The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-23


forced into their seats
Mr.. McLaurin, although very pale.
seemed to be the calmer Of the two Mr..
A1llman was as white as a sheet As he
sat down in his seat he drew his hand
| kerchief from his pocket and wiped blood
| from his face, that was flowing slightly
| from the nose
During the fight senators all over the
chamber were on their feet. Not a
word, however, was spoken. The senate
| seemed paralyzed at the shocking scene.
The president pro tenn, Mr.. Frye, was
| the first to regain composure. BY use of
| his gaVel he secured order, although sen :
ators, having by this time partially re-
| covered from the shock, moved hurriedIy
| about the chamber. Mr. Gallinger was
first to address the chair.
''Mr. President" said he, 81 ask that
| the doors be closed "
Again the president pro tenn. requested
the senate to be in order, and that sena-
tors resume their Seats
McLaurin Again Seeks to Talk.
It was reserved for Mr.. Pritchard, North
Carolina, in a measure to relieve the
| strain. He said:
IF the Senator from South Carolina
has concluded
He was interrupted by Mr.. McLaurin,
who said very calmly:
II will now proceed with my remarks,
| which were SO unceremoniously inter
rupted."
II call the senator from South Carolina
! to ORDER" interrupted Mr.. Teller.
(Which one Of the senators?" inquired
Mr.. McLaurin, with some asperity.
This one" said Mr.. Teller, indicating
| Mr.. McLaurin, land the other one, too,
| for that matter"
"Mr. President" interjected Mr.. For
aker. 81 join III that. Surely" he con-
| -,1z
with excitement, there is some way to
! protect the dignity of this body"
Certainly" said Mr.. Burrows, who
! had been endeavoring vainly to get the
eye Of the chair, land the senate cannoE
| let this thing pass, Mr.. President"
''Mr President" again said Mr.. CALM
ger. 1T ask that the doors might be clos
"Mr. President said Mr.. Foraker,
who had moved into the main aisle, II
move that the senate go into executive
session.
Without comment, each senator labor
| Ing under the emotion which all endeav-
! ored to conceal, the motion was agreed
| to, and at 1852 the doors were closed for
! executive considera ton of the fight
| Both Declared in Contempt.
The proceedings after the doors were
| closed covered almost two hours Of time
ton in the form of an order, as follows:
Ordered, that the two senators from
! the state of South Carolina be declared
in contempt of the senate, on account of
the alteration and personal encounter
between them this day in open session,
Cad that the matter be referred to the
committee on privileges and elections,
with instructions to report what action
| shall be taken by the senate in regard
| thereto"
The resolution was first suggested by
| Mr. Foraker. Mr.. Hoar urged that the
! two senators from South Carolina
| be declared in contempt at once, and that
both should be taken in custody, but
withdrew the amendment when Mr..
| Blackburn stated that the two South
Carolina senators were willing to apol-
ogize and thus purge themselves Of the
| contempt.
Before the vote was taken a number of
Senators Teller, Fairbanks, Hanna,
Blackburn and Spooner spoke.
Hanna Calls for Investigation.
Mr. Hanna suggested that, serious as
had been the encounter in the senate, it
was not so grave as the charge Of mis-
conduct made against Mr. McLaurin, and
he thought that any investigation under
| taken should extend to that matter.
Mr. Teller said the occurrence was not
| unprecedented, citing the encounter be
tween Senators Benton and Foote. He
| also suggested that Mr.. Spooner was not
entirely blameless for today's occurrence,
| because by his heterogeneous he had
| provoked Mr.. Tillman.
The first vote was taken on the decla-
ration that the two senators were III con-
tempt, and it prevailed by unanimous
| vote Of Gil to 0, on roll call. Ihe re-
| mainder of the resolution referring the
| matter to the committee on privileges
and elections was adopted without roll
! ran Roth South Carolina senators re-
! nained silent in their seats during the
entire secret session.
| When the open session was resumed
Mr. Foraker suggested that unahlIious
| consent be given to the senators 10 MAKE
| statements.
MI blackburn said what he wanted TO
| 1znoxv was whether senators In contempt
| could address the senate, not as maItef
of courtesy, but as matter OF T1ght. Inc
action of the senate in declaring MI
rTiliman in contempt, was in MS Juds-
ment premature
TiIIman Calm in Apology.
Mr.. Aldrich R - said that there
was nothing in the rules of the senate
| which covered specifically such viola
zion of the order and dignity of the body
as had occurred The discussion on TINS
/ question was participated IN by Mr.
| Blackburn, Mr.. PdttexSoA' WA "a 0'
and Mr.. Teller.
President pro tenn. Frye in making his
ruling said:
while these two senators are declared
| to be in contempt the chair could not
| recognize either if he should rise and
| address the chair; but on motion made
| by any otner senator that they be heard,
the chair would recognize the senator
| making the motion, and would hold that
| n, : ,ootior was in oruer What will hap
nan after the two senator's have purged
themselves so far as it is possible, OF
| contempt, the chair will be prepared to
rule whenever that question Is raised.
Upon motion of Mr. Blackburn both
| OFFENDING senators were given opportunity
ssto make any statement,in their own way
to the senate to purge themselves Of the
contempt"
In a breathless silence. Mr. Tillman
arose. He was calm and spoke deliper-
ately and every one Of the hundreds OF