The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-10
SOUTH CAROLINA SENATORS EN-
GAGE Ill WoRDY WAR.
THEY MAY BOTH RESIGN
Senator jones' Mixes UP in the Con
troversy-Tillman Dares HiA (
Colleague to Re3ign !
at Once.
(By Associated Press.)


his colleague. Senator McLaurin. to re
sign on the spot and go home ito wash
them dirty linen.'' tTN
Senator MeLaurin arose to question
of personal privilege and proceeded to
explain what he called conspiracy to
discredit him in his own state for hold
ing opinions upon public questions not
in accordance with certain democratic
leaders. He declared that he was be-
ing Inundated and according to public
gossip was to be excluded from the
democratic caucus.
Senator Jones denied any intention to
humilate the South Carolina senator
and Senator Hoar took the position
that as both South Carolina senators
had presented their designations to the
governor last spring they were, neither
Of them. members of the senate, the
designations becoming Immediately OPP
erative.
The climax came when Senator Till
man challenged his colleague to then
and there hand their designations to
the president of the senate.
Senator McLaur4n's Talk.
A stir in the chamber followed when
McLaurin of South Carolina arose to
question of personal privilege. He had
before him a pile of manuscript.
Il arise to a question of personal priv
ilege in connection with the publication
of the statement that 1 have been ex-
Guided from participation in the demo-
cratic party caucus" he announced,
With evidence of considerable emotion
he proceeded to explain that if such
was the case and if he were to be With
out assignment upon committees the
rio nf his which he in part
represented in the senate would suffer
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 senate,
when the chairman of the democratic
national committee in the cloak room
asked him why he no longer attended
the democratic caucuses. He had re-
piled that in view of his opinion o. the
questions growing out of the Spanish
war he thought his presence might be
The democratic chairman
had replied ''Then perhaps it would
be less embarrassing to you to not be in
vited to caucuses?'
Mr.. McLaurin said he had replied:
"Certainly."
This incident. Mr.. McLaurin declared
was the elimination of a long seriessof
events in contest waged by an element
of the democratic party against him.
The Senate Interested. 49,,
The entire senate by this time had
become Interested. Several republicans
crossed the political aisle to the demo-
cratic side the better to listen TO what
Mr.. McLaurin had to say.
Continuing Mr.. McLaurin said he could
be silent did he not fear that the move
ment against him was one to keep alive
sectionalism. For many years the peo-
pie of the south had realized that they
had not obtained their fair share of the
national benefits. Mr.. McLaurin re-
called the fact that although Samuel J.
Tilden had advocated protective tariff
he had been voted for in democratic
national convention for president. Han
cock, although he declared the tariff
was local issue, had been nominated
for president and David B. HILL, al
though he opposed the income tax, had
not been read out of the democratic
party.
The holding of such views by northern
men, no matter how diverse. did snOt
endanger the prestige of certain leaders
and consequently they We're immune
from attack. But when a southern man,
said Mr.. McLaurn. tried to get the
benefit of the tariff for his people those
whose political career might be ended
by the success of his efforts was ready
to crush and humiliate him. He had
contended that if the tariff We're a rob-
berry, his section should share in the
booty.
Would Vote His Judgment.
With bitter words, Mr.. McLaurin then
proceeded to excOriate the new leaders
of the democratic party who had, he
said guided the party to it's destruction
during the last six years and We're try
ing to cruelty those who would seek to
draw the democratic party back to its
old allegiance. He still proposed he said,
| to vote his judgment for what he be-
lieved to be for the best interests Of
the people simply because it was advo-
Gated by republicans
In conclusion, Mr.. McLaurin said he
did not propose to be drawn from his
| own party nor to be forced into affilia-
ton with the party with which he did
not care to ally himself and that on
| great public questions he would act ac-
cording to the dcta tes of his own con-
| Science and best Judgment. s.
Tillman's Characteristic Talk. &
Mr.. Tillman. in his characteristiGiway
| answered that while his name had not
| DeeI IIlcullOHcu, Ic ICdHAcu ludl ne " -
| the cause of it all. He would not, at
| this time, make an extended reply.
Briefly he reviewed the controversy be-
tween himself and Senator McLaurtn
which led to the point tender of their
| designations to the governor of ADufh
Carolina last spring and told of the gov
ernor's SUGGESTIONS that the designations
be withdrawn. ~
Mr.. Tillman said that he contended
| the governor was simply "a box into
| which he had put letters for the lee1sla-
ture." and that they could not undo
their act, but Mr.. McLaurin had has
| tened to withdraw his letter. Mr.. Till
man said he had examined the record
and that of about two hundred cases in
| the history of the government where
| senators had resigned. Senator Nc
| Laurin was about the only one who had
withdrawn his resignation after offer