The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-02-26
TIL[HlR IND n'[lURlR FIGHT.
GREAT SENSATION IN WASHINGTON.
Long Standing Feud eliminates in
DisgracefuI Fist Fight in Senate.
Held in Contempt by Senate ard Re-
quired to Apologize.

gulred TO Apologize.
Washington, February Ex-senator
Tillman and Senator McLaurin came
to blows in the Senate this afternoon.
McLaurin called Tillman a malicious
liar. Tillman sprang at his young
colleague, dealt him severe blow in
the face and McLaurin retaliated with
an upper cut on Tillman's jaw. The
belligerents were separated, the doors
closed, and, in executive session, the
two South Carolina Senators we're
declared to be in contempt Of the Sen
ate, and their cases we're referred to
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions for such action as may be deem
ed necessary. After the executive ses-
sion the two Senators in contempt were
permitted to apologize, to the Senate
and it is probable that the incident is
closedRf Rfor the present.
The coarse and vulgar performance
of the South Carolina, Senators sur
passes anything Of the kind IN the his
tory Of the United States Senate. 1t
is difficult to describe the sensation
created as the two Senators grappled
each other in desperate encounter in
the presence of more than quorum of
the Senate and well-flled galleries.
It was Wasbintgon's Birthday and
Senator Spooner was delivering his
speech in favor of the Philippine
tariff bill. There was a large crowd
in attendance to. hear him, and dur
ing The course Of his speech he became
involved in spirited colloquy with
Senator Tillman as to the part William
Jennings Bryan played in securing the
ratification of the kpeace treaty with
Spain, by which the Philippine ISL
ands came into the possession of the
United States.
Senator Tillman, with characteristic
vim and brutal frankness, declared
that the ratification Of the Spanish
treaty had been secured by the vote
of a member of the Senate in return
for the disposal OF Federal patronage
in a certain State. Senator Spooner
interrogated Senator Tillman so close
" that the latter was forced to admit
that the subsidized Senator was his
own colleague from South Carolina.
Senator Spooner replied that he would
leave the matter to be settled with the
junior Senator from South Carolina.
It was supposed that the incident was
closed, in view of the fact that Sena-
tor Tillman had repeatedly charged his
colleague with selling his vote for the
treaty in consideration for Federal pa
tronage in South Carolina. During
the collcquy between Senators Till
man and Spooner Senator McLaurin
was absent from the chamber, attend
ing meeting of the COMMITTEES on
Indian affairs. He was notified that
he was being attacked il the Senate
by his colleague, so he hurried back
to the chamber. He sent for copy
Of tho notes of the official reporter,
giving the exact language of Senator
Tillman. After reading the notes
carefully Senator McLaurin was recog
nized and addressing the Senate. de-
nounced the statement of Senator Till
man as GA wilful, deliberate and
malicious he.''
The assault came when the final
word "lie'' was spoken by Mr..
McLaurin. Tillman sprang up like a
fash, jumped over the chairs between
him and his colleague, and before he
could be stopped dealt him a severe
blow on the forehead, which raised a
large red welt McLaurin warded off
the blow, which was intended for his
eve, and retaliated with fierce up
per-cut, landing on Tillman's jaw.
The two men clinched, but before
any more blows were exchanged Sena-
tor Warren, of Wyoming, Assistant
Sergeant-at-Arms Layton, Senator
Tillman s son, who was present, and
several other persons, separated the
belligerents.
The encounter only occupied a few
seconds, but it was fierce and desper-
ate while it lasted. The greatest e1-
element prevailed IN the Senate and
the occupants of the galleries arose
from their seats apparently antici-
pating free fight all around on the
floor below.
Senator Teller, who sits next to SEN
ator Tinman, arose and called the two
Senators to order as soon. as he could
recover from the shock which Sena-
torial dignity and decorum had sns-
tained. Senator Foraker and other
Senators were on their feet at, the
same time, declaring that the dignity
of the Senate had been outraged BY
the unprecedented performance of the
two Senators from South Carolina,
and moved that the Senate proceed to
executive session. =.
The galleries were cleared, the doors
locked and for more than two hours
the two Senators from South Carolina
were subjected to severe censure by
their colleagues, Democratic and Re
publican, for the disgraceful encoun-
ter in open Senate At the conclusion
of the debate, in which neither Sena-
tor Tillman nor Senator. ,McLaurin
was permitted to participate, motion
to declare the two Senators in con-
tempt was unanimously adopted. A
further motion was adopted to refer
the case to the committee on privi-
leges and elections for such action as
the circumstances justify.
It was half-past 3 o'clock when the
executive session concluded and the