Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-27
From a staff Correspondent.

the Philippine bill. o the interminable
wrangle! The monotonous speeches, stud
ded with gems in the shape of dry facts
and figures.
But this Saturday the house is not in
| session. There is nothing Tor the streams
of visitors TO do but flow into the senate
gallery. And then too, Tillman, the hre-
eater is to perform today. Maybe he Will
! breathe smoke from his nostrils In the
/ heat of his anger-yes, to the senate gal
| lery! Pile in, stack in, wedge in, until not
a seat is vacantl
| They are all here now. Daughters OF the
| American Revolution. Anoskeag veterans
| in colonial costume delegates to the Wo-
mans Council, Grand Army OF the Repuo-
| lie Vets Confederate Vets; men, women,
| children All closely woven into a gigan-
| tic multi-colored wreath and set over the
brow of the nations mighty intellect.
There goes Tillman's roar! He is hurl-
| ing thunderbolts at the Republicans for
holding the Philippines. How he rends
them with his scorn! See the scowl upon
| his countenancei Hear the mockery in his
voice! His rage lis fascinating to the
men upon whom it is unleashed for they
bend forward to catch the very breath
of it. Some are pale. All are silent.
| Gravely silent.
Hoar is transfixed. He stares at Tillman
through his great round spectacles and
| his fat smooth face is flushed. About his
| thin lips there fingers that unfathomable
| smile which tempests have failed to upset
| or time to alter. Hanna blinks at Tillman
| from under his heavy lids as though he
would comprehend his meaning If such a
thing were possible to a Republican sena-
/ tor Lodge is smiling sarcastically. De-
pew, looking down from seat in the gal
! lery beside his new-made bride, smiles
/ blandly.
See Spoonerl He is crouched like cat
L 5- lie
they not fought half a hundred fierce
\ battles in debate during the last ten days?
| Did Tillman let one vulnerable statement
| escape while Spooner spoke yesterday?
Watch Spooner Tillman observed him
and Tillman has thrown dart at him.
'I am glad to see the senator from
Wisconsin is here now" Tillman shouts,
turning his single eye. blazing, on his po-
| litical enemy.
81 hope the senator does not think
4 STAYED away because" Spooner angrily
begins, as he half rises from his seat.
ooh, no., Tillman contemptuously re-
| torts ''I do not. / threw no bricks while
he was absent and shall throw no rocks
/ now. Ny friends on the other side"
who are your friends on the other
side?" demands Spooner, desperately, de-
! termined to harry his opponent at every
possible opportunity.
| 81 have many friends on the Republi-
can side" and with this Tillman smiles
/ blandly. Personally, you are a nice,
| clean-hearted set of men" The smile has
vanished and that scowl. deeper than be-
| fore reappears. His voice changes from
mock amiability to a thunderOus roar.
| But politically you are the most infamous
\ towards and hypocrites that ever hap
| pened."
Spooner is fatty f1oored. As he resumes
| his seat he signs YEARLY and throws
| resigned look UP into the galleries. Till
| mn. as though unconscious of routing his
enemy. proceeds with his fiery speech.
| Spooner RECEIVERS only after a long rest.
! hut he is strong again when Tfllman
sneaIs of Bryan's trip to washington to
secure votes for the ratification OF the
| Paris treaty. a.
The South Carolinians has declared that
the Republicans could not get enough
votes for a long time, in spite OF Bryan's
| efforts on the same line. he Volleys them
/ again with his cannon tones.
But you did get votes enough and you
| know how you got them!'
| spooner is on his feet. He is crossing the
| aisle toward Tillman. His face is white
( with suppressed wrath. Now they stand
glaring at each other like tigers.
I 81 don't know how we got them. How
/ did we get them?" And Spooners hst Is
| clenched at his side.
The galleries can hardly wait for the
| answer Faces go aShen gray with the
\ intense excitement Breaths come thick
| and slowly. VIII they come to blowsT
| Surely, unless Tillman backs down.
| "Circumstantial evidence shows that you
got them by the use of improper infiu-
ences!" Tillman will not back down!
| ''Name the influences and the man who
was subjected to themP,
| spooner is goading Tfllman. Now the
| senate can hardly wait for the answer.
! All along the rows of red desks they
1 he rs
| Carolina feud! Spooner has pried 1t open
again. He has Tillman pinned to the wall,
| and Tillman can escape only by one pecu-
| liar blow. With that blow he must strike
not Spooner, but
| McI.aurin! Where is McLaurin? Invol-
unfairly nearly every eye on the senate
| floor is turned to McLaurin's chair. 1t Is
vacant. Tillman sees it is vacant. He
/ parties.
II got my information in conhdence?'
lie cannot escape with that glancing
i blow.
1.-The man who impugns another in con-
! fdence is a coward Spooner retorts.
| And the galleries let on a battery Of ap-
plause.
T1llman trembles. The color has fed
| from his face. He is growing desperate.
| Spooner has stabbed too deeply for
| fighting man like Tillman to suffer it IN
/ hinchingly Born into politics fighting,
| lighting up through politics TO the highest
| ramparts, Tillman knows when a stab
/ is dangerous. But he must be wary. Is
there no way out? Just one, perhaps.
1.-The charge of cowardice does not rest
upon me. l believe improper influences
were used out 1 cannot prove it"
No. that way VIII not let him out
| Spooner blocks the path.
''Then / would not say it!' Spooner
! cries in haunting tones.
/ We'll" and Tillman pitches again head
| long into the fray. ''the patronage Of one
state was given to Democrat who voted
/ for the treaty"
Name the slater
1.-The state of South CarolinaT'
They heard it out in the rotunda,
/ through thick walls.
Subtle spoonerl He has torn away the
| barrier between the bull dogs at last. Let
1 them at each other nowl He smiles tri-
1 umphantly and turns to his desk. Over
his shoulder he filings a parting shot.
] go fight it out with your colleague,
| then"
| Il am readyr' cries Tillman, and every
/ man within the sound of his voice knows
! he speaks the truth.