Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-27
Senators Tillman and McLaurin
Have Sharp Fistic Encounter
on Floor.
SENATE VERY INDIGNANT.
Will Thoroughly Punish the Men Who
Have Disgraced That Body-Placed
in Contempt and Probably Win
Not be Restored For Thirty
Have Apologized.

Washington. Feb. % The topic OF cniet
interest in senatorial circles to-day, ANA
in fact everywhere in Cthcial Washing
ton, was tho fight in the Senate between
Senators Tillman and McLaurin of South
Carolina There have been a rambler ot
conferences among senators as 10 what
should he done to preserve the dignity or
the Senate and to manifest its sentiment
with reference to the two senators VINO
yio,nted It's traditions. While no plan OF
procedure has been aSrocd upon. it is
learned that there will be very deliberate
action and it is said to be more than likely
that it will not be less than 81 days before
tho South Carolina senators Will bc restored
to their full powers as senators, thls uthp-
craticn on their case being i'll the nature
of a punishment. since they Will not Ia
allowed to address the Senate or vote until
no longer in contempt of tie Senate
Senator Burrovs is chairman of the com
mittee on privileges and elections anu &c
night he said that in advance of any meet
ing Of the committee he cannot say what
will be done. but he added that the matter
is OF such serious Importance that 1t must
receive careful consideration
1t is understood the conference among
senators have shown the existence of IL
considerable sentiment that the apologies
made by tho South Carolina senator's arc
not deemed sufficient and that the commit
tee will require other and more ample apol
the assurance that such apologies will he
made to the Senate before a report will he
made to the effect that the senator's have
sufficiently purged themselves of the con-
tempt of which the Senate has adjudged
them guilty.
The whole matter. as stated in the Sen
ate debate yesterday. is without precedent
and the Senate is now to make u precedent
in the matter of punishment and in requir
ing sufficient apology. The conferences
to-day developed the fact that the senator's
regard the matter with all the seriousness
with which they dealt with it yesterday
and that they intended to take such action
as will prevent, if possible, similar cpl
sodes III the near future.
STORY OF THE FIGHT.
Washington, d. c., Feb. % Senators
Tillnan and McLaurin, colleagues from
the State of South Carolina. fought a
fierce battle with fists ON the floor of the
Senate yesterday. Each struck the other
repeatedly, and blood was drawn on Mr.
Tillman by a herd blow deli, cred by Mr.
McLaurin The angry fighters were sep
arated with great difficulty by other sen
ators and Assistant Sergea t-at-Arm
Layton.
This remarkable encounter occurred dur
ing " hat had been a rather heated discus
sion of the Philippine bill, and in the
presence of an unusually large number in
tho galleries, which we're crowded because
of the general holiday. After the Senate
had discussed TIE disgraceful occurrence
IL q secret session, the two senators made
apologies for their conduct, but were de-
carcd In contempt.
Mr. Tillman's speech on the Philippine
bill led up to the fsticuffs. He had vigor-
ously denounced the measure, and criti-
cised the methods of the administration
when lac spoke of his friends On the other
side of the chamber.
The proceedings after the doors were
closed covered almost two hours in time
and resulted in TIE adoption OF a resolution
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 be
tween them this day in open session, and
that the matter be referred to the com
m!ttee on privileges and elections, with in
structions to report what action shall be
taken by the Senate in regard thereto
Mr. Foraker. in Offering the resolution
declared that the occurrence had been an
outrage upon the dignity of the Senate
of which the Senate should take cogniz
Rrce.
Mr.. Hoar Endorsed the resolution of MIR
Foraker. but thcught the action OF tho
Senate should lie more explicit than that
contemplated by the resolution. lie. there
fore moved to amend 1t by ordering that
the two senators from South Carolina be
declared in contempt by the Senate for
Gisorderly corduot and speech in it's pres
ence and both be taken into custody.
Mr.. Blackburn and other senator's said
that the two South Carolina senators were
willing to apologize and thus purpe them
selTes OF the contempt, and in view of this
statement MIR. Hoar withdrew the portion
or his amendment providing for their com
mitment.
MIR. Foraker then accepted Mr. Ioar'
amendment, and 1t was embodied in ths
resolution Before the vote was taken scv
eral senators spoke. While there vera
many kind utterances regarding both sen
etors, every one of the speakers laid stress
nlon the gravity and seriousness of the
oncnce Mr.. Hanna said that. serious n
the encounter il the Senate had been. il
was not so grave as the charge of miscor
duct against Mr.. MoLaurin
n motion was made by Mr. Teller look
ing to the opening of the doors. This was
voted down, Is to A.. The senators 9encr.
ply expressed themselves as willing ia
bear the apologies promised but insisted
Ihat there should first be action upon the
resolution.
Upon the suggestion Of Mr. Bacon there
Was a division OF the two branches of The
Question The first vote was taken on the
declaration that the two senators were In
,ontempt, and it prevailed by a unanimous
vote of 81 to on roll call. The remainde,