OCR Text |
Show EXPERT MR. ROBERTS. The minor Mormon prints are echoing echo-ing the satirical references to the testimony testi-mony of Charles Mostyn Owen which emanated from some major Mormon prints at the time Mr. Owen spoke of ex-Senator Joseph L. Rawlins as n Mormon; and they seem to feel that because ex-Senator Rawlins left the church many years ago and has for that same length of time disclaimed all membership In tho cult the entire testimony of Mr. Owen Is open to question. ques-tion. The attention of such falsa reason-ers reason-ers Is respectfully called to the testimony testi-mony given by Hon. Brlgham II. Roberta Rob-erta before the same committee: Mr. Van Cott Has thoro ovor been a Democratic Congressman fleeted from Utah, with tho exception of yourself? Mr. Roberts. No, sir. Mr. Van Cott. They havo all been Republicans? Re-publicans? Mr. Roberts. They have all been Republicans. Re-publicans. Mr. Tayler. Was William II. King elected at the apodal election? Mr. Roberts. To fill my unexpired term he was elected. 6 ft ft ft Mr. Taylor. Was- not Mr. King your predectsBor as well aa your successor In Congress? Mr. Worthington. lie was a Delegate. Mr. Van Cott. Ho was a Delegate, Mr. Worthlngton. Mr. Roberts. 1 think only undor Territorial Terri-torial conditions. Mr. Tuyler. Who was olM:tcd In 1696 to represent the State of Utah In Congress? Mr. Roberts. I do not remember. Mr. Taylor. Was It not William H. Klntr, a Democrat? Mr. Roberta. I really could not any whether Mr. King was then elected or not. Mr. Taylcr. Then you arc not a very good expert on political conditions, anyhow? any-how? Mr. Roberts. Perhaps not. Mr. Tayler. No. Senator Dubois. I should like to ask Mr. Roberts who ran against Mr. King when he waa elected, tho first time? Mr. Roberts. 1 think It was Mr. Cannon. Can-non. President Brlgham H. Roberts Is supposed to bo one of the best Informed In-formed men of his church In Utah; especially es-pecially Is It to be expected that his political statemonts will be accurate. And yet It would be difficult to crowd more errors Into tho same number of words than Mr, Roberts has mnde In bis testimony concerning Democratic Congressmen, First, the Hon. William H. King was never a Delogate In Congress from Utah. Second, Mr. King was tho immediate im-mediate predecessor of Hon. B. H. Roberts In Congress (or at least ho would havo been If Mr. Roberts had been In Congress at all); Mr. King having been elected first In 1R06. Third, Mr. Roberts Is entirely In error In otnt-ing otnt-ing the name of tho opponent of Mr. King In the first election nt which Mr. King was victorious In his Congressional Congres-sional race Hon. Lafayctto Holbrook of Provo having been unsuccessfully opposed to Mr. King In 1S90. What shall be thought of tho rest, of tho testimony of Mr. Roberts, and what shall be said ol his general character char-acter or reputation for veracity In view of thero gross mistakes so little to bo expected from a man of his experience ex-perience nnd magnificent mind and memory? Mr. Owen's mistake was not an unnatural one. Hon. Joseph L. Rawlins Is a son of Bishop Rawlins, and his early life was Bpent In tho Mormon church. While It has been known to Ms associates ever since he reached manhood's estate that he was not affiliated with the church, it Is not generally known that ho has over been excommunicated, and the sl'iulil error of Mr. Owen In quite ptrdonuble. As to Mr. Roberts, It Is slightly amusing thut ho tails himself tho first Democratic Congresrman from Utah. It was a French king who 6ald: "After "Af-ter me, the deluge." It Is Roberts who says; "Belore me. Democratic chaos!" |