The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-11
A HUNT AFTER AUTOGRAPHS.
TILLMAN AT THE SAME TIME ASKS
VOTES FOR HIS LIQUOR BILL.

The south CarOIinian Springs an
Autograph Album on His Coll
leagues and SOIicitS Signatures
During the Scssion-EmpIoyes Pro-
hibited From Doing So-On-Lool1-
ers Find Great Amusement in
Watching Him Tackle Hoar, Alli-
son and Sherman.
Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Tiliman is
having great difficulty in convincing the
Senate that his bill to override the su-
preme courts recent decision in the dispen-
sary case is a meritorious measure. He
made another efforts to pass his bill to-
day, before the Senate proceeded to the
House to count the electoral vote, but he
was vigorously opposed by Senators
Mills, Vest and others. The Senate is
not inclined to overturn a decision of the
supreme court to crafty the personal am
bitions and political aims of Senator Till
man, and his bill will probably fail even
If it. is ever pressed to a vote. Senator
Tillman has hit upon novel scheme to ex-
pedite the passage of his bill, but it will
hardly succeed. He has tried to the best
of his limited ability to invoke the time
honored and generally respected 'sena-
torial courtesy in behalf of his measure.
Having failed upon that line he is now
appealing to Senatorial vanity to push
his pet project successfully along. He en-
deavored to play upon Senatorial vanity
by procuring an autograph album and
inviting senators to write their names in
his book. There is rule of the Senate
which prohibits employees of that body
from soliciting autographs during the ses-
sions of the Senate. The business used to
be carried on to a large extent until GER
tain senators, like Messrs. Conkling, Ed
munds, Bayard and others, declared it was
a nuisance and directed the sergeant-at-
arms to have the practice discontinued
lie commenced operations on the demo-
cratic side with Senator Turpie of Indiana
and Senator Bate of Tennessee. Several
other democrats were thus enrolled by the
South Curolinian.
He paused and looked across the aisle to
the republican side and there sat Mr. Hoar
OF Massachusetts, Sherman of Ohio, and
Allison of Iowa, all big men, but also
strict constructionists as to the rules of the
Senate, and hard men to APPROACH at any
time or place. Senator Tilman gazed in
tentiy at Mr.. Hoar for a. few minutes and
scratched his head as if afraid to go up
against the Massachusetts, monitor of the
senate, who read his colleagues such a Sc
we're lecture yesterday about betraying
the secrets of executive session.
He's going to tackle Hoar," exclaimed
one of the newspaper reporters who was
watching the performance from the gall
lery. The South Carolina senator wiped
both corners of his mouth with the end
ofThts finger and started directly Cor Sem
ator tioar Taking seat beside the sem
ator from Massachusetts, Senator Tillman
hrst presented the autograph album, and
indicated where he would like to have the
senator's signature. The latter hesitated,
blushed and looked confused, but Senator
naf5rad ad gpa WAS persistent hi little good
was that Senator Tillman obtained the
autograph, and also took occasion to say
good word for his dispensary bill.
His next victim was Senator Allison, the
most modest man in national politics. He
blushed like schoolgirl when approach
ed by Senator Tillman, and looked as
though he would like to cover his face
with his. hands to hide his ever-ready
bushes. Finally he placed his well-round-
ed signature in the book and Senator TILL
man fingered long enough by his side
pensary bill
Down in the front row sat Senator Sher-
man, the distinguished chairman of the
committee on foreign relations and the
next Secretary of State. Senator Tillman
eyed the great Ohioan cautiously circled
around him two or three times and was
about to go back to the democratic side
without the coveted autograph. He mus
tered up all his Palmetto courage and
went timidly up behind the usually cold
and repellant senator from Ohio.
Great Scott!' exclaimed one of the
watchers, "see him go for Sherman. 1t
will be interesting to see Long John give
him the frozen hand"
Senator Tillman took seat beside Mr.
Sherman. opened the book at the appro-
pirate place and invited him to sign Sem
ator Sherman looked surprised and seem
ed disposed to deny the request. Senator
Tnlman said something to him, and inn
modiately a satisfied smile played over the
features of the coming Secretary of State.
He slowly reached for a pen, wrote his
name with great care and handed the
book back to Senator Tillman. One word
led to another, and soon Senators Sher-
man and Tillman were in earnest CONVEX
sation over the merits and the dement's
of the South Carolina dispensary law.