The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-27

ISSUE FOUND.
Democrats Seem to Believe,
So, at Any Rate.
SENATOR FRYES ACT.
Did He BlunIer in the Tillman-
: McLaurin Case?
NELSON THINKS THAT HE DID NOT
Democrats May Test Question by
Taking the Philippine Bin
Into the Courts.
SENATOR FRYES ACT.
Did He Blunler in the Tillman
McLaurin Case?
NELSON THINKS THAT HE DID NOT

Building, Washtngto".
Washington, Feb. Ex-senator Nelson
is in full accord with the majority OF the
senate in sustaining President Pro Tenn
pore Frye in his refusal to allow Senators
Tillman and McLaurin to vote while in
contempt of the senate. Senator Nelson
was in the chair during the session on
Saturday night. Senator McLaurin was
in his seat during nearly the entire ses-
sion. Senator Nelson was asked by sew
eral senators what he would do if Nc
Laurin were to try to get recognition. He
promptly said that he would refuse to
recognize him, as he was in contempt of
the senate. Mr.. Nelson continued:
The senate has full power under the con-
stitution to punish it's members for disorderly
conduct. It has the power to imprison. II
necessary. and no court in the land would
take jurisdiction, if the recalcitrant senator
or senators should seek to enjoin the senate
or one OF its officers from carrying out the
orders Of the senate. There is only one de-
feet In the resolution declaring the senators
from South Carolina in contempt, in my
judgment. The resolution should have de-
mtted to participate in the debates vote
on any proposition that might come before
the body during the time they were in con-
tempt. Senator Bailey contended that in de-
priving the senators from South Carolina
of a vote while in contempt was depriving the
state Of its equal suffrage in the senate. do
not agree with him. The senators from South
Carolina violated the written rules of our
body
Under our power to punish we declared
them In contempt and sustained the president
pro tempore in his refusal to allow them to
vote on the Philippines tariff bill In so do
ing he was merely carrying out the order Of
the senate and Furnishing them for their in
dividual misdeeds. and the state of South
Carolina was In no way deprived OF her
equal suffrage. The action of the senate and
it's presiding officer was clearly not aimed at
the state, but at her representatives in their
individual capacity. 1t cannot be said that
they engaged in a personal encounter on the
floor Of the senate as representatives Of a
sovereign state, but as individuals. The SEN
ate, therefore, viewed their acts in the light
in which they we're committed, and refused to
allcw them to vote participate further
in the business Of the body while under the
| ban which has been placed on them.
'Issue" Found Perhaps.
It is early for definite or conclusive
ming to believe that in the actionsof the
president pro tempore the democratic par
ty has at last got it's paramount" issue
for the campaign Of 1902. There is no
question but that the entire democratic
membership Of the senate, reinforced by
some Of the members on the other side,
regard the action of Senator Frye as ar
bitrary, without precedent, and in direct
violation of the constitution, which guar
antees that each state shall always have
the unrestricted right of sutfrange In the
senate Senator Bailey of Texas, in his
speech on this question, handled the ques-
ton in highly interesting and able man
ner, and what he had to say was listened
to with respect on both sides of the cham
Der.
What the outcome of this unpleasant
affair will be nobody can foreknow, but
the democratic party will do Its utmost
to make an important and effective use
of the opportunity switch Senator Frye's
ruling seems to have given It,. 1t Is
probably the intention Of the democrats
to take the Philippine bill, as soon as
it shall have become law, into the
courts, there to test the constitutionality
of Senator Frye's ruling.
Can't Get RID of Tillman.
All attempts to expel Senator Tillman
have been abandoned, much to the disgust
had their hearts set on such program.
Within the past few days carefulscan-
vass has been made of the senate, show
ing it will be impossible to secure the
two thirds vote necessary for expulsion,
so some milder punishment will be in
! flicted Expulsion might have been ac-
complished if the republican majority
had not proceeded as 1t did Immediately
following the fight between Tillman and
McTaurin The result, of the republican
policy has been to create sympathy for
Tillman among democratic members
| where none existed before and to line
up that side of the chamber against any
punishment that is more severe than a
reprimand. The democrats are now In.
sisting that McLaurins punishment shall
be equal to Humans, although nobody
| claims that his offense was as great. This
! turn Of affairs will mean that Tillman' s
punishment will be far short of his just
| w. w. Jermane,