The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-10
JUNIOR SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR
MAKES DRAMATIC TALK
IN THE SENATE
REFUSES TO BE EXPELLED
BIuntIy Says if Tariff Is Robbery He
Wants Some of the Loot for
His PeopIe-Ifis Course
Explained.
TILLMAN HURLs A CHALLENGE

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-The senate
: chamber was the scene of highly dra-
matte episode today when Senator Till
man, of South Carolina, challenged his
colleague, Senator McLaurin, to resign
with him on the spot, in order, to 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 was the direct sequel Of the
bitter controversy which arose between
the senators in South Carolina last
spring. Mr.. McLaurin arose to ques-
ton of personal privilege today and pro-
ceeded 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 that he was being
humiliated and, according to public
prints, was to be excluded from the
Democratic caucus because he had acted
upon certain public issues in 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 destruction upon the party,
declared that he could not be driven
from his allegiance into a party with
which he did not care to affiliate.
Tillman Grows Excited.
Senator Jones, chairman of the Demo-
cratic national committee, denied that
he had an fullerton motive" in not In
yiting Mr.. McLaurin to enter the caucus.
Mr.. Tillman reviewed the whole con-
troversy, and Mr.. Hoar took occasion to
express the opinion that 1t 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the governor they could not be Withdrawn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 Immediately
operative.
The climax came when Senator Till
man challenged Mr.. McLaurin to join
with him in preparing their joint resigna-
tions and handing them to the presiding
officer of the senate. This challenge Mr.
McLaurin did not accept and the episode
was brought to an abrupt close by
Senator Lodge moving an executive ses-
sion.
When Mr. McLaurin rose to speak he
had before him huge pile of manu-
script.
McLaurin's Protest.
s"I arise to a question of personal priv
ilege in connection with the publication
of a statement that have been excluded
from participation in the Democratic
party, he announced. With evidence Of
considerable emotion he proceeded to ex-
plain that If such was the case and it
he were to be without assignment upon
committees, the rights of his state, which
he in part represented in the senate,
would suffer. The only notice he had
ever had, he said, that he was to be ex-
cluded 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 replied that in view of his opinion
of the questions growing out Of the
Spanish war he thought his presence
might be embarrassing. The Democratic
chairman had replied: 'fThen perhaps, it
would be less embarrassing to you not
to be invited to the caucuses? Mr. Nc.
Laurin said he had replied: Certainly"
This incident, Mr.. McLaurin declared.
was the elimination of a long series of
events in a contest waged by an element
of the Democratic party against him.
The entire senate by this time had be-
come interested. Several Republicans
crossed the political aisle to the Demo-