The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-03-05
DEMOCRATS SCORE A POINT.
Review of Political Selection in
Washington Message Now Be-
fore Congress.

fore Congress.
Washington, March By it's
and its logical exposition Of the law,
as voiced by Senator Bailey, of Texas,
the democratic minority in the Sen
ate scored a signal victory last week
and forced President Pro Ten Frye to
recede from the autocratic position
which he had assumed. Following
the personal encounter between Sena-
tors Tillman and McLaurin which had
occurred last Saturday, and to which
only the unjustifable action of Sena-
( tor Frye leads me to refer, the Presl-
dc 1T pro tenn caused to be erased from
the rolls of the Senate the names of
the two senators from South Carolina.
For the reason named, when the
Philippine bill was passed on Monday
afternoon neither senator was given
an opportunity to vote. Senator
Bailey, however, so ably presented the
unconstitutionality of the action Of
the chair that their names were re-
stored on the following day and the
republicans caused an Immediate ad-
journment of Tuesdays and Wednes-
days sessions because they feared to
act in the matter until the Committee
on Privileges and Elections had re-
ported. Thursday the Senate met in
Joint session with the House to parti-
cipate in he memorial services held
for President Mckinley and on Friday
the above committee reported, censur-
ing both senators for having violated
the dignity Of the Senate and remov-
ing from them the stigma of contempt
whichhad been placed upon them by
the whole Senate in executive session.
There is further report due from
the above named committee. 1t has
been instructed to investigate the
charges of Senator Tillman that Mr..
McLaurin was bribed with the prom
ise of the federal patronage of the
state. to vote for the ratification OF
the treaty of Paris. AS is well-known,
the junior Senator from South Caro-
lima had made speech in the Senate
denouncing the treaty, and later,
after call at the White House, he
voted for its ratification. He has since
been adop ed by the republican caucus
and has dictated the federal appoint
ments in his state The democratic
senators declare that the republicans
dare not pursue the investigation of
Mr.. Tillman's charges and say that
no further report will be brought in.
On Friday the Senate passed the
permanent census bill It was passed
by the House on the same day and the
President will have now an opportunl-
ty of demonstrating how sincere he is
in his protestations Of regard for civil
service reform, as the bill is the Sc
verest blow to the reform and the
aims, of the commission which has
been struck by Congress in years. By
! its provisions it gives precedent IN
the line of appointment, to about
1900 employees of the Census Office
who were appointed by the "spoils
SYSTEM over nearly equal number
who have passed civil service exami-
nations and are eligible to appoint
ment as soon as vacancies occur.
Senator Rawlins Of Utah, who is
member of the Philippines Committee,
and has been in constant attendance
at the. hearings of that committee
gave me yesterday some of the lmpres,
sions and views which he has formed
on the Philippine question. The
policy of the administration he
said. as is made evident by the in
vestigation and testimony before the
committee and. the policy of the re-
publicans so far as they have announc-
ed it, is contrary, not only to demo
cratic principles but to every prece-
dent in the government of this coun-
try and the only outcome must be, If
these plans are carried into execution,
the virtual surrender Of the islands
to large capitalists and the attendant
enslavement of the people. AS you
know, there is a scheme now on foot
to purchase the land held by the
friars. That is all right as far as it
goes out now the Taft Commission
represents that it will be Impractical
to dispose of these lands, as has been
the custom with government land in
this country, to the small owners and
settlers. Great capital, they say, is
needed to develope the islands and
accordingly they would sell or lease
immense tracts of land to large cor
porations. It will then be their
policy to admit Chinese immigration.
At the present time the labor in the
islands is employed, in SO far as it is
willing to be, but they wish to i'm
port Chinese labor for the develop
ment of the islands, again, which will
work for from IS to $40 per month and
find itself. This labor will be EN-;
ployed in the production OF sugar and
other profitable crops and will result
in a menace to American industries.
cit is true that the democrats be-
lieve there should be free trade be-
tween the islands and the United
| States until such time as the Fillpl-
nos are made independent and there
| is nothing to fear from their competl-
tion under ordinary circumstances, but
if the plans of the capitalists who
now dominate affairs are carried into
effect, practically free land is used for
production and cheap Chinese labor
employed, the competition will prove
serious. Then the Commission desires
authority to issue bonds which will
have to be guaranteed by this country
of c1cDGc'