The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-06-23
TILLMAN AND H0AR.
THE TWO SENATORS LOCK HORNS IN
WARM DEBATE.


The South Carolina Senator Take the Sugar
Scandals for a Text for Another Speech
and Old Granny Hoar Gets the Fidgets.
The debates in the United States Sen.
ate over the tariff bill has been quite
spicy at times. and one of the most spi,
cy occurred between Senators Tillman
and Hoar one day last week. While
the sugar schedule was under discus
sion Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts, offer.
ed an amendment for the appointment
by the President Of a commission OF
five members to investigate into the
subject of sugar production and the
best means of supplying the Ameri
can market at the least cost. lie said
the raising Of revenue from sugar had
been a subject of contention for $50
years in England and this country.
He did not think any considerable
portion of the people believed that the
men who framed these and former
tariff schedules we're impelled by any
other than honorable motives. But
the men who make these tariffs are
met by subtle and conflicting ques
tons which had already broken down
one of the senator's (Mr. Aldricb.) Mr..
Hoar urged. therefore, that this pro-
posed commission would command the
best talent of the country in present.
ing to the senate the fullest informa-
ton concerning sugar. Next to the
development of our virgin wheat
fields, the development of the sugar
beet would be the greatest boon to ag'
riculture. Reverting again to pub
lished statements of irregularity in
connection with the sugar schedule,
Mr.. Hoar said although it had been
suggested in the press that somebody
had been bribing senators, these state
ments are received by serious people
throughout the country with absolute
contempt"
Mr.. Allison suggested that this was
such an important question that it
ought to be considered by the finance
committee. Mr.. Hoar agreed to the
reference of the amendment to the
committee, and this was done.
Mr.. Tillman of South Carolina then
answered Mr.. Hoar. He said he had
the deepest respect for the distinguish
ed senator from Massachusetts,, but he
perhaps had become callousi in his long
service, as was indicated by the state
ment that the best people of both par
ties treated with contempt the state
ments that there was irregularity in
making the sugar schedule. But,
said Mr.. TIllman, when published
statements were made that senators
were in touch with sugar barons, when
circumstantial evidence was at hand
that a huge monopoly levied tribute
on the public, that the American pso
pie were helpless in the grasp of this
octopus, then it was strange indeed,
that any senator should assert that
the people treat with contempt these
charges. On the contrary, he declar-
ed, they wanted an investigation.
They wanted the honor of the senate
vindicated or the men who stand un
der it punished. For that reason, MIR.
Tillman said, he had contemplated an
amendment to Mr.. Hoar's proposition,
so that the commission would rot
only inquire into the mere machinery
of sugar making, but also whether
the sugar trust has made undue means
to control legislation and to get at the
root of how it is, and why it is that
the American senate can't touch sugar
without getting contaminated"
Turning to the South Carolina sem
ator, Mr.. Hoar said there were some
men who seemed to think that down
beneath the body of the people there
was a great mass Of seething people
eager for extremes. He knew, through
and through, the character, purposes
and opinions of the men who get their
living from the farms and factories of
Massachusetts. He had sprung from
a yeoman, his associations had been
with that class, and he knew what
they were thinking about. "They
are," he proceeded impressively, sim
pie, sincere, honest, liberty-loving,
God-fearing men. They think no evil,
and the appeal to vile passions fails on
deaf ears with them"
will the senator permit me2"
broke in Mr.. Tlllman.
Mr.. Hoar went on without pauslng.
The men who make up the farms and
the factories were the same the coun-
try over, he said. Their kinsmen had
turned westward, building up p new
empire there, q large and a more glo'
rious New England. "And I hold"
concluded Mr.. Hoar, that to the
great body of these people, these
charges r not only preposIerous, but
Infamous"
MIR. Tillman again was ready with
a reply. "As to the seething mass of
Ignorance, as the senator from Massa-
chusetts had designated the Masses
said Mr.. Tillman, but the Massachu-
sets senator promptly Interrupted
him.
II DENY that statement" said MI.
Hoar. 81 said just the contrary and
my statement is perverted"
Very WE'LL" answered Mr.. Till.
man, you are the last man I would
be willing to misrepresent to his face.
While he claimed no special mis-
sion, he went on, yet he claimed to
have come from the farm and from
the people, and to have come to the
senate more recently than the senator
from Massachusetts. He knew, he
said, that the only thing infamous in
this transaction, in the view of the
people, was the refusal TO investigate
and this effort to hide behind the
senatorial toga." If the senate per.