The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-03-20
NO REDRESS FOR McLAURIN.
Ihc Senate Will Not Investigate
Tillnnan's Cliargc-Thc Epi-
sodc is Already Closed.

n "| SShd'c W III MOI tinNCStIRat
I Tillman's Chargc-Tllc Epi
sodc is Already Closed.
The Washington correspondent o
the Charleston Evening Post says:
Senator McLaurin, of South Care
lima, will probably be compelled to g
outside the Senate for vindication. II,
and his friends insist that his intcgrit,
has been impcachcd by Senator Till,
man; that the latter's charges which
terminated in personal encounter
can not be permitted to 60 unchallcng,
ed, and that the Senate must direct an
Investigation which will result in sus-
tanning the charges and the expulsion
OF MIR. McLaurin or in his acuuittal,
when MIR. Tillman must be forced to
retire. Mr.. Iillman is quite indif
iercnt. Apparently he does not care
whether an investigation is ordered or
the matter is permitted to drop.
II develops, after an inquiry into
prccedcnts, that Mr.. McIaurln cannot
force the Senate INTO an investigation.
While he is proceeding upon the
grounds of personal privilege, and in
sists that his reputation has been I'M
justly bcsmirchcd, a majority OF the
Senate has already tired Of the episode
and wishes it dropped. 1t has pro-
duccd numerous cmba .assing situa-
tlons, and there is no disposition, ex.
cept on the part of comparatively
few Senators, again to open the qucs-
ton and cndangcr pending legislation.
There was feeling of intense relief
when the resolution of ccnsurc was
adopted. The Republicans realized
that the Democrats intended to debate
indefinitely, for months maybe, in the
event resolution of suspension or cx-
pulsion was presented, and III the i'll
terest of public business the compro.
mise was reached. Now that the cpl
sodc is closed there is littlo disposition
TO reopen II.
Senator burrows, chairman of the
committee on privileges and elections,
VIII assemble that committee in a week
or ten days TO consider the resolution
introduced by Senator pritchard, of
Moth Carolina, Il member of the com
mittcc, acting for Mr.. McLaurln. The
Senate refused to adopt this resolution,
which calls for an investigation, but
referred II to the committee for a re-
port. The committee Will decide
whether there arc sufficient grounds to
recommend an inquiry. Mr.. Tillman,
while he spoke in the heat Of debate
and seemed to be intensely excited
used guarded language. He made no
direct charges. This is shown by a
stenographic report Of his remarks,
which the committee has already care
fully considered. While he jmpucncd
the motives of his colleague, he did so
by constructing a circumstantial case
against him and by asserting that he
had been given in confidence by col
league certain information in regard TO
Mr.. Mcl.aurin. The committee will
be required to determine whether these
charges must be Investigated. The
committee can report adversely upon
the Pritchard resolution, its members
assert, without being placed in the at
tltudc OF indolsing or in any way sus.
tanning Mr.. Tillman.
1t is believed by a maiority Of the
Senate that an attempt TO investigate
the charges will result in creating a
situation similar To that from which
the Senate has 80 happily cXtricatcd it,
self within the last few days. Should
the charges be investigated and the
committee recommend the expulsion
Of Senator Illlmah, a stubborn flibus-
ter would begin. Action upon i'm
portant legislative matters would be in
definitely delayed and there would be
little prospect of ever securing the
necessary twO-thirds vote TO cXpcl him.
MIR. Illlman does not pretend to be
prepared to prove his charges. No
one believes he can. Under the cir.
cumstanccs the committee on privileges
and elections will probably pigeonhole
the resolution OF inquiry and report
upon it adversely.