The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-03-06
SENATOR TILLMANS OFFENsE.

The Tillman-M cLaurin incident has
grown to proportions that will
make it historic, and the end is not
vet. Senator Tillman s conduct since
the fight on the floor of the senate has
served to aggravate the original Of
Tense, and the action of few sena-
tors in insisting that although in con-
tempt of the senate he had right to
vote has raised new question. The
accidental circumstance Of Tilman S
invitation to the White House dinner,
the President s withdrawal of the invi-
tation after Tillman'S refusal to with
draw his acceptance aud the latter's
protest against the action of the
President as ungentlemanly serve still
further to accentuate an incident
which was disgraceful enough without
any aggravatiOn. tits for the senate
to decide what the outcome will be.
1t is useless to look for precedentS
because there is none to fit the case.
Senator Tillman's offenSe was mani
fold. 1t included a vicious attack
upon the integrity of the late Presi-
dent Mckinley, a direct charge of cor
ruption against his colleague which
was prOvOcation of his own making.
1t would be difficult to imagine case
with more aggravating circumstances.
Tillman's charge that improper in
fiuences were used in getting votes
for the ratification of treaty and
that the federal patronage in South
Carolina had been 'parceled out"
to his colleague as a reward for his
vote was very grave one against a
President whose integrity is above
suspicion.
That alone should have called for
investigation, and, aggravated as it
was by subsequent events, it brings
the senate face to face with the queS-
tiOn whether the offending member
should not be expelled. The consti-
tuition SAYS the senate 'may punish
its members for disorderly behavior,
and, with the concurrence of two
thirds, expel member" The right
of expulsion, therefore, by two
thirds vote, is unquestioned, and there
has never been case which called
more strongly for its exercise than
the present one.
In his protest against the action Of
President Roosevelt in canceling his
invitation to the White House dinner
Tillman expresses the belief that the
President "would have done just as l
did under the circumstances. All,
but Mr.. Roosevelt, if a senator, would
never have created the "circumStan-
ces" by making false and calumnious
charges against deceased President
and member of the body. Again
Tillman says: "As TO which of us is
the gentleman in this matter in view
Of the unSOught invitation to the
White House and its indecent with
drawal, / am willing to abide by the
judgment of all brave and Self-reSpect-
ing men," The man seems to be as
devoid of moral sense as be is of sense
of propriety. He not only cannot see
that he has been guilty of conduct I'M
becoming senator and gentleman,
but he actually has the audacity to
arraign the President for recalling an
invitation for him to meet diStin-
guished foreigners and others who are
not under an official ban.
His claim, sustained oy few sena-
tors, that he had a right to vote while
in contempt of the senate had no
foundation. When it comes to ques-
ton of punishment for disorderly con-
duct senator has no rights that the
senate may not suspend. His right
to vote depends upon the senate IS
judgment as to his behavior. The
light to expel includes the right to
suspend from the exercise of senator
ial functions. Mr.. Tillman should be
made to understand that the United
States senate is different from a red
shirt club in South Carolina. Expul-
sion would not be too severe punish
ment for his offense, and anything
short of that will leave a permanent
stain on the dignity of the body.-In-
dianapolis Journal.
That consistency is jewel not af-
fected by democrats is fact SO well