The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-02-25
The "MOSt Dignified Legislative
Body in the World" Turned
Into a Prize Ring.
A FIST FIGHT In THE SENATE.

were brought TO bear. II is due the
senator and due the country that he
name him. A man who imoeaches an
other in confidence is coward. If the
senator knows of any man who has
! been improperly influenced he should
name him
Direct Charge Against HcLaurin.
II know" asserted Senator Tillman,
that the patronage-the federal pat
| ronage-of a state has been parceled
| out to a senator since the ratification
! of that treaiv-'
| What state.'' demanded Senator
| Spooner-
South Carolina" shouted Senator
! Tillman
! Then" said Senator Spooner, Il
! leave you TO fight the matter out with
your colleague"
! Well" retorted Senator Tillman,
| II never shirk the responsibility for a
| statement / make. 1 know that he
! (Mr. McLaurin. his colleague) voted
for the treaty. I know that improper
! influences were brought to bear,
| know what + believe"
| you simply believe retorted SEN
| ator Spooner, what you do not know"
This ended the incident for the time,
but the feeling engendered manifest
| ed itself later in a thrilling and sensa-
! tional scene
! Senator Iillman continuing his
speech. read scme letters from soldiers
in the Philippines, detailing the alleged
! cruelties nracticed upon the natives
| by the American forces. He told Of
100 Filipinos TO whom. the writer stat
ed. the water cure had been admins
| tered. resulting in the death of all bui
| twenty-six OF them.
Senator IIoar interrupted to say that
he had received many letters making
| charges against the American forces.
| but in every instance the writer's had
| given him the information either in
| confidence or as incidents of which
they merely had heard and Of which
they professed to know nothing. He
| protested against information of that
! kind and declared Il do not want any
| body to tell me in strict confidence of
a murder"
Senator Rurton. of Kansas. inter-
rupted to defend General Funston, upor
whom, he SAL, the comments of SEN
| ator Tillmar reflected, as the SOL
diers who charged in the letters
the South ma senator had read
with the were under General
| FIInstons and. Senator Burton
read F'uns ,plicit denial of the
very story had been referred to
by Senate ian, the denial con-
Guiding ". .e statement: This
| statement wish to brand as an
! atrocious lie. without the slightest
foundation. Statements of this kind
are simply braggadocio and this brag-
gadocio is repeated in the senate of the
United States"
Senator Burton quoted General Fun
| ston saying that practices of this
kind sometimes were resorted to by
the Macabebe scouts (natives).
That's a confession of the truth of
the charges" shouted Senator Tillman.
| He disclaimed. however. any reflection
| 7
McLRurin' Personal Privilege.
Soon after uator Tillman conclud-
ed his renls !. Scarcely had he re-
sumed his when there was enact
ed one of tt most sensational scenes
ever witnessed in the history of the
| United States senate.
Pale to the lips and trembling with
| the emotion which in vain he endeav-
ored to control, Senator McLaurin, of
South Carolina. rose and addressed the
senate, speaking to a question Of per-
sonal privilege. Instantly a hush fell
over the senate and over the people in
the thronged galleries. The very at
mosphere seemed surcharged with ex-
citement. With breathless interest the
auditors both on the floor and in the
galleries hung uron every word utter
ed by the South Carolina senator.
Despite the emotion under which he
was laboring Senator McI4aurin seem
ed to be the calmest man in the cham
her. He spoke with deliheration and
his enunciation was clear and distinct
Every word uttered seemed to be felt
as well as heard. in the remotest parts
! OF the historic old hall.
"Mr. President" he began, at rise to
| question Of personal privilege"
He had voiced less than a dozen
words. vet the excitement by this time
had become intense. All seemed to re-
alize that porteutious event was
about to happen
ed restlessly about In the rear Of the