New-York tribune., 1901-12-10
TILLMAN-M'LAURIN FEUD.
THE SOUTH CAROLINA FIGHT TRANS
FERRED TO THE SENATE
TILLMAN'S CHALLENGE TO RESIGN NOT
ACCEPTED BY MLAURIN-MR. HOAR
QUESTIONS THEIR RIGHT
TO SEATS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

mercial Democracy wings of the Democratic party
were ventilated for two hours to-day in a DEBATE
in which Senator John l. McLaurins poltlcaI
status the chief bone of irritated contention
Mr.. McLaurin precipitated the debate himself by
the delivery of a speech in which he sought to out
| line his own position already made reasonably
clear in the series Of addresses he had delivered IN
the last year in advocacy of national programme
of territorial and commercial expansion. Mr.. Nc
| Laurn's statement drew from Senator Jones' OF
Arkansas, the chairman of the Democratic caucus
and steering committee, the avowal that he NAG
recently informed the Republican managers that
the Democratic side would refuse hereafter to be
charged with any committee assignments made TO
| the junior South Carolina Senator. Mr.. Jones also
said that Mr.. McLaurin had not attended Demo-
cratic for two three years, and had been
left off the minority list with his own con-
| sent and approval.
Mr.. Tfllman was naturally prompted to reply to
some of his colleagues assertions and the result
picturesque description of the mXup in South
Carolina politics forced by the spectacular attempt
| of the two Senators to resign their commissions
after joint debate last July at obscure way
| station named Gaffney. The designations were
written and sent to Governor McSweeney but that
foxy official. fearing bring acrimonious
party struggle. returned the resignat tons to the
two Senators. with open letter chiding them for
hotheadedness and indiscretion Mr.. McLaurin
after reflection, decided to cancel his offer 10
quit the Senate, and Mr.. Tillman although he pup
Hcly denied the Governors right to return either
resignation privately acquieSced in his judgment
by withdra wing his surrendered title. After
Mr. Tilman's failure to test the legality OF Gov
ernor McSweeney's action everybody in South caro-
lima considered the resignation incident closed But
Senator Hoar unfeelingly reopened the controversy
| to-day by suggesting that Governor had no r1sht
to suppress Senator's resignation. and that the
Gaffney letters still valid as surrenders OF
Senatorial title. There might be legally quaihed
Senators from South Carolina Mr.. Hoar suggested
after review of the resignation incident by the
Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.
McLaurin said that he would be glad to refer his
and his colleagues title to the privileges anu
Elections Committee: but Mr. Tillman went point
further and challenged his colleague TO write out
a fresh resignation. At this point Mr.. Lodge in
tervened with motion for an executive session.
so the challenge remained unanswered. 1t is un-
dersood that Mr.. Hoar not entirely serious IN
his suggestion that South Carolina had lost her
representation in the Senate and that the Commit
Privileges and Elections will not be asked
arbitrate between the two South Carolina COM
batants. Mr. Tilman, If he really meant to force
his and his colleagues resignation. lost his
chance last summer, when he evaced contest
with Governor McSweeney the latter's right
TO intervene and return the Gaffney letters
MLAURIN STATES HIS POSITION.
Mr.. McLaurin rose TO a question of personal
privilege. He had before him huge pile of manu-
script Il arise to a question OF personal privilege
in connection with the published statement that
have been excluded from participation in the Demo-
cratic party he announced. With evidence OF
considerable emotion. ne proceeded to explain that
If such was the case. and If he was to be without
assignment committees. the rights OF his State.
which he in part represented in the Senate, would
suffer. The only notice he had received. he
said that he be excluded from the Demo-
cratic caucus came last spring before the adjourn
ment OF the Senate. when the chairman of the
Democratic National Committee in the cloakroom
asked him why he longer attended the Demo
cratic caucuses- He had replied that in view of
his opinion the questions growing OF the
Spanish war he thought his presence might be
embarrassing The chairman had replied: Then
perhaps it would be less embarrassing you
to be invited to the caucus?" Mr.. McLaurin said
he had replied Certainly This incident. Mr..
McLaurin declared. was the elimination of a long
series Of events in a contest waged by element
of the Democratic party against him.
The entire Senate by this time had become in
terested. Several Republicans crossed the aisle to
the Democratic side, the better to listen to what
Mr McLaurin had say.
Continuing Mr. McLaurin said he would be
silent did he not fear that the movement against
him to keep alive sectionalism For many
years the people of the South had realized that
they had obtained their fair share Of the ma
tional benefits. He recalled the fact that although
Samuel J. Randall had advocated a protective
tariff, he had been voted for in a Democratic Ma
tional Convention for President Hancock, al
though he declared that the tariff was a local
issue. had been nominated for President, and
David B. Hill, although he opposed the income
tax, had been read of the Democratic
party. The holding OF such views by Northern
men. matter how diverse, did not endanger the
position of certain political leaders, and conse-
quently they were immune from attack
NO BARGAIN WITH THE PRESIDENT
But when Southern man, said Mr.. McLaurin,
tried get the benefit of the tariff for his people,
those whose political career might be ended by
the success Of his efforts ready crush and
humiiate him. He had contended that if the tariff
Ipyac rohb nc
On the issue of that speech he had later gone
into a campaign in South Carolina, and although
his Democracy had been attacked the stump,
the people of his State had indorsed him. He de-
cared that in that campaign "calumny. falsehood
and trickery'' never before equalIed in American
politics had been employed. Now the principal
charge against him that in the Mckinley Ad-
ministration he had been bought by patronage"
and that he had renewed his former contract with
President Roosevelt. Entertaining the high per-
sonal regard that he did for both the late Pres-
dent and his successor, Mr.. McLaurin said it
would be unnecessary for him say that neither
would stoop to so ignoble 1t was true that
unfortunate condition of affairs had existed in
his State, and that he had recommended good men
6G- ,fice, because he did not desire to see a
ref~ition Of the horrible affair Lakeville when
negro postmaster had been burned death.
He had voted for the with Spain and
clared that in the spirit in which he had
cast that vote he felt he was compelled TO
support the administration that conducted it, He
still thought that the conduct of the should
have been nonpartisan, and in its progress he had
never heard from President McKiney's lips word
concerning party advantage. Mr.. McLaurin paid
high tribute to the late President whom he char
acterized a broad statesman and Christian
gentleman
VOTING AGAINST HIS PARTY
While without official knowledge of the charges
hroI Democratic colleagues,