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

wilful, deliberate and malicious lie.n
The assault came when the lina
word lie" was spoken by Mel Laurln
Tillman sprang up like flash, iumpe,
Over the chairs between him end hi
colleague, and before he could b.
stopped dealt HIM severe blow on th
forehead, which raised large red welt
McLaurin warded off the blow, which
was intended for his eye, and retaliate,
with fierce upper-cut, landing OF
Illlman's jaw. The two men clinched
but before any more blows were ex
changed Senator Warren, of Wyom
ing, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Law
ton, Senator Tillman's son, who was
] present, and several other persons
separated the belligerents.
The encounter only occupied few
seconds, but it was fierce and desperate
while 1t lasted. The greatest excite
ment prevailed in the Senate and the
occupants of the galleries arose from
their seats apparently anticipating a
| free light all around on the floor below.
Senator Teller, who sits next to
Senator Tillman, arose and called the
two Senators to order as soon as he
could recover from the shock which
Senatorial dignity and decorum had
sustained. Senator Foraker and other
Senators were on their feet at the same
time, declaring that the dignity of the
Senate had been outraged by the un-
precdented performance of the two
Senators from South Carolina, and NOV
ed that the Senate proceed to executive
session.
The galleries were cleared, the doors
looked and for more than two hours
the two Senators from South Carolina
were subjected TO severe censure by
their colleagues, Democratic and Re
publican, for the disgraceful encounter
In open Senate. AT the conclusion of
The debate, in which neither Senator
TIllman nor Senator McLaurin was
permitted to participate, motion to
declare the two Senators in contempt
was unanimously adopted. A further
motion was adopted TO refer the case to
the committee on privileges and elec-
tions for such action as the c,rcun-
stances justify.
1t was halt.past 3 O'Clock when the
executive session concluded and the
Senate resumed business in open ses.
sion. Senator Tillman sat quietly at
his desk, surrounded by three or four
Senators, with smile of defiance on
his face. A short distance awav sat
Senator McLaurin, cool and collected,
in conversation with Senators Bacon.
OF Georgia, and Patterson, of Colorado
Senator Blackburn, acting as media
tor between the two Senator'S, urged
that Tillman be allowed to apologize
for his unseemly conduct. There was
a parliamentary squabble as to whether,
under the rules OF the Senate, Senators
in contempt were allowed to be heard
in their own behalf. Senator Teller
said thet both Senators had indicated
desire to make amends, and the
Chair ruled that by unanimous consent
both Senators might be heard.
Senator Tillman took the floor first
and apologized for losing his temper
and offending the dignity of the SEN
ate. He remarked, sarcastlcally, that
his experience as Governor of South
Carolina for four years had perhaps
untitled him for meeting all the require
ments of the dignity and precedents of
the Senate. He said he regretted his
conduct and added, while he was sorry
for what had occurred, he had acted
under severe provocaiion. "I am
sorry for what 1 did, but under the
circumstances 1 could not have done
otherwise, and, while apologize to
the Senate, l have nothing further to
say"
Senator McLaurin was then recog.
nized, and declared, with great earn.
estness, that he was not willing to al
nit that he was in contempt, and ap
pealed to the Record TO show that his
utterances had violated no rules of the
Senate. He was proceeding to say thai
these charges made against him IN con
nection with his vote on the treaty haC
been repeated 80 often that he was tiret
and sick of having them thrust into hi
teeth. AS man of honor he could not
hold up his head unless he openly
branded these accusations as malici
} ously false. Then, for the first time
showing great excitement, Senator
McLaurin was proceeding to say: 81
1 hear any more of this "-here he wa
! suddenly interrupted by Senator Pat
! terson, of Colorado, who advised hin
, to say no more. 1t WAS evident tha
the junior Senator was worked up Il
: the point of delivering threat, bu
acting upon the suggestion 0f severa
3 Senators near him, he abruptly too
: his seat.
r Thus the most exciting incident th
Q Senate has ever known ended for tn
r time being. Tonight the Senator's
scrap ls the one topic of copversa.io
t in Washington. Opinions are abou
t equally divided as to who had the at
d vantage in the encounter. The apolt
r gies which both Senators offered ca
il hardly be regarded as due reparatio
& for the disgraceful indignity inaicte
n upon the Senate, and many Democrat
IS and Republican Senators express th
6 opinion that precautions shall be take
n so far as the committee of privilege
IS and elections Is concerned to prevent
9 recurrence of to-day's acene.
10 Way down under the surface it is b.
10 lieved that the friction between Sen
le tor Tillman and Senator McTaurin
a. due to the fight they are now engage
n In oy9y tEc pending appointments
d. Mr.. Koester, as clerk OF internal rev
10 nue., and Postmasters Richardson, Chs
A fell and Purcell, at Greenville, Ak,