard the laws OF God. He was
asked why he continued to di3oDey the
laws of God, and = nc believed them tc
he the highest laws and with resigned
air, he added:
"Wcu. The manifesto left me in the
midst of obligations to these wives.
am trying to do the best I can to live
within the laws but these OBLIGATIONS l
cannot shlrk.'
At the afternoon session Mr.. Roberts
sa 10 action had ever been taken by
the church in respect 10 his living with
moro than one wife.
Questions were asked respecting Mr..
Roberts views recording the mac,es,o
1890 against plural marriages and liv-
ing in poiygamous cohabitation, and the
witness said ne regarded the manifesto IS
an administrative act OF the church ana
of bind rg force upon all members. tie
admitte ed that 20 disobey any of those
laws would subject the member to libility
to church discipline. The witness was
asked then in regard to polygamous CO.
tabitation and said that he and many 9TH
ers were living in polygamy at the time
the rule was made against such cohabi-
tation but thev considered themselves
Under moral obligation to live with the
wives they had married.
do you think you are morally bound
to cobabis WILL all of your wives?" Chair
man Burrows asked.
Il do
How many children have you?'
Thirteen living
.How many rot living?'
1.-TWO.
"When was the last one born?'
about two or two and a hall years
ago.
Mr.. yanCott in cross examination asked
i'm regard to the rule which permits Of
fcjals of the church to enter politics and
the witness should lie regarded 1t as mere
ly a leave absence from church official
duties during incumbency CT political Of
flee
He said he cid not regard 1t as an en-
dorsement by the Mormon Church. 1t
was brought out that in his first canvass
for office when he had not the cnascw
oe leave OF absen"e he was defeated.
In his second canvass he obtained the
leave OF absence end was elected.
Senator Bailey asked a number ci ques-
tions regarding the witness views of his
obligations as Il citizen and whether thee
co,,is be a religious obligation which
would justify him in denying his services
TO his State to discharge duties which
would deyolve upon him by the acceptance
of political position.
Mr. Roberts said the emergency might
arise whereby an official should resign his