The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-12-18
HOT DEBATE IN THE SENATE
Sensational Scene Between Sena-
tors Tillman and McLaurin.

The tilt between the Senators fror
South Carolina has attracted the after
ton of the country, and in order tDH
our readers may learn what took plac
between them on the floor OF tn
United States Senate, we copy the fol
lowing account OF the Associate
Press:
The Senate chamber was the seem
of o highly dramatic episode to-day
when Senator Tillman, of South Caro-
lima, challenged his colleague, Senate
McLaurin, to resign with him on th'
spot in order, to use his own language
that they might be able "to wash thei
dirty linen at home" Senator Nc
Laurin did not take up the gauge
The exciting scene between the Two
Senators to-day was a direct sequel oi
the controversy which arose between
them in South Carolina last spring.
Senator McLaurin arose To u question
of personal privilege to-day, and pro
c,eded to explain what he charged was
conspiracy to discredit him in his
own State for acts and views which
did not meet the approval of certain
Democratic leaders. He declared he
was being humiliated and, according
to the public prints, was to be ex-
cluded from the Democratic caucus,
because he had acted upon certain pub
lie issues in way which he consid-
cred was for the best interests of the
country and the people of his State.
He announced himself as being be-
lever IN the old Democracy and, after
denouncing the new Democratic lead
ers, who, he said, had brought de-
struction upon the party, declared that
he could not be driven from his old
allegiance into party with which he
did not care to affiliate.
Senator McLaurin's statements
drew the fire of Senator Jones, char.
man of the Democratic National COM
mittee, who denied that he had any
"ulterior motives" in not inviting
Senator McLauriD 10 enter the caucus.
From Senator Tillman it brought
forth review of the whole contrO-
versy, in the course of which Senator
Hoar took occasion TO express the
opinion that he had doubts as to
whether both the South Carolina seats
in the Senate were not in reality va
cant. He coptended that when the
reslgnations were offered last spring
to the Governor they could not
thereafter be withdrawn, but they be-
came Immediately operative. He
cited precedent, and suggested that
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions look into the matter.
The climax came when Senator Till :.
nhol Nal To
join with him in preparing their joint
designations and handing them to the
presiding officer of the Senate. This
challenge, however, Senator McLaurin
did not accept, and the episode was
brought to an abrupt close by mo-
ton of Senator Lodge that the Senate
go into executive session.
AT tho conclusion of the morning
business there was something of
stir in the chamber when Senator Nc
Laurln, of South Carolina, arose to
question Of personal privilege. He
had before him huge pile of manu-.
script. "I arse TO question of per-
sonal privilege in connection with the
published statement that l have been
excluded from participation in the
poiCJ3 hO dhhOu1SCus
With evidence of considerable emo
tion ho proceeded to explain that if
such was the case, and that if he was
to be without assignment upon commit
tees, the right of his State, which he
in part represented, would suffer. The
personal effect of an exclusion from
representation on committee was, he
said, not of as much importan as its
effect upon the State of South Caro-
lima.
The only notice he had ever had, he
said, That he was to be excluded from
the Democratic caucus came last spring
before The adjournment of the SEN
ate, when he was accosted by the
chairman of the Democratic National
committee in the cloak room and ask
ed why he no longer attended the
Democratic caucuses. Senator Nc
Jaurin said he had replied that in view
of his opinion of the question growing
out of the Spanish war he thought his
presence might be embarrassing. The
Democratic chairman had replied
"Then perhaps it would be less en-
barrassing to you not to be invited TO
The caucus?"
Senator McLaurin sa,d he had re-
piled: Certainly"
This incident, Senator McLaurin
declared, was the elimination of
long series of events, in contest
waged by an element Of the Demo-
cratic party against him.
BY this time the entire Senate was
Interested. Several Republicans cross
ed the political aisle to the Democratic
side, the better to listen to what Sena.
tor McLaurin had to say.
Continuing, Senator McLaurin said
said he would be silent did he not fear
that the movement 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, national bene.
fits. Senator McLaurin recalled the
fact that although Samuel j. Randall
had advocated II protective tariff he
had been voted for in a Democratic
National Convention for President
Hancock, although he declared that the
tariff was local issue, had been nom.
mated for President, and David B
Hill. although ho opposed the income