The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-02-27
Pugnacious South Carolina Senator
is in Deep Disgrace.
6hN'TEhT WITH THE PRINCE
Senate Committee is Struggling With
Questions Arising from the Fight
rluCh Symp0thu and Justification for
>iCLuuTin, But None for the Pitch
fork SW0ShbuCRler.

Senator Illlman, who IS IN con-
tempt of the senate on account of
the blow he dealt his colleague
Saturday, will not be present at
the White House dinner tonight
in honor of Prince Henry. Till
man was invited to the dinner as
a member of the naval committee
Of the senate. 1t was intimated
TO him from the President that
his presence is not desired, and
unless he withdraws voluntarily
his invitation will be recalled.
Other senators who will be
present at the dinner do not feel
that Tillman is entitled to any
consideration, and, moreover.
they would regard his presence
as a mark of disrespect to the
guest OF the evening.
The committee on privileges
and elections met today to act on
the case of Tillman and McLaur-
in. 1t will be decided whether
they shall be cleared of contempt
or whether further punishment
halls be visited. 1t is felt that
Tillman, by his questionable apol-
ogy, has not done sufficient to
purge himself of contempt.
The feeling toward McLaurin
is far different. TIRE is a ques-
ton even whether - is rightly
in contempt. 1t IS believed by
some of the older senator's like
Platt and Spooner that his Ian
guage was not unparliamentary.
He did not brand Tillman as a
liar, but branded as a lie the
statement which Tillman repeat
ed, but for which Tillman did not
assume responsibility. McLaur-
in, it is said, had right to de-
fend himself when attacked and
should not be punished for re-
turning a blow. It may be,
therefore, that McLaurin will be
purged of contempt at once, while
Tillman's punishment is allowed
to continue.
If the committee on privileges,
which at first was not expected
to meet until Wednesday, fails to
take quick action, the question
will be presented to the chair as
to the right of either of these
senators to vote on the Philip
pine tariff bill, which is the order
for o'clock.
Senator Frye said that he
would rule on that question when
presented to him.
McLaurin had denied in most
specific terms the charge of bri-
berry, when once before it was
placed in the record by TiIlman.
Saturday Tillman renewed that
charge. and many republicans
who are given to weighing words
say that there was no other lam
guage that could have been plac-
ed in the record than that used
by McLaurin, when he said it
was wilful, malicious, and de-
liberate lie. The word lie is Of
fenslve in aparliamentary sense,
but McLaurin had no other re-
course, these men say, than to
use it CIR allow the reiterated
charge to stand with repeated
denial.
The senate has no rule defining
unparliamentary language, and
Jeffersons manual does not COW
er this particular case. Senator's
Lodge and Spooner, Hanna and
Dolliver, do not believe that Nc
Laurin's language was unparlia-
mentary or placed him in con-
tempt.
Republican senators take the
positionthat Tillmanshall remain
in contempt until he withdraws
that charge against his colleague
or proves it. They are willing
to Judge McLaurin by the action
of Tillman. If that charge is
withdrawn that action will justi-
fy the language used by McLaur-