The times., 1897-06-04
Senator Tillman Forcing the
Fight for an Investigation.
THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM
Declares Them vile Slanders and
Courts Investigation-Sa Says that
All Senator's should Be, as He Is,
Anxious To Clear Themselves Of
CalumHfous Accusations.

man against the sugar trust and To weaken
If possible, the demand made by him &c
an investigation of the charges that Tn
sugar schedule was fixed up at the dicta
ton OF the trust and that certain Sena
tors have specnlated in the stock of th'
concern whose certificates are so suScepti
bic to the turns OF legislation, an attacl
has been made upon the record of Senato
Tillman himself But these charges wer,
answered fully and clearly by the Sena
tor, On the floor, yesterday, and the III
cidcnt not only cleared the atmosphere with
respect to himself. but changed the eTi
dent intention of the committee TO which
his resolution had been referred
1t was plain 10 be seen, as the debate
proceeded, that, notwithstanding the state
ment OF Mr.. Jones, OF Nevada, that he in
tended TO report the resolution back to
the Senate, that the other two members
OF the committee had no intention 80 to tic
until after they felt the effect OF MIR Till
mans speech yesterday. 1t is now be
lieved, by many Senators previously op-
posed TO the resolution, that the Senate
can do no less than order an investigation
to be made
the determination TO change the schedule
and return TO specific rates, after the plan
OF the House, may, however, result in n
majority OF the House finally holding
that the investigation is useless.
The South Carolina Senator was as
vehement as usual and spoke with an
earnestness that convinced his hearers of
his sincerity, however much they may have
disagreed with him.
He crosse to question of personal privilege
and sent TO the desk clipping from the
Haverhill, y. H., Gazette, which asks Nj
Tillman how, pending this sugar investiga-
ton, does he propose &c meet the aocusa-
ton of ex-senator Butler with regard to
his connection with the alleged whisky
rebate steal"
The Senator then had read copy of an
open letter to the people OF his State, IN
which he deman ded an investigation into
the matter referred To by Gen. Butler.
Continuing his remarks, he said:
The attempt to distract attention from
the sugar trust scandal to my personal
record as governor, in the hope that /
would be deferred from pressing the mat
ter To the bitter end, will fail, ii that is
Il
moment, these old scandals No mau
reaches the Senate without a bitter strug
gle, and when that man comes from the
plow az did, and walks into the governor
office over the prostrate political forms OF
every old leader in the State; opposed by
every corporation III the State; opposed
by every bank but two, and by three
fourths of the newspapers, he necessarily
makes enemies
Mr. Iillman then told about the admins
tration of his office, the contest for the
Senate, and Informed the Senate that at
that time these stories were put II
circulation In an effort to "fly blow his
character.
II thank God" he continued, THAT
before / went into politics at all, the forty
four years of my life had been given 10
building up reputation for honesty and
decency, and morality and truth, which
so far sustained me IN the office, that there
was no proof whatever, no direct testimony,
no basis OF accusation itself or inSinuation,
except possibility that l had stolen he-
cause / could have stolen; so that when
the canvass was over, after these questions
had been passed upon, the people OF South
Carolina then gave me, in the legislature
q ma jorty of l31 out of / so, and sent me
here.
'Now the same old stale eggs are brought
forward and thrown at me, so as to give
forth an effluvia and try to blacken Inc,
but instead of Sinking investigation, 1
court it at home, and court it here If
there is any Man In this body who desires
TO have q committee appointed to look into |
1cf
luton and viii support il with all the In
'luence have here, and beg that the Sem |
ate shall take the question I'D and set it |
at rest forever. l have no fears as TO |
what will be proven, because nothing can
be proven affecting my integrity and h,n-
esty.
But the situation is this: They demand
that shall prove a negative, which every
lawyer and decent man knows is impos-
sible. There is not a man here who can
prove that he is honest. 1t lies on the
man who accuses him of dishonesty, how
over, to prove that he is so before a decent
nan viii regard him as dishonest. / court
at home ] have asked for
Il ] court it here, If the Senate chooses
Dr. desires to go into it. In addition to
hat, say, that any other man whose name
-ests under an imputation here, and tie |
Senate, as a whole, owes il to itself and
is dignity to have these ISLANDERS and scan
ials and accusations, more or less direct,
,ifted TO the bottom, and have il determined
,nce for all whether we have rascais in
,ur midst or not.
Il have no personal motives whatever in
his matter l have no imputation TO cast
ID any individual Senator 1 am not spGn-
or for the charges which have been made
gainst the Senator from New Jersey (Mr |
SMITH, rs he seems to think, but | sim
ly brought them along with the rest IS
vidcnce enough to warrant the Senate 10
lear itself of these accusations
Mr.. Tillman then moved that the com
littee be discharged frjm the further con-
Iteration OF the resolution, $50 that" ne
aid, with emphasis, Senators can now
ut themselves on record as TO whether
hey want these charges Investigated. If
nybody wants TO investigate me here or
| South Carolina, [ am willing, and l do |
OF see why any other man here is not
-iiling to have the Senate as a whole |
lvestigated and know whether the sugar
ust has paid agents in here or whether
has bought the Finance Committee OF
lis body To have schedule put In the
III, whether it was put in In S94, whether
re are the tools and paid agents of this
ust. or whether we are free Senators
ere performing our duty upon an honor
bic basis
Senator Gallinger, member of the
oInmittee, said that the Senate was
.und to accept the statement OF Mr.
illman, relative to the alleged charges {
ade concerning him, hut Mr. Tillman I