The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-11
WILMINGTON, N. c.
FRIDAY, MAY II, 1906.
SENATORIAL COURTESY.

THE senator from Pennsylvania
must not try to run over me in this
NATTER senator Tillman said. II won't
be run over and / won't be hurried.
There's a good deaI of the mule about
me-"
THE senator from South Carolina
hasn't told the senate anything it did
not know BEFORE" retOrted Senator
Penrose, adding sarcastically, cal
though I should say the senator shows
more of the traits Of the ass than of
the mule"
Tire above is a specimen of the kind
of senatorial courtesy sometimes ex-
hibited in the senate.
1t is part of he proceedings Of the
senate a few days ago when that body,
in executive session, had before it the
question Of confirmation of the ap-
pointment of Mr.. Barnes as postmas-
ter of Washington City. Mr.. Penrose
is chairman of the committee on post
Offices and he is anxious to have the
vote taken on the question as soon as
possible, while Mr.. Tillman is seeking
postponement and opportunity to lay
before the senate the charges against
The appointce which the committee re-
fused to entertain. He claims to have
newly discovered evidence Of Mr..
Barnes unfitness for the position, which
he wants to introduce. Mr.. PenrOsa
was attempting to have a day fixed for
taking the vote which Mr.. Tillman
was opposing when the above encoun-
ter of words occurred.
Senator Tillman became exceeding
~ angry and started hastily along the
aisle toward the Pennsylvania, and
haG he reached the latter there would
probably have been more than a pas
sage at words between the two; but,
luckily, the EXPLANATIONS of several
senator's called him to himself and he
returned to his seat.
The display of senatorial courtesy
between the two did not end here. Mr..
Tillman, still angry, declared the other
to be a '@blackguard and a loafer" and
stated his intention to make some SEN
sational disclosures regarding the con-
duct of the latter. Mr.. Penrose replied
with the boys usual retort Of "You
are another and challenged him to
make any exposures he could, follow
ing this up with the statement that
he had in his possession afidavits de-
failing conduct Of Mr.. Tillman which
he was ready to produce at the proper
tine and which when given to the pub
tic would bring shame to the South
Carolinian.
Here the interchange Of compliments
and ciyiiitieS ceased, but many in
Washington believe the affair has not
ended. Those who know Mr.. Tillman's
vindictive character think he will GER
tainly carry out his threat, and it is
said that Mr.. PenTose's past record,
both political and personal, contains
many things which, il given to the
public, would cause surprise and create
quite a sensation. The knowing ones
look for this episode to end in some
thing sensational on the floor Of the
senate.
1t is to be hoped that Senator Till
man will let the matter drop here. His
conduct during the present session Of
congress has caused the people to for
get much that was not to his credit
in his actions in the earlier days Of
his senatorial career and has raised him
greatly in the estimation of the pub
lie. 1t would be a pity for him to re-
turn to his former role of blusterer,
braggart and disturber of the peace OH
the floor of the senate.
This harsh encounter of words be-
tween the two was very unfortunate.
1t is true Mr.. Tillman had great PROV
ocation in the insulting words of his
antagonist and could O be expected
to pass them by without %resenting
them; but all persons, except those
who are ever hungering for the sen
sational and the %scandalous, will hope
that the affair will be dropped.
If Senator Penrose's character ana
past conduct are such that he is not
a fitting person to occupy a sea: in
the senate such matters should be
brought to the attention of that body
in a serious and dignified manner and
for the honorable purpose of Kidding
it of a member if found to be I'M
worthy of his seat. 1t is a very diff
ferent thing to make such charges, af-
ter long knowledge of existence of the