The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-25
A DISGRAC Full SCENE

that I was in the contempt Of the SEN
ate. nor do I think now II my words are
lead in the record. tat 1 was In on
tempt Of the senate. but at the same
time. a. the senate has ruled that !
I'M IN contempt OF this honorab:e body,
I beg leave to apologize
II desire to say. Mr.. President that
I have been very sorely and severely
tried. 1 was in attendance on the cum
mite on Indian affairs when ! received
a message from q friend IN the senate
that my presence was needed here
The history Of the vote on the Span
ish treaty Is known TO all OF you There
have been statements made in newspa-
pers and insinuations that I had been
Influenced by improper motives in con-
nectton witt my vote on that treaty.
Knowing in my own sou n know
ing that God in Heaven also KNOWS that
IL was false. when / was told that it
was centred down to Inc / was so out
ragged by what ] considered a
brutal assault upon my honor as a man
and especially in view of the fact that
in the beginning Of the session. after
the action OF my PARTY associates. I
made a most careful and deliberate
statement, explaining oil those matters.
/ did not feel as a man that / could
ever hold my head Up again IL 1 did
not resent IL in the place where II was
delivered In the strongest aad most
forceful terms that I could employ.
With that. Mr.. president, / am done.
except / nave this to say. II there is
any more talk OF that kind or any
more.'-
AS Mr.. McLaurin uttered the last
sentences OF his address. intimating
that IL there was any further effort to
press upon him the accusations which
had been made against hun there
might be trouble. there was an evident
stir in the chamber. Several senators
rose to their feet as il half expecting
a renewed outbreak Ct trouble
Senator Bacon. of Georgia, and Sem
ator Patterson. Of Colorado. both OF
whom were sitting near Senator Nc
Laurin. urged him to stop where he
was. Senator Patterson saying: II beg
the senator to refrain.'
AS he resumed his scat he made ar
effort to compose as il to dlspel any
fear on the part of those about him
that it might have been his intention
to p~recipitate further disturbances by
any violent comments.
Philippine Debate Resumed
After this it was arranged at the sug-
gestion Of Senator Lodge, in charge Of
the Philippine bill. that discussion OF
the measure should be resumed. Sena-
tor McLaurin, of Mississippi, desiring
to address the senate
Senator McLaurin then took the floor
In opposition to the pending measure.
He denounced the method of the ma
jority and declared hat the policy was
detrimental TO the best interests of the
United States. The Filipino people did
not want the Americans to rule them
and were firm for independence. He
said it was time ths United States re-
turned to the ancient traditions to
avoid the complications OF colonial gov
eminent.
The senate then at $50 o'clock p. m.
took a recess until g o'clock.
The Senator'S Still in Contempt.
The status Of Senator'S TiIiman and
McLaurin is that they are still in con-
tempt of the senate. and only by a
vote of the senate can either be iecog-
nized. either to speak or to vote on n
question whatever. The senate is
operating under a clause OF Section S,
Article /, of the constitution. which re-
cites.
Each house nay determine the rules
Of it's proceedings, punish member for
~disorderly behavior and. with the con-
currence of t~wo-thirds. expel a member.
The senate adopted d resolution de-
claring both Tillman and McLaurin in
contempt. By a vote 10th were allowed
to make statements, in which both
apologiZed for their c%ctions, but the
senate took no further action and the
resolution referring the matter to the
committee on privileges and elections
is still in operation and until the COM
mittee is discharged or the senate re-
lieves the South Carolina senators Of
their contempt they must remain silent
in the senate. This is the judgement
Of all senators who nave considered the
question and the presiding officer, 1t is
said, will refuse to recognize their right
to participate in the proceedings until
the order Of contempt Is vacated.
Senator Pritchard the
Philippine Bill.
When the senate Ieconvened at s
o'clock not a dozen senators appeared
Carolina. made a brief address in sup
port of the Philippine bill. He referred
particularly to the advantage the Phil
ippines would be to the south and Upon
this point said in part:
II have examined with great care the
importation of cotton n cotton goods
to the Philippine Islands from all coun-
tries, both manufactured and unmanu-
featured cotton, for the twelve months
ending June 1901. / find that the total
importation of cotton and cotton goods
10 those islands for the period named
amounted to $3.50. 307. OF this total the
United States furnished the small
amount Of s127,325 These figures are
surprising but true. THOSE island i'm
ported So, 1872, 9S2 worth of cotton and
cotton goods from countries ether than
the United States in 1901.
rs it not reasonable to suppos that
when our with those islands
is firmly established. as it will surely
be at an early day, the south will fur
nish the greater cart OF this 50, 1882, 9s2
worth of cotton and cotton goods that