The Van Buren press., 1900-03-31
Senators Sat Silent When Senator
Tillman Asked Presidents
Position.

From the Washington DC.) Post oath
"Has the President changed his mind
or not2 Is the President for free trade
with Puerto Rico today, or is he not?
"Is he leading his party or has he sur.
rendered to the dictates of the special
interests, following the triumphal car
like prisoner of war;
"Will some gentleman please tell me
whether the President is for free trade
with Puerto Rico or is he not''
Senator Tillman fired these questions
at the Republican side of the Senate
yesterday afternoon in rapid succession,
the strident tones of his voice ringing
through the chamber. Then for full
minute he stood silent. The stiffness
was like the silence of the grave. The
Republican Senators sat motionless. Not
one of them opened his mouth, although
some of them smiled. 1t was a moment
full of dramatic interest.
Mr.. Tillman' 8 voice again broke the
silence" "A dumbness falls upon us all, -
he said, with a sardonic laugh.
This episode was only one of a number
of equally interesting events in the lively
debate which marked the proceedings of
the Senate yesterday. Mr.. Tillman was
in one of his old-time bear batting
moods. He had the Senate by the ears
for more than two hours, uttering all
manner of irritating things. He threw
darts and clubs in every direction, much
to the amusement of the crowds in the
galleries. He brought out Senator
Perkins. who said that the President
was probably Influenced by his desire
to protect home industries; he drew
Senator Gallinger into a long defense OF
the tariff bill he caused Senator Foraker
to throw a javeln at Editor Kohlsaat,
and finally became involved with Senator
Spooner in heated discussion, which
ranged all over Christendom, and was
especially acrimonious in its relation to
the treatment Of negroes in the South.
The Foraker-Kohlsaat incident was
quite amusing. Mr.. Tillman read with
much unction an editorial from the
Chicago Times Herald and addressed
some of its pertinent queries to Mr..
Foraker.
II will frankly confess to the Sen
ate, said the Ohio Senator, since
learning of Mr.. Kohlsaat s attitude /
have great deal more confidence in my
own position. - 80
Mr.. Tilhnan had fun with Senator
Beveridge, insisting that the translation
of the latter speech published in the
Philippines had infused new life into the
:nsurrection, because it had convinced
the Filipinos Of the Hypocrisy and
double.dealing of the United States. He
laughingly warned Senator Allison to
escape the delnge which the action of
the Iowa legislature threatened. He
said that the President had changed
front, and while expressing his regard
for the Presidents s lovable character,
expressed bis sorrow that the President
did not have ''more backbone. - He
told the Republican majority that rs
long as they attempted to feed the Puerto
Rioans, just SO long would they have 70
keep up their charity, for the Puerto
Ricans, like the negroes, would never
work while they were being fed. He
pictured in vivid style the troubles that
now confront the Republican party and
predicted that the people would sweepit
from power for not admitting that the
flag and liberty Travelled together. He
listened inpatently to Mr. Perkins
declaration that 1t was the protective
policy which had developed the cotton
manufacturing industries Of South
Carolina. He did not deny that these
industries had greatly increased, On
the contrary, he exclaimed with much
gusto that I'VE can beat all creation
making shirts and chemises, - but in.
sisted that protection had nothing to do
with the case, And, finally, pacing up
aud down the aisle and shouting out the
words with stentorian force, he charged
, Republicans with indirection,
'risy, and "dirt work. -