The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-20
S0|LED LINEN
Of the Democratic Party Wash.
ed in Public by Democrats.
AMUSE E.PUBLICANS.
WilIisms, Lamar and Shackelford Do
the S%crubbing. The Minority Lead.
! 10 er Rem'ned Mr.. Lamar That
No Insulting Language
Would be Tolerated.
AMUSE Ri %.PUBLICANS.

A dispatch from Washington says
the washing Of Democratic linen for
the amusement Of Republicans" as
Mr.. Williams, the minority leader put
it Monday, occupied the attention Of
the house for more than four hours
Wednesday. The result accomplished
a q defy thrown at the. minority
lea der by representative Lunar OF
OF Florida and another by Representa-
tive SbackelfCrd Of Missouri. The
complaint of both resulted from the
failure Of Mr.. Williams to recommeL d
their reappointmsnt as members Of
the committee on interstate and for
eign commerce. Both meds long
speeches In which Mr.. Williams lead.
ership was assaIled from many points.
MI. Williams replied to Mr.. Lamar at
some length and briefly to Mr.. Shack
elford. His defense was that last
session the Democrats on this COM
mittee were d vided and he deemed
1t necessary fot the good Of the party
ard the country that q united n inor-
ity report should be made on the sub
Jet of railroad rate legislation.
Speaking OF the leadership OF Mr..
Williams, MIR. Lamar said be would
recognize him as the party leader but
not personally, until he relieves me
Of an unjust charge on his part"
He stated that he did not agree
with Mr.. Williams that Republicans
would enjoy personalities between
Democrats. Emphasizing this he re-
ferred to the personal debate Of LAST
sesti on between Mr.. Sullivan Mass
aud Mr.. Hearst IN. " At that
time, he charged, the minority leader
had made no objection to the proceed
ure.
Mr.. Lamar reverted to the great
Importance of railroad rate legislation
and reviewed the action OF the house
at the last session which included
votir g down the Davey bill, proposed
by tie minority. The DaVey bill, he
said had first been adopted by a Dem
ocratic caucus The bill then con.
a ned but two sections. The com
mittee added five more sections.
Even after these sections had been
added, he still thought and would
c Jntinue to think the Hearst bill su.
perior. The minority leader, he said,
was forced to amend the Davey bill
on the floor Of the house or see 1t go
out to the country in an imperfect
condition. II that caucus was bind
ing then he challenged the minority
leader to Geny the fact no one could
have amended it. He conceded that
the iuorlty leader should have power
to make committee removals as we'll
as appoin yments, but he must e1er.
else tEat power in the faca Of moral
obligation and a reasonableness. he
reviewed the fact that he had voted
for Mr.. Williams as leader, and sus'
aimed him when his party turned
nim down on the Miles amendment"
MI. Lamar concluded with the
statement that he considered bis re-,
moVai from the commerce committee
IN act absolutely untenable and an as
persion uron his private character. He
:, cured the reading Of correspondence
On the matter between himself and
Mr.. Williams.
Mr.. Lamar said it had gone to the
country through the press that the
minority leader would not tolerate
followers of Mr.. Hearst.
He admitted that he felt friendly
.owart MI. Hearst and regarded bis
bill good one. He then charged Mr..
Williams with contributing more in
me minute to Democratic inharmy
han he (Mr. Lamar had In a year.
he admitted that on Monday he
vas in the heat Of anger and glad
that be had been stopped. However,
bis personal friendship for Mr.. vii
| ANS haf ceas; d.
Mr.. Williams was at once recognized
to reply. II am" he said, ,,about tc
perform a very unpleasant duty and
ne the wisdcm Of which 1 have seri
Jus doubts. The gentlemen takat
himself too seriously. He thinks be
can make a national issue out Of
committee assignment but he can't d.
it. He thinks he was removed but he
was not. There was no ommittee.'
Mr.. Williams asked If he would no,
have been lacking in moral courage
and in every essential Of a floor leader
II he had made up a minor y mem
bership of tie commit: e VII c have
divied four to two on the question O.
railroad "a eS.
8 my brother would have gene tf
! that committee Under the same cir
! cumstances,' said Mr.. Williams, ant
, he adddd that had the Hearst bill re
ceived the minority support in com
mtttee he would have supported it ii
caucus.