The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-08-07
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Will McLaurin Have a Place in
the Democratic Caucus.

tnC OCtEUCI QtEC O0UEQSs
Washington, July 31.-.At an inform
al conference of several Democratic
Senators held in this city recently, it
was decided to ask the Democratic
caucus of next winter to refuse to
make committee provision for Senator
McLaurin, on the ground that he had
left the Democratic party. A certain
representation on committees is allow
ed the minority party, the assignment
of senators to the several places being
made by the party caucus. If rea-
assignmnt is made at the first session
of the Fifty-seventh Congress, as eX-
pected, the Democratic caucus will
have to determine whether McLaurin
is to be regarded as Democrat. In
this way a national body Of Democrats
will have an opportunity to pass upon
the South Carolina Senator's Demo
cracy. The action Of the Democratic
State Committee of South Carolina
in reading him out of the party will
not, however, furnish the only grounds
for a refusal Of the Senate caucus to
recognize him. In addition to this,
and perhaps more to be considered,
is the fact that he refused to partici-
pate in the Democratic caucus last
winter, and the admitted fact that he
agrees with the Republicans in regard
to practically every question in dis
pute between the two great parties.
Senator Benjamin r. Tillman, Of
South Carolina, who is in Washing
ton for few days before going on a
lecture tour in the West, says he does
not know whether the action of the
committee representing the demo
cratic organization of the state will be
construed as putting McLaurin out Of
the party for good and all or whether
it will be regarded as an expression
officially of the committees opionion,
which may be indorsed or overruled
by the Democrats of the State at an
election. He assumes that McLaurin
may appeal from the committee to the
people by resigning from the senate
and making canvass for reelection
as a Democrat, if be wants to do so.
It is expected that Senator McLaurin
will take notice of the action of the
state committee and will make reply
declining to accede to the suggestion
that he should resign, setting forth
again his views and appealing to the
anti-populist element Of the Demo
cracy to stand by him. A notable
democratic rally is to be held in the
town of Union, early in August, one of
those midsummer political gatherings
customary in South Carolina, and the
politicians are looking for some inter
esting developments then.
An interesting story. which certainly
appears to be authentic, is going the
rounds here on the authority Of an
army officer stationed at the War
Department in this city. He says that
after the shooting of Wilkes Booth
near Frederick, Maryland, the body
was put into boat under the imme-
diate supervision of Captain Brown,
now Rear Admiral Brown, retired, liv-
ing at Indianapolis, Ind, and carried
to the Washington navy yard, where,
still rolled in a blanket. the body was
placed in a yawl and carried to a
landing at the arsenal.
AS the little boat came in shore a
young girl and two smaller ones stood
on the wharf, and as the body was
being lifted out the blanket fell away
from the dead mans face. The older
one recognized it as that of President
Lincoln's assassin. Captain Brown
asked if she had seen the face and if
she knew it, to which she responded
that she did. He asked her to say
nothing, as it would give her great
trouble should it be known that they
had Booths body in charge.
Later, Commandant Benton, COM
mandant in charge of the arsenal re-
peated the warning not to tell. The
body then was carried to the old jail,
to room in which ammunition was
stored. Then all the ammunition was
removed and under the direct supervi-
sion of Captain Brown and Command
ant Benton, grave was dug. At mid
night and by a feeble light, with
Brown, Benton, Stanton, and two
or three other members of the Cabi-
net present the body of J. Wilkes
Booth was lowered into deep grave.
The ammunition was replaced care
fully above the new filed grave, the
door locked. and the key put into the
hands of Secretary Stanton.
There the body Of the assassin rested
until removed-no one knows where
or when-by the Booth family.
The young girl religiously kept her
trust, and not until several years after,
when she married the army officer
who vouches for this story, did it pass
her lips. The discussion of the trial of
Mrs. Surratt now going on awakened
the story, and it is told for the first
time.