Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-04
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at Buena Vista in 1S47 were not ex-
humed and asking the state depart
ment to investigate the subject and
report the facts to Congress. The re-
solution was agreed to.
Tillman of South Carolina, then came
forward with another phase of the pro-
posed sugar investigation. closing with
a motion to discharge the committee
on contingent expenses from further
consideration of the resolution recently
offered by him to investigate the al
legged speculation in sugar stock. Till
man began by presenting a clipping
from a Haverhill. N. H.. paper refer
ring to the recent speech of Tillman
and adding a query as to whether the
proposed sugar inquiry would be sup
planted by an inquiry into the charges
of ex-senator Butler in connection with
Mr.. Tillman's administration of the
South Carolina dispensary law.
The charges against him were stale,
Tillman said, he had met them before
and he read an open letter written to
the people of South Carolina charac-
teriZing the charges as SANDER. This
was an attempt to divert attention
from the sugar scandal, the senator
declared, but the attempt would fail.
He had come from the plough to the
Governorship of South Carolina over
the PROSTATE forms of those constitut
ing the old regime and had won him
many enemies. All the crimes in the
decalogue had been charged against him.
He had appealed to his people and they
ha 70 I'M \, n
Senate after heated canvass in which
Butler had sought to fly blow"
his (Tilman's) character If any man
desired to look into his character. then,
said Tillman, he courted the fullest in
quiry. And any other senator against
whom there was the breath of scandal
should have the charges probed to the
bottom and the scandal dispelled.
He had made no charges against the
senator from New Jersey. Smith. he
declared. but had merely submitted
the published charges now before the
public and, since the committee had
made no report on the resolution. TILL
man said he would now move to dis
charge the committee from further con-
sideration of the resolution. $50 that"
he added. with rising infection, Sen
ators cannot put themselves on record
as TO whether they want these charges
He said he approached the chairman
of the committee on contingent ex-
penses, Jones of Nevada, and had been
told by him that he was ready to re-
port the resolution but was awaiting
the action of the other two members
of the committee, Jones of Arkansas,
and Gallinger of New Hampshire.
Gallinger then secured recognition
for statement of the attitude of the
committee Every man in public life
feels the sting of false charges" he
said. And must the Senate pause
every time such accusations are
brought, to spend its time and the
money of the United States in pursuing
these charges? If this was to be the
case then there would never be
traif bill or any other bill.
1T was for every senator to act as
he saw fit on these floating charges,
but not for the Senate as a body to take
cogniZance of them. AS for himself.
said, he would decline to en-
ter into an inquiry as to the character
Of the senator from South Carolina. or
of any other member Of the Senate
He protested against this effort to re-
lieve the committee which was pro-
ceeding with all due speed in consider
ing a question of this Importance.
Here Vest suggested that there was
a precedent for ignoring charges
against the personal character of a SEN
ator. He referred to the attitude of
Senator Thurman when an investiea
ton was proposed against one of his
associates. He had held that the courts
were open for private redress and that
It was not for the Senate to undertake
10 right private wrong.
Tillman was again on his feet. The
were trying to make fire
in his rear he said, while he was en-
gagged in a fire in front. His resolution
simply sought to determine whether
the financial committee was the crea-
ture of the sugar trust, whether sena-
tors were the tools and paid agents of
the sugar trust" or whether they were
here performing their duties as honor
able men.
Gallinger proceeding, said the people
IF each senators state must pass upon
his character. The people of South
have passed upon the charac-
ter of the senator from South Caro-
ina and that was sufficient vindication
without an appeal to the Senate. In
and vague charges had
been made against the members of the
finance committee and against the
senator from New Jersey. Smith, Gal
niger went on. Those who knew these
senator's needed no investigation to
show that the charges We're false.
But, since they had been made, the