The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-04
ON TILhNAN'S FORK
MR.. MORGAN TURNED OVER BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM SOUTH
CAROLINA.
SOME TALK OF A STEAL"
DEBATE PRECIPITATED BY THE
TERMS OF THE FREE HOME
STEAD BILL.
CUBAN RESOLUTION CALLED UP.
To Permit MIR. Hale to Prepare for
Debate 1t Was Allowed to- Go
Over Temporarily.

WASHINGTON, May 8. = Senator
Tillman, of South Carolina, was heard
from briefly and pointedly in the senate
today, after a silence of many weeks,
and, as usual, his remarks served to
arouse a lively controversy. 1t occurred
during the consideration of the free
homestead bill Mr.. Morgan proposed
an amendment giving all public lands.
unoccupied by 1900, to the several states
and territories. Mr.. Hawley declared
this to be a startling proposition, and
Mr.. Tillman sought to oppose 1t by 4
series of questions addressed to Mr..
Morgan. Some of the questions re-
ferred to the amendment as PROPOSE
ton to "gobble" and "steal' the inter
est of states in public lands. Mr.. Nor
gan, in turn, made sharp and sarcas-
tic rejoinder, and for a time senators
and spectators were interested in the
animated crossfire. After Mr. Morgan
had protested against the interruption
as a breach Of the privileges of the
senate, the incident was closed by Il
statement from Tillman disclaiming
any purpose of being discourteous to
amendment was Withdrawn, and All
agreement reached for a final vote on
the free homestead bill ait p. m. to-
morrow.
The Cuban resolution was called up
early in the day by Mr.. Morgan, who
asked for a vote. Mr.. Hale (Rep., Me-
remarked that he had just returned,
after an extended absence, and desired
some time to prepare the remarks he
would submit. He assured Mr.. Nor
gan that there was no purpose to de-
lay the resolution for the mere sake of
delay. After proper debate, he said, il
would be voted on, as he was as anX-
ious as any one to have the resolution
disposed of. Mr.. Morgan endeavored
to have a day fixed for the vote, but
there was objection.
The Alabama senator said he had
evidence in his possession showing
that, under the present policy of Gen.
Weyler which he declared is one of
starvation, the people in the interior OF
the island are starving and naked, lit
orally starving to death. Before the
senator from Maine was ready to speak
hundreds Of people would starve to
death. Mr.. Morgan declared that 200
Americans were among those starving
at Matanzas. Under such circum-
stances if the senators desired to de-
lay, they must accept the responsible
ty, but he could not in the sight of
God, bear such a responsibility for
single day. The. resolution went over
A joint resolution by Mr. Chandler
was agreed to without division, making
Immediately available $4,000 for the
purpose of the international postal
congress about to assemble here. AT
12:45 p. m. the senate went into execu-
tive session, on motion of Mr.. Davis,
OF Minnesota. The open session was
resumed at o'clock and the bill known
as the free homestead bill'' was taken
up. The bill releases settlers on pub
lie lands acquired from Indians from
the payments now required by law, and
also gives free homesteads on such
lands not now occupied An amend
ment was offered by Mr.. Morgan, CIV
ing all public lands, not taken up by
homestead entry on Jan. l, 1900, to the
several states and territories for edu-
cational purposes.
Mr.. Morgans proposition aroused
much opposition. Mr.. Hawley (Rep.,
Comm characterized it as a startling
reversal Of the policy of the govern
n1enC involving the cOuiptele ulSpOodi
of all public lands with their incalcu-
liable wealth of mines and forest.
The debate was enlivened by a sharp
exchange between Mr.. Tillman, Of
South Carolina, and Mr.. Morgan. Mr..
Tillman advanced down the middle
aisle until abreast of Mr.. Morgan, and
then, in his characteristic explosive
style, with index finger aimed at the
Alabama senator, began firing a volley
OF questions on the justice of giving
IL the government lands to favored
states, thus depriving the other states
of federal aid to education. Don't
you suppose said Mr.. Tillnan, that
we have as many poor children needing
education as you have, and as a matter
of decency do you propose to gobDle up
all these lands?"
Il am not a gobbler." returned Mr..
Morgan, $50 that the rules applying to
gobblers do not apply to me-"
Mr.. Tillman insisted that the Nor
gan proposition meant that one class OF
states was to gobble up all the lands.
He added that his state already had
done much for Mr.. Morgan's state,
peopling it and redeeqning it from the
Indians
IF So" replied Mr.. Morgan with
touch of sarcasm, 81 am willing to
vote to return to South Carolina all
the people she ever gave to Alabama"
that they were not respectable people,
SAID Mr.. TiIlman.
Respectable and poor observed Mr..
Morgan. s~
YES, poor, God knows continued
Mr.. Tillman. land because we are
poor, we protest against your stealing
what they have left"
For the first time Mr. Morgan showed
signs of irritation, and turning to the
presiding officer, Mr.. Mantle being tenn
pcrarily in the chair, he protested
against the use Of the words ''gobble :"
and Stealing" Without waiting for
a ruling from the chair the colloquy
proceeded.
IF it is not stealing it is very much
akin to it, remarked Mr.. Tillman.
Mr. Morgan said it was not surpris-
ing to hear of stealing from a senator
who had proposed to relieve his state
from the federal taxes on liquor.
1--WE have made the liquor laws Of
South Carolina so as to benefit the
poor. educate the children, reduce
drunkenness one-half and shut up every
barroon in the state" responded Mr..
Tillman.
Nh Morgan somewhat ruf1led, said
he would not have entered upon this