Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-23
FORMER BRANDED As MALICIOUS LIAR
Tillman Responds with Blow in Face
Which Opens the Combat.
SENATE IS SCENE OF WILD EXCITEMENT
Incident Pronounced as Unprecedented in
History of that Body.
sELLlGERINT MEMBERS PUT IN CONTEMPT
Both ApOloRise After order t. RE-
stored TiIlman's Charge of Me-
Laurin's Yielding to Undue In
nuence Causes Trouble.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-washington'A
birthday was signalised in the United States
senate by fist fight The day set apart
by the nation to AFFORD the American peo-
pie opportunity to pay fitting tribute to
the memory Of the first president was the
occasion OF one Of the most sensational
scenes ever enacted in the senate chamber.
The two senator's from South Carolina
were the active participants in the ARRAY.
Mr.. Tillman in the course of a speech upon
the Philippine tariff bill made serious re-
hections upon the honor of his colleague,
Mr.. McLaurin. In effect he charged that
his vote in support Of the ratification of
the treaty Of Paris had been cast through
the exercise Of improper influences. His
statement was developed in a collouuy be-
tween him and Mr.. Spooner of Wisconsin.
Mr Ttllman at first declined to mention
names, but when the Wisconsin senator re-
minded him that ne owed it to himself, to
the senate and &c the country to name
the man." Mr.. Tillman Indicated that he
referred to his colleague Of South Carolina.
Little imagining that his words were
likely to be prophetic, Mr.. Spooner re-
marked sententiously:
i Will leave the senator to fight that
out with his colleague"
McLaurin is Absent.
Mr.. MeLaurin was not in the chamber At
the time being engaged in committee vorl
but he was sent for and appeared lust as
Mr.. Tfllman concluded his speech. Pale a.
ashes McLaurin rose to address the senate
speaking to a question Of personal privt-
lege. He reviewed Mr.. Tillman's charges
briefly. and then denounced that statement
py MS colleague as "willful, malicious ana
deliberate lie."
scarcely had the portentous words fallen
from his lips when Mr.. Tillman, sitting |.
Iew seats from him, with Mr.. Teller of
colorado between them. sprang at him. Mr.
McLaurin' who had half turned toward Mr..
lliiman, met him half way and in an In.
s.ant the two senator's. having swept Mr..
Ieher aside, were engaged in a rough and
.ulnpie nght' Mr.. McLaurin received n
msavs n,s oiow on the forehead, while Mr..
brought blood.
Layton Gets Strong Blows.
Assistant Sergeant at Arms I,av,or
sprang over desks to reach and sanara,o
tne comoatants and himself received sew
erai oiows' He got between them finally
anu Dy main strength wrenched them anart
senators Warren Of Wyoming and scott
OF west virginia, two OF the most power-
iui men In the senate, leaped to his as
sistance' ana pinioning the arms OF the
pellgerent senators, forced them into their
seats intense excitement prevailed IN tbe
senate and galleries, which were thronppd
by people. 0"seu
senators stood about the chamber 70,
the moment quite helpless and pale N tbs
lips Finally, order was restored nartisII,
ana IN the midst Of intense excitement ,bs
senate went into secret legislative sess,or
For two hours the senate discussed IN,
event behind closed DOORS When the door,
were opened 1t was made known that ho,t
OF the South Carolina senators had No.
declared to be in contempt of the senate
They were permitted by vote oF th,
senate to make apologies to the senate
Their statements were listened to bv hot,
senators and the people in the RaIIerIe,
with breathless interest.
Both Decline TO Talk.
Senator Tillman left the capitol whs,
adjournment was taken for recess and dit
not return for the night session. Senator
McLaurin was In the chamber about
p m'' but left early. Neither senator. whe,
seen at his home, would make a statemen Mt
In accordance with a longtime custom
on Washingtons birthday, the farewell
ADDRESS OF Washine 'n was read In tn
senate today, Immediately after the con
vening of that body at IL O'Clock. Mr.
Burrows Of Michigan read the immorta
document At the conclusion of the read
ing, at 11;50. Mr.. Lodge presented a mann
orial from the Massachusetts, legislature n
favor OF such an amendment TO the con
stitution as would place 1t in the power a
congress to enact laws regarding the hour
Of labor In such states.
When routine business had been CON
cluded Mr.. Ttllman resumed his speech A
opposition to the pending Philippines tarii
bill, which he began yesterday. He de
clared that no revenues were needed b
the insular government in the Philippines
as It had ample funds. The sole object Q
the bill was that the Philippine archipel
ago should be exploited and be made 1
furnish an opportunity to the few to rea
a golden harvest from the islands.
Aseribes Interior Motives.
He declared further along, with respec
to Cuba, that the purpose Of the admins
tration was to give protection to the Cuba
plantations in order to put millions of dol
lars into the pockets OF the sugar and to
bacco trusts.
Thus Il was, too, with the Philippine,
1t was proposed to give the Oriental arch
pelago the same sort of free trade q
Porto Rico had been given. That was tn
game" he insisted, and just as sure a
the sun sets 1t was the purpose to amor
American capitalists every opportunity
acquire possession of the valuable proper
ties in the Philippines. Yet" said h,
! God save the mark, We pretend to be hGa
est"
Mr.. Tillman maintained that instead
trying to ciyilize and elevate the Filiplno
the government might better have speI
some OF the 500. .00O. 900 expended In Ii
Philippines in colonizIng the negroes of II
, southern states OF this country.
When he later directed a question
his friends on the other side Of the chan
ber," Mr.. spooner inquired to whom /
referred.
II have many friends on the republica
side" said Mr.. Tillman. Personally 70
are a clean. nice-hearted sort OF men, b.
politically Ea9 are tbs biggest lOt et ess