The Washington times., 1906-05-13

common clay"
Following this bitter address a
series of more and more sensational
occurrences came in rapid success
sion. In summary, this is the his
tory of the most strenuous day of
the Senate's debate on the rate bill:
Senator Tillman read carefully
prepared statement, recounting ne
gotiations between himself and the
President, through ex-senator
Chandler.
Agreed to Stand Together.
lie declared that il was agreed
that the Democrats and the Presi-
dents friends should stand to-
gether for a strong bill, with mar
row court review.
The Democrats were pledged to
deliver twenty-six Democratic and
the President twenty Republican
votes, which combination would have
routed the railroad Republicans.
The President feared the loyalty of
Senators Knox, Foraker, and
Spooner.
The original memorandum of
agreement on the review amend
ment, prepared in conferences with
Attorney General Moody, by the
Attorney General written down, and
approved by the President, was pre-
sented in the Senate by Senator
Tiilman.
Following the initiation and con-
tinuance for a month of these ne
gotiations with the Democrats. and
at a time when there seemed assur-
ance they would succeed, the Presi-
dent without notice to anybody
dropped them, took up the Allison
amendment, summoned the news
paper correspondents 10 the White
House, and announced that the Al
ison proposition was just what he
wanted.
The negotiations with the Demo-
Gratis thus came to an abrupt end.
Senator Tillman recounted the story
in much detail, charging in conclu-
sion that the President had changed
his position at time when victory
was in sight, and sacrificed the as
surance of a narrow court review,
and accepted broad one, appar-
emily for the purpose of making the
bill strictly a Republican affair, and
shutting the Democrats out of any
share in the credit for It.
Denied Over White House Phone.
Later in the session. following this
sensational speech. Senator Lodge teIe>
phoned to the White House. secured
from the President an explicit denial
shat he had criticised Senators Knox.
Foraker and Spooner. and read It from
the Senate floor
Last evening Senator Chandler said
that he would make no statement for
publication further than that the state
ment read in the Senate by Senator TILL
man was submitted TO him (Chandler)
before il was read He was willing 10
reiterate what Tillman had said; he
doubted the accuracy Of Senator Lodges
telephoned statement, as there might
have been misunderstanding. He did not
believe the President would authorize q
denial of actual occurrences.
Senator Chandler added that a week
ago. Immediately after the White House
conference with the newspaper men. he,
with Senators Bailey and Tillman, con-
ferred with Attorney General Moody.
The latter expressed himself as com
pletely fiabbergasted" at the turn af-
fairs had taken.
This Is the story In brief. The details
include several of the most spicy. SEN
satIonal. and remarkable speeches tha,
have been made on the floor Of the Sen
ate In many years The opening address
OF Senator Bailey was regarded when
Il was made, as the sensation Of the ses-
sion thus far; but II was utterly over
shadowed by what came later. when
Senator Tillman proceeded with his
statement concerning the neRotia tions
between the White House and the Dem
ocrats. the plans for cooperation, the
agreement on a narrow court review
proposal, the Presidents sudden and un-
announced change of front, his conver>
sion TO the Allison amendment the con-
ference with the newspaper men. the
dropping OF the negotiations with the
Democrats. and finally the Derfecting Of
Republican agreement by which. SEN
ator Tillman declared, Aldrich became
the victor in the great contest.
Senator Tillman's Statement.
The Senator from South Carolina had
committed 10 writing what he had TO
say. for which he apologized with the
statement that he was anxious to be as
accurate as possible. He said that on
Saturday evening. March 81. Senator TILL
man was called on at his hotel by for
rner Senator William E. Chandler. who
said President Roosevelt had asked him
20 the White House that evening. He
went. and the President then expressed
q desire for communication with Tillman
as Senator I'm charge OF the rate BILL
and Bailey. as the Democratic leader
10 ascertain II there could be such united
action as 10 insure against injurious
amendment of the rate bill. The Presi-
dent had said that he had reached a
complete disa greement with the consti-
tutional lawyers OF the Senate. who
were endeavoring by ingenious argu-
ments and amendments 20 defeat or in
jure the measure; he was not able to