The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-04-25
HOT Time IN SENATE.
HOPKINS OF ILLINOIS ARRAIGNS
TILLMAN FOR ADVOCATING
MOB LAW.
Debate Grew Out of Till
mans Persistent Efforts to Force an
Investigation Of National Banks and
Their Campaign Contributions.

Washington, April 19.-The senate
today passed a joint resolution ap-
propriating s1,OO0,OOO to be used in
affording relief to San Francisco suf-
ferers; appropriated $4,000 to pay the
expenses of bringing home the bodies
OF the Kearsarge victims; listened to
an explanation Of Mr.. Bailey concern
ing the proceedings Of yesterdays
Democratic senatorial caucus; heard
the first half of an exhaustive speech
by Mr. LaFollette on the railroad
rate DILL and witnessed a decidedly
spirited encounter between Mr. Tillman
and Mr.. Hopkins concerning the recent
Chicago bank failure.
Mr. Tillman read newspaper charges
to the effect that the Illinois senator
had used his official position to pre-
vent punishment for violation Of the
banking law and Mr.. Hopkins re-
sponded by charging the South Car
olina senator with approving the
lynching Of negroes and with securing
his election to the senate by suppress
ing the negro vote. He also declared
that Mr. Tillman had changed the Of
fciai vote in his last speech on the
bank question. so to make it appear
that he (Mr. Hopkins) had evaded a
question, and to this Mr.. Tillman re-
sponded that he had done nothing Of
the kind The colloquy at last be-
came so bitter that it was necessary
to call the senators to order.
The climax came when Mr.. Hop
kins said:
'.It is time that the country should
know who this modern reformer is;
who is he and where does. he come
from?"
Replying he said that Mr.. Tillman
is from South Carolina, with white
population of $4,000 and a black
population Of $4,000. This being the
case Mr.. Tiliman had been able, he
said. to get to the senate only by sup
pressing the colored vote-securing a
majority by manipulation. which re-
suits in depriving the majority of the
people of the rights guaranteed to
them By the constitution. He would
ask the senator if ne would deny that
in a speech made in 1900 he had said
that he had done all that he could 60
keep the negroes from voting.
why should I deny it?" responded
Mr.. Tillman promptly when 1 put it
in The Record? l do not deny and I
am willing to repeat it,
Mr.. Hopkins then charged his an
tagonist with favoring the lynching OF
negroes, quoting speeches made by the
South Carolina senator a year ago in
which reference was made to the burn
ing alive of negroes.
Think of senator Who can en-
UOrSe fSuch DdrOarlllSS ana dlrOcllleS
talking about the violation Of law.
How is matter of little money to
be compared With the taking Of hu
man life?'
Replying. Mr.. Tillman said that he
had never been in court Of, law ex-
cept as SPECTATOR but in that capac-
ity he had noticed that when the law
yers had poor cases they INDUCED in
all manner Of abuse Of their opponents.
rs he" he asked. referring to Mr..
Hopkins, the vice president of. the
bonding company
Let us have it--yes Or no." went
on the South Carolinian. No response.
Il take the refusal to answer as
confession. as proof positive that he
is exerting his official position to
promote the violation Of the law
At the tops of their voices the two
senators engaged in wranglng. one