The Washington times., 1902-02-24

! senate, although alterations mad oc'
CURED and the lie had been passed. Sen
ator Berry of Arkansas quoted the prece'
! dent established in the alteration be-
/ tween Senators Benton and Foote. III
! that case, Mr.. Berry pointed out. the
/ Senate had been content with an apology
and that was the end of it. Mr.. Berry
/ thought that an apology in the present
case would be sufficient.
| Mr.. Bate of Tennessee deplored the
situation. He is a great stickler for the
dignity of the Senate, and expressed the
wish that the two Senators had settled
their differences outside the chamber
but he did not agree with some Senators
who he intimated were inclined to deal
too harshly with Mr.. Tillman.
In Open Session.
Mr. Bacon of Georgia contended that
the action of the Senate, whatever it
was, ought TO be taken in the open Sem
ate in accordance with the motion of Mr..
Teller. Mr.. Blackburn took the same
view.
The keynote of the speeches of the
Democrats was that before the resolu-
tion was put to a vote the two Senators
involved in the controversy ought to be
permitted to have the opportunity of
purgng themselves and addressing the
Senate personally.
They took the ground. as Mr.. Black
burn did in the subsequent open session,
that the Senators had the right to appear
in their own behalf before the Senate
acted. and that action looking to their
punishment, if such was intended. ought
not to be taken until after they had been
heard in open session where the offence
was committed.
This view was combated by Senator's
Hoar. Aldrich. Burrows, Fairbanks, and
others.
Senator Blackburn seemed to be act
ing for Mr.. Tillman and Senator Teller
for Mr. McLaurin. These two Senators
had evidently conferred and were desir-
Gus of disposing of the case in the least
Objectionable manner, and both pleaded
that the whole subject be considered in
open session. Their arguments, however,
fell upon deaf and unwilling ears, and
the Senate refused to listen to their aD-
peals. This refusal was all the more en-
phatic after a short statement by Senator
Hanna.
There was much confusion at the time
Senator Hanna took the flor. But one
Senator. who related the jrcumstance.
said that Mr. Hanna declared that Sen
ator Tillman had in the open Senate ac-
cused the Republicans of being towards
and hypocrites," and that in view of
this statement Senator McLaurin must
have justice done him
Republicans Unanimous.
This, it was claimed, was the only ref
erence to politics in the course of the dis
cussion Whether this statement had any
weight or not, the Republicans, with
practical unanimity, voted to settle the
matter then and there and not permit
the action to be taken before the crowd
ed galleries.
Senator Teller refused to vote, not, as
he said. because he did not believe the
Senators were in contempt. but for the
reason that he did not think the matter
had been taken w in the proper form
and in accordance with the precedents
of the Senate.
During the secret legislative session
neither Senator Tillman nor Senator Nc
Laurin had anything to say. From the
moment the resolution declaring them in
contempt was laid before the Senate both
men lost their right to be recognized as
Senators.
Early in the discussion Senator Spoon
er walked over to the 1esk of Mr.. Till
man and said: I'm very sorry that this
thing occurred. Had | known what the
result would have been l should never
have asked you the question l did or
pressed you for an answer. | never
low"
You had no right to press me-" Mr..
Tillman answered. Il halted up to the
last minute in giving you the name of
the man | had in mind But you pressed
me. and | could not in honor to myself,
after having gone so far, decline when
pressed by you to name the man. l did
so. and am willing to abide by the re-
suit. You are not to blame, for this
.hipp hound n la
| have said nothing and done nothing that
| was not justified In doing
Declined to Talk.
Senator Tillman has declined to make
any statement up TO this time To
friend in the Senate, however, Mr.. Till
man, after the session adjourned, said
that he anticipated what had happened
He said to this Senator that Mr. Nc
Laurin was out of the chamber and that
he had undoubtedly been sent for.
When he came back and secured the
recognition of the Chair he was sure of
the nature of the reply. MIR. Tillman told
this Senator that he was as cool then as
he ever was in his life, and that he then
and there made up his mind what he
would do if McLaurin accused him of
hayingtold a lie. The moment the word
dropped from Mr.. McLeurn's lips Senator
TillmGn jumped for him. as he hal de-
termned when the Senator first ad-
dressed the Chair.
Senator McLaurin has been more willing
to discuss the matter He said. immedi-
ately after his apology had been delivered
to the Senate:
Il felt that l could not hold up my
head as a man until l had resented the
insult to my honor, as l did. and in the
place where it had been delivered"