The age-herald., 1902-02-23
PitchfOrk Senator Reflects Upon Honor of Colleague and
 is Called a Liar
STATESMEN GO AT EACH
 OTHER LIKE PUGILISTS
Efforts of Three Men Required to Stop the TroubIe-Both Senators at once Declared to Be
 In Contempt.
xAEAsHINGToN, February 22-

"A ASHINGTON, February 22.- ~ Washingington's birthday
 M was signalized in the United States Senate by a fist fight and was the occasion of one of the most sensa- tional scenes ever enacted in the Sen ate chamber
 The two Senators from South Caro- lima were the active participants in the affray. MT. Tillman, in the course of a speech upon the Philippine tariff bill, made serious reflections upon the honor of his colleague, MT. McLaurln. In brief, he charged that his vote in support of the ratification of the treaty of Paris had been cast through the exer- else of improper influences.
 His statement was developed in a collo- guy between him and MT. Spooner of Wisconsin. MT. Tillman at first declined to mention names, but when the Wiscon- sin Senator reminded him that he owed 1t to himself, to the Senate and to the country to name the man, Mr. Tlllman indicated that he referred to his col league from South Carolina. Little inn aginng that his words were likely to be prophetic MT. Spooner remarked senten- tiously:
 "I will leave the Senator to fight that out with his colleague"
 MT. McLaurin was not in the chamber at the time. being engaged in committee work. but he was sent for and appeared just as MT. Tillman concluded his speech. kAs,gssS MckAurin Pale as Ashes,
 Pale as ashes, MT. McLaurin rose to address the Senate, speaking to ques- tion of personal privilege. He reviewed MT. Tillman's charges briefly and then de- nounced the statement made by his col league as wilful, malicious and deliber- ate lie.
 Scarcely had the portentious words fal- len from his lips, when Mir Tillman, sit ting few seats from him. with MT. Teller of Colorado, between them sprang at him. MT. McLaurin, who had half turned toward MT. Tillman, met him half way, and in an instant the two senators, having swept MT. Teller aside were engaged in a rough and tumble fight MT. McLaurin received a heavy blow on the forehead while Mir Ttllman got bad punch on the nose, which brought blood. Assistant Sergeant -at-Arms Layton sprang over desks to reach and separate the combatants and himself received sev- eral blows. He got between them finally and by main strength wrenched them apart. Senators Warren of Wyoming and Scott of West Virginia, two of the most powerful men in the senNte, leaped to his assistance and pinioned the arms of the belligerent senators and forced them into their seats
 Intense excitement prevailed in the Sen ate and galleries, which were thronged with people.
 | Everybody was on his feet. Not a | word was spoken.
 Senators Stood Helpless. | Senators stood about the chamber for l the moment. quiet, helpless and pale to l the lips. Finally order was restored par tially and in the midst of intense excite | ment the Senate went into executive ses- | sion
 For two hours the Senate discussed the event behind closed doors. When the | doors were opened it was made known 1 that both of the South Carolina Senators | by unanimous vote had been declared to be in contempt of the Senate. They were | permitted by a vote of the Senate to make apologies to the Senate. These statements were listened to by both the | Senators and the people in the galleries 1 with breathless interest.
 Senator Tillman left the capitol when | adjournment was taken for recess and 1 did not return for the night session i Senator McLaurin was in the chamber i about o'clock but left early. Neither | Senator, when seen at his home, would | make a statement.
 No Revenues Needed. | Discussing the Philippine tariff bill he | declared that no revenues were needed | by the nsular government in the Philip | pines as it had ample funds. The sole ob- I ject of the bill was that the Philippine archipelago should be exploited and be made to furnish an opportunity to the few 1 to reap a golden harvest from the islands.
 He declared further along with respect
 to Cuba that the purpose of the admin l istration was to give protection to the
 Cuban plantations in order to put mil lions of dollars in the pockets of the sugar and tobacco trusts. Thus 1t was, too, with
 the Philippines. It was proposed to give the archipelago the same sort or free l trade as Porto Rico had been given. That
 was the game" he insisted. and Just | as sure as the sun sets 1t was the pur-
 pose to afford American capitalists every
 opportunity to acquire possession or the
 valuable properties in the Philippines. Yet" said he. God save the mark we
 pretend to be honest
 Mir Tillman maintained that instead of trying to civilize and elevate the Filipfnos
 the government might better have spent some s4OO,0OO 900 expended in the Philip
 pines in colonizing the negroes In the southern states of this country
 He later directed a question at "his friends on the other side of the chamber. MT. Spooner inquired to whom he re- ferred
 Spooner a Political Coward. q have many friends on the Repub- lican side" said MT. Tllman Personally you are nice, clean-hearted sort Of man, but politically you are the most infamous coward that ever happened Oaughter) In the course of his speech Mir. Tillman became involved in lively colloquy with
 MT. Spooner Wisconsin, regarding the ratification of the Paris treaty. The South Carolina Senator referred to MT.