Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-12-14
4 TILT IN THE SENATE
South Carolina Senators Open Up
Old Sores.
DARES M'LAURlN TO RESIGN,
Senator Hoar Expresses Doubt as to he
Validity Of tie Tide Of Either Gentleman
to Seat


! WASHINGTON, Dec. 10.--The sen
ate chamber was the scene Of highly
dramatic episode yesterday when Sen
ator Tillman of South Carolina chal-
leDged his colleague, Senator McLau-
| rim, TO resign with him on the spot
/ I'm order, to use his own language, that
4 they might be able ito wash their
/ dirty linen at home" Mr.. McLaurin
| did not take up the gage. The Incl
/ dent was the direct sequel of the very
/ bitter controversy which arose between
the senators In South Carolina last
| spring.
Mr.. McLaurin arose to a question of
personal privilege and proceeded TO ex-
plain what be charged was conspra-
cy to discredit BIN in his own state
| for acts and views which did not meet
| the approval OF certain Democratic
! leaders. He declared that he was be
| ing Inundated and, according to public
prints, was to be excluded from the
| Democratic caucus because he had act
cd upon certain public issues in a 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 Democratic
| leaders who, he said, had brought de-
struction upon the party. declared that
he could not be driven from his old al
( legiance into q party with which he
did not care to affiliate.
/ Senator Jones, chairman of the Dem
ocratic national committee. denied that
be had any 'ulterior motives" in not
/ inviting Mr.. McLaurin to enter the
caucus. Mr.. 1illman reviewed the
whole controversy. Mr.. Hoar took oc-
casion to express the opinion that it
was very doubtful whether both the
/ South Carolina seats in the senate We're
not in reality vacant. He contended
that when the designations were of
| fered last spring to the governor they
I could not be withdrawn thereafter,
/ having become Immediately operative.
I The climax came when Senator Till
man challenged Mr.. McLaurin to join
with him in preparing their joint resig-
nations and handing them to the pre-
siding officer OF the senate. This chal-
lenge Mr. McLaurin did not accept,
and the episode was brought to an alb
rupt close by Senator Lodge moving an
executive session.
Senator Lodge presented to the SEN
ate in executive session the report of
the committee on foreign relations
recommending favorable action upon
the -Pauncefote isthmian canal
treaty and gave notice that he would
ask the senate to 80 into executive
session for the consideration of the
treaty, repeating the request each day
until the senate should act upon it.
The report of the committee on jul
dietary recommending the confirmation
of Attorney General Knox was sub
mitted, but went over until today.
Senator Hale introduced number of
bills relating to the navy, among them
being bills to enable naval courts mar
tial and naval courts of inquiry to
compel the attendance of civilian wit
nesses, to equalize the pay of officers
of the navy with those of correspond
ing rank in the army and marine
corps, to authorize the commandants
of naval stations beyond the conti-
mental limits of the United States TO
convene general courts martial for the
trial of offenders under their com
mand and to authorize an increase of
the enlisted force of the marine corps.
Senator Hoar introduced bill giving
the United States jurisdiction in cases
of lynching and making the crime OF
participation I'm lynching punishable
by death. lie also offered "A resolution
to authorize the president to enter into
negotiations with other civilized coun.
tries for the purpose of selecting some
island or other suitable territory to
which might be transported and con.
fined persons instigating or counselinl
the destruction of all government OF
those attempting the lives of chief
magistrates. The resolution was re
ferred to the committee on foreign re
latiOns.
Canal Route Leased.