The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-02-23
BLOWS IN SENATE
GILMAN AND M'LAURIN FIGHT
HAND TO HAND.
SENATE'S DIGNITY SHOCKED
ryrTNAN CHARGED THAT M'LAU-
rim WAS BOUGHT.

xtoIourin Gave Him the Lie Direct
ulo,vs Exchanged, But No Damage
D,ne-Senate Immediately Took
the Matter Up in Executive Ses-
sion and Severely Censured Both
Srnntors-They Were Allowed to
EvnIain, But Still Rest Under
Charge of Contempt and Are
Practically Suspended.
washington, Feb. Ex-senator TILL
man and Senator McLaurin came to
blo,ys in the Senate this afternoon.
NfcLaurin called Tillman a malicious
liar Tillman sprang at his young col
league. dealt him severe blow in the
face and McLaurin retaliated with an
upper cut on Tillman's jaw. The bellig-
Grants were separated, the doors closed
and in executive session the two South
Carolina senators were declared to be
IN contempt of the Senate. Their case
has been referred to the Committee on
Privileges and elections for such action
as may be deemed necessary. After
the executive session the two senators
in contempt were permitted to apollo
gize to the Senate, and it is probable
that the incident is closed for the pres
ent.
1t is difficult to describe the sensa-
ton created as the two senators grap-
pied each other in desperate encounter
in the presence of more than a quorum
1t was Washingtons Birthday and
Senator SpOoner was delivering his
speech in favor of the Philippine tariff
bill. There was a large crowd in at
tendance to hear him and during the
course Of his speech he became in
volved in a spirited colloquy with
Senator 1illman as to the part Will
liam Jennings Bryan played in secur-
ing the ratification of the peace treaty
with Spain by which the Philippine
Islands came into the possession of the
United States. Senator Tillman, with
characteristic vim and brutal frank
ness, declared that the ratification of
the Spanish treaty had been secured
Iy-hy- thA-Hote of a member of the Sem
ate in return for the disposal of fed
eral patronage in a certain state.
Senator SpoOner interrogated Tillman
so closely that the latter was forced to
admit that the subsidized senator was
his own colleague from South Caro-
lima. Senator Spooner replied that he
would leave that matter to be settled
with the junior senator from South
Carolina
Had Made the Charges Before.
1t was supposed that the incident was
closed in view of the fact that Senator
Tillman had repeatedly charged his
colleague with selling his vote for the
treaty IN consideration for Federal pat
lonage in South Carolina.
During the colloquy between Tillman
and SpOoner, Senator McLaurin was
absent from the chamber attending
meeting of the Committee on Indian
AHa-rs. He was notified that he was
oelng attacked in the Senate by his
colleague. so he hurried back to the
chamber. He sent for a copy of the
notes Of the Official Reported giving
the exact language of Senator Tillman.
AFTER reading the notes carefully SEN
dCor McLaurin was recognized and,
ADDRESSING the Senate, denounced the
statement of Senator Tillman as "a
"milul' deliberate and malicious lie"
Inc assault came when the final word
ne was spoken by Mr.. McLaurin Till
man sprang up like a flash, Jumped
uNef the chairs between him and his
Collea%ue, and before he could be
syopped, dealt him a severe blow on
welt -" iai sc leu
1cLaurin warded off the blow, which
was intended for his eve, and retail
or l1'eG NV, with a fierce upper cut, landing
oii ot IlIman's jaw. The two men
+ilOHed' but before any more blows
W., tNchanged, Senator Warren of
pEonlng, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arns
layton, Senator Tillman's son who
was present and several other persons.
separated the belligerents.
solae encounter only occupied a few
oHuS, but it was fierce and desper-
ci' while it lasted. The greatest ex-
ttn'eht prevailed in the Senate and
f. ne occupants of the galleries arose
ir, ioH their seats, apparently anticipat-
Hee nght on the floor all around.
"tOriaI Dignity Outraged.
rinmalor Teller who sits next Senator
"lIldh, arose and called the two sem
Co,.. ,s TO order, as soon as he could re-
ana rom the shock senatorial dignity
For,I,ooOoIuIh mad sustained. Senator
ueir ~ ana other senators We're on
that tL- - tiS Sdlle time, declaring
outrs,e, ue uignity of the Senate had been
forr,'5'eu oy the unprecedented per-
Soi,r "Ccs OIL the two senator's from
Seneto Caroilha and moved that the
M proceed to executive session.
h.toi s'lierles were cleared the doors
the ana TOT more than two hours
Wers wv senator's from South Carolina
tho.r u,Jected to severe censure by
pubii..o" o"eaBues, Democratic and Re-
h In Tor the disgraceful encounter
h, "pen Senate. At the concIusion ~
Tn oepate' in which neither Senator
no,ll-.'.iin or Senator McLaurin wera
so,,Ntled to participate. a motion to
co,tr lhe two offending senators in
A elp' was unanimously adonted
f.r ther motion was adopted 10 re-
pri,,ile case TO the Committee on
tfor ses ana Elections for such ac-
va une circumstances Justify. IL
eeuti'.aN past hve O'Clock when. the ex-
glr., session concluded and the
sou u'''eu business IN open ses-
h. t,pr Tillman sat complacently al
sor.tN surrounded by three or four
I. ."N' With a smile OF defiance on
e short distance away sat
iu . M Laur1n, cool and collected.
1f f'fHation with Senators Baqon
fa ana Patterson of Colorado.
i.. ."i blackburn. acting a. media
.D Neen The two beliieerents. urred
., n'nator Tlliman b. allowed fo
t '1e FOR his unseemly conduct
vac parliamentary aqunbbla
esr. whether, under the rules of 49,
'a..s eehhtofs IN contempt were nl-
sor.t,'" 1e heard sn their V#n behalf