The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-10
EOT INVITED TO ENTER CAUCUS
DENIAL BY ARKANSAS JONES OF AL
LEGGED ULTERIOR MOTIVES.
Mr. Hoar of Opinion that Neither of
the south CarOIInians Are En-
titled to Seats in the Senate.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9-The Senate
chamber was the scene of a highly dra-
matte episode to-day, when Senator TILL
man. of South Carolina, challenged his
colleague, Senator McLaurin, to resign with
him on the spot, in order 10 use his own
language, that they might be able to wash
their dirty linen at home" Mr. McLaurin
did not take up the gauge.
The incident to-day was the direct sequel
OF the very bitter controversy which arose
between the senators in South Carolina
last spring. Mr.. McLaurin rose to a ques-
tion of personal privilege to-day and pro-
ceeded to explain what he charged was a
conspiracy 10 discredit him in his own
State for acts and views which did not
meet the approval Of certain Democratic
leaders. He declared that he was being hu-
INFLATED. and. according to public prints
was TO be excluded from the Democratic
caucus because he had acted on certain
public issues in a way which he considered
was for the best interests of the country
and the people Of his State. He announced
himself a believer in the old Democracy,
and. after denouncing the new Democracy
leaders, who. he said, had brought destruc-
ton upon the party, declared that he
could not be driven from his old allegiance
into a party with which he did not care to
affiliate.
Senator Jones, chairman of the Demo-
cratic national committee. denied that he
had any "ulteriOr motives in not inviting
Nfr. McLaurin TO enter the caucus. Mr.
Tillman reviewed the whole controversy.
Mr.. HOar took occasion to express the opin-
ion that il was very doubtful whether both
the South Carolina seats in the Senate were
not in reality vacant. He contended that
when the designations were offered last
spring to the Governor they could not be
withdrawn thereafter. having become i'm
mediately operative. The climax came
when Senator Tillman challenged Mr.. Nc
Laurin 10 join with him in preparing their
joint designations and handing them to the
presiding officer of the Senate This chal-
lenge Mr.. McLaurin did not accept, and the
episode was brought 10 an abrupt close by
Senator Lodge moving an executive ses-
sion.
MLAURINS SPEECH.
When Mr.. McLaurin arose to speak he
had before him a huge pile of manuscript.
II arise to a question of pers nal privilege
in connection with the publication of the
statement that I have been excluded from
participation in the Democratic party" he
announced. with evidence of considerable
III
such was the case and if he were to be
without assignment upon committees the
right of his State-which ne in part repre-
sented in the Senate-wOUId suffer. The
only notice he had ever had. he said. that
ne was TO be excluded from the Democratic
caucus came last spring before the ad-
jOurnment OF the Senate. when the chair
man of the Democratic national committee
In the cloakroOm asked him why he no
longer attended the Democratic caucuSeS.
lie had replied that in view of his opinion
of the questions growing out Of the Span
ish war he thought his presence might be
embarrassing. The Democratic chairman
had replied Then. perhaps. IL would be
less embarrassing 10 YOU not TO be invited
70 the caucuses2' Mr. McLaurin said he
had replied; Certainly
This incident Mr.. McLaurin declared,
was the elimination of a long series Of
events in contest waged by an element
of the Democratic party against him. The
entire Senate by this time had become in
terested. Several Republicans crossed the
political aisle 10 the Democratic side, the
better TO listen to what Mr.. McLaurin had
10 say.
Continuing. NJ McI.aurin said he could
be silent did he not fear that the move
meut against HIM was one to keep alive
sectionalism. For many years the people
of the South had realized that they had
not obtained their fair share of the ma
tional benefits. Mr. McLaurin recalled the
fact that although Samuel j. Randall had
advocated a protective tariu, he had been
voted for in Democratic national conven-
tion for President Hancock, although he
declared that the tariff was a local issue.
had been nominated for President. and
David r. Hill. although he opposed the in
come tax had not been read out of the
Democratic party The holding of such
views by Northern men, no matter how di-
verse, did not endanger the position OF GER
tain political leaders. and consequently
they were immune from attack. But when
a Southern man. said Mr.. McLaurin, tried
TO get the benefit of the tariff for his peO-
pie. those whose political career might be
ended by the success Of his efforts were
ready TO crush and humiliate him. He had
contended that II the tariff were a robbery.
his section should share in the booty.
Upon the issue OF that speech he had later
gone into a campaign i'm South Carolina.
and. although his Democracy had been at
tackled upon the stump, the people OF his
state had inGorsed him. He declared that
during that campaign calumny, falsehood
and triCkery never before equaled in Amer
lean politics had been employed.
THE LATEST CHARGE.
Now the principal charge against him was
that during the Mckinley administrat tion
he had been bought by patronage" and
that ne had renewed his former contract
with President Roosevelt Entertaining the
high personal regard that he did for both
the late President and his successor. Mr..
McLaurin said il would be unnecessary for
him 10 say that neither would stoop TO
50 ignOble an act. II was true an unfortu-
nate condition OF affairs had existed in his
State. and that he had recommended gold
men for office because he did not desire TO
see repetition OF the horrible affair at
Lakeville, when negro postmaster had
been burned to death He had voted for
the with Spain. and declared that In
the same spirit IN which he had cast that
vote he felt that ne was compelled 10 sup
port the administration that conducted IL.
!. he still thought that the conduct OF the
war should have been nonpartisan, and
during its progress ne had never heard
from President McKinley's lips word con-