The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-02-26

Mr.. Tillman, in the course Of
speech upon the Philippine tariff bill
made serious reflections upon the homo
of his colleague, Mr.. McLaurin. Ii
brief, he charged that McLaurin's vot
in support of the ratification of tn
treaty of Paris had been cast through
the exercise of improper influences.
His statement was developed In ,
colloquy with Mr.. Spooner, of Wiscon
sin. Mr.. Tilllnan at first declined tt
mention names, but when the Wiscon
sin Senator reminded him that he owet
it to himself, 10 the Senate and the
country TO name the man," Mr.. Till
man indicated that he referred to his
colleague from South Carolina. Little
imagining that his words were likely to
be prophetic, Mr.. Spooner remarked,
sententiously: civil leave the Sena.
tor to fight that out with his colleague" )"
Mr.. McLaurin was not in the cham
Der at the time, being engaged in COM
mittee work, but he was sent forsand
appeared just as Mr., Tillman conclud.
ed his speech.
Pale as death, Mr.. McLaurin arose,
speaking to question of personal
privilege. He reviewed Tillman's
charges briefly, and then denounced
the statement made by his colleague
as a wllful, malicious and deliberate
lie.n
Scarcely had the words fallen from
his lips when Ti,lman, sitting a few
seats from him, with Mr.. Teller, OF
Colorado, between them, sprang at
him. McLaurin, who had half turned
toward Tlllman, mot him half way, and
in an instant the two Senators, having
swept Mr.. Teller aside, were engaged
in rough and tumble fist fight. Nc
Laurin received heavy blow on the
forehead while Tillman got bad punch
on the nose which brought blood.
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Layton
sprang over desks to reach and sep
arate the combatants and himself re-
ceivea several blows. He got between
them finally, and by main strength
wrcr ched them apart. Senators War
rem, of Wyoming, and Scott, of West
Virginia, two of the most powerful
men in the Senate, leaped to his as
sistance and pinioning the arms of the
belligerept Senators, forced them into
their seats.
Senate and in the galleries which were
thlonged with people who had been
attracted by the spirited debate. Every
body was on his feet. Not word, !,
however, was spoken.
The Washington correspondent of
the News and Courier gives the fol-
lowing account of the Occurrences:
81 WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. 22.-Sen.
ator Tillman and Senator McLaurin
came to blows in the Senate this after
noon. McLaurin called Tillman ma
liciOus liar. Tillman sprang at his
young colleague, dealt him a severe
blow in the face and McLaurin retail
ated with an upper cut on Tillman's g
jaw. Tho belligerents. were separated,
the doors closed, and, in executive ses-
sion, the two South Carolina Senators
were declared to be in contempt of the
Senate, and their cases were referred
to the committee on privileges and
elections for such action as may be
deemed necessary. After the execu-
tive session the two Senators in con.
tempt were permitted to apologize to
the Senate and it is probable that the
The coarse and vulgar performance
of the South Carolina Senators sur
passes anything of the kind in the
history of the United States Senate
1t is difficult to describe the sensation
created as the two Senators grappled
each other in desperate encounter II
the presence of more than quorum o.
the Senate and we'll filed galleries.
1t was Washington's birthday ant
Senator Spooner was delivering hi
speech in favor Of the Philippine tariff
bill. There was o large crowd In at
tendance to hear him, and during tn,
course of his speech he became involved
in spirited colloquy with Senator Till
man as to the part William Jenning
Bryan played in securing the ratifica
ton of the peace treaty with Spain, b,
which the Philippine Islands came int
the possession of the United States.
Senator Tillman, with characteristic
vim and brutal frankness, declared tina
the ratification of the Spanish treat
had been secured by the vote of
member of the Senate in return for tn
disposal of Federal patronage in a Gel
lain State. Senator Spooner interrC
kdbOu OOhdtOl oO ClooOly Uhld
the latter was forced to admit that th
subsidized Senator was his own co
league from South Carolina. Senate
Spooner replied that he would leay
the matter to be settled with the junit
Senator from South Carolina.
1t was supposed that the incider
was closed, in view of the fact tn,
Senator Tillman had repeatedly charge
his colleague with selling his vote 4,
the treaty in consideration for Feder
patronage In South Carolina. Durir
the collouuy between Senators Tlllma
and Spooner, Senator McLaurin W,
absent from the chamber, attendn
meeting OF the committee on Indis
affairs. He was notified that he w
being attacked in the Senate by b
colleague, so he hurried back 10. Il
chamber. He sent for copy OF tl
notes OF the official reporter, giving u
exact language of Senator Tlllma
After reading the notes carefully Sc
ator Mcl.aurin was recognized and a
dressing the Senate, denounced {
tatement of Senator Tillman as 9