The people's recorder. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1893-1925, 1901-12-21
ARE AT IT. AGAIN.
IiIlman and McLaurin Air Their Views
In the Senate.
A VERY DRAMATIC SCENE EESUEs
The .Ssulor South CAROLINA Senator
Asks the Junior Senator That They
:. Tsaass s:Hsil. joint designations.

washington, -. g., Spectal.-Tha
Senate chamber was the scene Of
highly dramatic episode Monday, when
Senator Tillman. of South Carolina,
challenged his colleague, Senator Nc.
Laurin, to resign with him on the spot,
In order, to use his language, that tncy
might be able Ito wash their dirty
linen: at home" Mr.. McLaurin did
not take UP the gauge. Tho exciting
clash between the two Senators was
the direct sequel Of the very bitter
controversy which arose between them
In South Carolina last spring. McI.aurin
arose to question OF personal privi
lege Monday and procecdsd to explain
what he charged was q conspiracy to
Giscredit him in his own State for acts
and views which did not meet the ap-
proval OF certain Democratic leaders.
He declared that he was being humilia-
ted, and, according to public prints. WIS
to be excluded from the Democratic
caucus. because he had acted upon GER
tain public issues in a way which he
considered was for the best interest Of
the country and the people Of his
State. He announced himself Il be-
lever In the cid Democracy and after
denouncing the new Democratic lead
erE who, he said, had brought destruc-
tion upon the, party, declared thar hs
glance into n'party with which he did
not care to affiliate. Mr.. McLaurin's
statements drew the fire Of Senator
Jones, chairman OF the Democratic
national committee, who denied that
he had any |'ulterior motives" in rot
inviting Mr. McLaurin to enter the
caucus. From Mr.. Tillman it brought
forth q review OF the whole controyar-
sy. In the course Of which Mr.. Hoar
took occasion to express the opinion
that it was very doubtful whether both
the South Carolina seats were not in
reality vacant. He contended that
when the designations we're offered
last spring to the, Governor, they could
not thereafter be withdrawn and that
they became Immediately operative. He
cited a precedent and suggested that
the committee on privileges and llec-
tions should look into the matter.
= climax came when Senator TILL
man challenged hlr. McI1aurin to join
with him in preparing n joint res:g-
snatioos and haaaip 6 them IS the ngei
feIlg however, MI. MI Laurin. did not
accept and the episode was brought to
an abrupt close by motion OF Sena-
tor Lodge that the Senate go into exec
utive session. "a
At the conclusion Of. the morning
business there was something Of stir
IN the chamber when Mr.. McLaurin, of
South Carolina, arose to a question Of
personal privilege. He had before him
huge pile of manuscript. 81 ariss TO
question Of personal privilege in
connection with the published state
ment that I have been excluded from
participation in Democratic caucus"
he announced. With evidence of ccr-
siderable emotion. he proceeded to ex-
plain that II such was the case AMI If
he was to be Without assignment upon
committees. the right Of his Stare,
which he In part represented in the
Senate, would suffer. The personal
effect OF an exclusion from representa-.
tion on committees was, he said, not
Of so much Importance as its effect
upon the State Of South Carolina.
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 MIR.
McI-aurin had to say.
would be silent did he not fear
that the movement against him was
one to keep alive sectionallsm. For
many years the people of the South had
realized that they had not obtained
their fair share Of the national bene-
fits. Mr.. McLaurin recalled the tact
that although Samuel.J. Randall had
advocated protective tariff, he had
been voted for in Democratic national,
convention for President. Hancock, AZ
though he declared that the tariff was
q local issue. had been nominated for
President. and David B. Hill, although
he opposed the income tax, had not
been read out Of the Democratic party.
Mr.. Tillman, Of South Carolina, was
on his feet when Mr.. Jones concluded
In hiR characteristic way he announced
thar &yh31n htc poTno hod t>ooo