Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-02-26
A Fistic Combat Pulled of in the
United States Senate by Senators
Mclaurin and Tillman.
BOTH HELD IN CONTEMPT
Will Not be Recognized by the Pre-.
siding Officer Until Order Of Con.
tempt is Vacated.

bll NhhoE "oo sAhAhAANNN IA az "
ed States senate by a fist fight.
The day set apart By the nation to
afford the American people an oppor.
tunity to pay fitting tribute to the
memory of the first president, was
the occasion of one of the most sen.
sational scenes ever enacted in the
senate chamber,
The two senators from South Car.
olina were active participants in the
ARRAY. Mr.. Tillman. in the course of
a speech upon the Philippines tariff
bill made serious reflections upon the
honor of his colleague, McLauun.
In brief, he charged that his vote
in support of the ratification OF the
treaty of Paris had been cast through
the exercise of improper influences
His statement was developed in a
colloquy between him and Mr.. Spoon.
err of Wisconsin. Mr.. Tillman at first
declined to mention names, but when
the Wisconsin senator reminded him
that he owed il to himself. to the sen
ate and to the country to name the
man." Tillman indicated that ne re,
ferred to his colleague from South
Carolina.
Little imagining that his words
were likely to be prophetic. Spooner
remarked sententiously: 81 will leave
the senator to fight that out with his
colleague. McLaurin was not " the
chamber at the time, being engaged
in committee work, but he was seat
for and appeared just as Tillmal con
tinued his speech.
Pale as ashes McLauren arose to
address the senate speaking to a ques-
ton of personal privilege. He review.
ed Tillman's charges briefly, and then
denounced the statement made by his
colleague as a willful, malicious and
double lie.
Scarcely had the p%ortentious words
fallen from his lips when Tillman,
sitting a few seats from him. with
Teller, of Colorado, between him,
sprang at him.
McLaurin. who had half turned to-
ward Tillman, met him half way and
in an instant the two senators, hav-
ing swept Teller aside were engaged
in a rough and tumble fight. McLau-
rim received a heavy blow in the fore.
head while Tillman got a punch on
the nose which brought blood.
Assistant Sergenat-at-arms Layton
sprang over the desks to reach and
separate the combatants and himself
re ceived several blows. He got be-
tween them finally and by main
strength wrenched them apart. Sen
ators Warren OF Wyoming and Scott
of West Virginia. two OF the promi.
ncnt men in the senate. leaped to his
assistance. pinioned the arms of the
b~cligerent senators and forced them
into their seats.
For two hours the senate discussed
the event behind closed doors. When
the doors were opened II was made
known that both the South Carolina
s. senators. by unanimous vote. had been
declared to be in contempt of the sen
ate. They were permitted by vote of
the senate to make apologies to the
senate. The statements were listened
to by the senators and the people in
the galleries with breathless interest.
Senator Tillman left the capital
when adjournment was taken for re.
cess and did not return for the night
session.
Senator McLaurin was in the senate
chamber about s o'clock, but left
early. Neither senator, when seen at
his home, would make a statement.
The status of Senators Tillman and
McLaurin is that they are still In con-
tempt of the senate. and only by vote
of the senate can they be recognized
either to speak pr to vote on any
question whatever. The senate is OPP
Ell rating under the clause of a section
of article l of the constitution. which
recites:
Each house may determine the
rules of its proceedings, punish Its
members for disorderly behavior, and