Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-02-27

washington, req. ZS.-W aSnlnSt0n s
farewell address was read by Senator
Burrows of Michigan Immediately
after the converting of the senate yes
terday. When the routine business
was concluded Senator Tillman of
South Carolina resumed his speech in
opposition to the pending Philippine
tariff bill. When the latter directed a
question at his friends on the other
side of the chamber" Senator Spooner
of Wisconsin inquired to whom he re-
ferred
81 have many friends on the repub-
lican side" said Tillman. Personal
ly you are a nice, clean-hearted sort
of men, but politically you are the
most infamous towards and hypo-
critics that ever happened"
In the course of his speech Senator
Tillman became involved in a lively
colloquy with Senator Spooner re-
garding the ratification of the Paris
treaty. The South Carolina senator
W SpoOASI COlul1SulS III hlo
speech of Friday upon the part taken
by William J. Bryan in securing the
ratification of the treaty. He agreed
with the Wisconsin senator that the in
fiuence of Bryan was potent, but insist
ed that even his influence was not
sufficient to induce the senate to rat
ify the treaty After he had done all
it was possible for him to do, Tillman
asserted, the republicans yet lacked
votes enough to secure ratification.
"You know" he shouted, shaking
his finger at the republican side, "how
those votes necessary were secured"
How were they secured?" demand
ed SpoOner.
81 know if the senator does not" re-
piled Tillman. 81 have received in
formation in confidence from that side
of the chamber. I know from that
that improper influences were used in
getting those votes"
Name the man." insisted Spooner,
upon whom those influences were
brought to bear. 1t is due the sena-
tor, due the country to name him.
The man who impeaches another in
confidence is a coward. If the sena-
tor knows any man who has been inn
properly influenced he should name
him"
81 know asserted Tillman, that
the federal patronage of the state has
been parceled out to a senator since
the ratification of that treaty"
What state?" demanded Spooner.
South Carolina" shouted TilIman.
Then" said Spooner, 81 leave you
to fight the matter out with your col
league"
A few more words ended the Incl
dent for the time but the feeling en-
gendered manifested itself later in a
thrilling and sensational scene. Sen
ator Tillman, continuing his speech,
read letters from soldiers in the Phil
ippines detailing alleged cruelties
practiced upon the natives by the
American forces. Senator Hoar in
terrupted to say that he received
many letters making charges against
American forces but in every instance
the writer had given him the informa-
ton either in confidence or as Incl
dents which they merely heard and
which they professed to know nothing
personally.
Senator Burton of Kansas interrupt
ed to defend Gen. Funston, upon
whom Tillman's comments had reflect
ed. Senator Burton read Funston's
explicit denial of the very story
which had been referred to by Till
man. Soon afterward Tillman con-
Guided his remarks.
Scarcely had he resumed his seat
when there was enacted one of the
most sensational scenes ever wit
messed in the history of the United
States senate Pale to the lips, trem-
bling with emotion which in vain he
endeavored to control, Senator Nc
Laurin of South Carolina rose and adj
dressed the senate, speaking to a
question of personal privilege. De-
spite the emotion under which he was
laboring, McLaurin spoke with delib-
Grafton. His enunciation was clear
and distinct.
"Mr. president" he began, 81 rise
During my absence a few moments
ago from the senate chamber in at
tendance upon the committee on In
dian affairs the senator who has just
taken his seat (Tillman) said that i'm
proper influences had been used in
oh nip Of
that treaty, then later said it applied
to the senator from South Carolina
who had been given the patronage of
that state"
Still controlling himself with an ef-
fort, but still speaking calmly, with
carefully modulated tone, McLaurin
said, and the words cut through the
senate chamber like a knife:
81 desire to state, Mr.. President,
that | would not use the strong lam
guage that intend had 1 not, soon
after the senate met, replied to these
insinuations and said they were untrue.
Inow say" continued McLaurin, with
distinct emphasis upon every word,
half turning toward his colleague
(Tillman), who sat in the same row
only three seats away, that the state
ment is wilful, malicious, deliber
ate lie"
McLaurin got no further with his
statement. Tillman, who was Occu-
pying his regular seat on the main
isle, sprang with tiger-Iike ferocity
at his colleague
Senator Teller of Colorado, who was
sitting at the desk between the two
South Carolina senators, was swept
aside without ceremony. Indeed, the