The Irish standard., 1906-03-03
T,LLMAN AND THE RATE BILL

predtcamcnt In which certain leading
Republican Senators find themselves
! over the Rate Bill legislation. When
Senator Aldr!ch and the majority of
his Republican colleagues on the Inter-
State Commerce Committee found that
the Democrats together with few Re-
publicans. We're bound to report the
Hepburn Bill to the Senate without
amendment, he undertook to cast dis
credit upon the legislation and embar-
rass the President by naming Senator
Tillman of South Carolina as the SEN
ator who should make the report to the
United States Senate. Senator Till
man Of course is 4 Democrat, and a
very radical one. 1t is we'll known that
Tillman has on several occasions
| fiercely attacked the President; some
of his remarks being extremely per-
sonal. Senator Aldrich, together with
Senators Foraker. Elkins, Kean and
Crane, who are really opposed to all
rate legislation, thought it would be
good joke to place Tillman in tho at
titude of the Presidents supporter on
the floor Of The Senate. They I'M
doubtedly thought that Tillman's
handling of the measure would make
the whole matter ridiculous. One can
| imagine their bewilderment when Sem
ator Tilln:au promptly accepted the
duty and the President expressed his
satisfaction that SO good a fighter and
such an honest man as Tillman should
be in charge of such important legisla>
ton. The attitude taken by the Prcsi-
dent ana by Senator Tillman is most
creditablc to both of them.
| It will be remembered that the
trouble between the two started at
the time Prince Henry was visiting in
this country. A reception was to be
given the German Prince Mt the White
House. AS q member Of the Foreign
Relations Committee Senator Tillman
had been invited by the President to
attend that reception. On the day be-
fore the reception took place Senator
f! Tillman and his colleague at that time,
Senator McLaurin, had personal en-
counter upon the floor of the Senate.
| Senator McLaurin called Tillman q
liar. AMI the result was that blows
were struck and blood flowed. The af-
fair created much unfavorable COM
ment, and the President intimated to
Senator Cockrell of Missouri that Till
1 mans presence at the White House
| was not desired. Tillnlan resented
this action of the President. Shortly
afterwards President Roosevelt APP
\ pointed DR.. Crum, colored man. coll
lector Of the port Of Charleston, Till
man regarded this as another, personal
insult and succeeded in preventing the
confirmation CT the appointment. The
| President has several times since sent
the name Of Or. Crum TO the Senate for
confirmation but each time Tillman
has succeeded in defeating the confirm-
alton. Upon the floor of the Senate
Tillman has several times bitterly as
sailed the President. It was with an
intimate knowledge of the relations be-
tween the two men that Senator Aid
rich passed over all the Republicans
upon the Committee and other Demo-
Gratis and named Tillman as the es-
pecial supporter Of the Presidents pet
measure. Both the President and Sem
ator Tillman have shown themselves
big enough to disregard personal quar-
rels when the performance of their
public duties is at issue.
1t may be said in this connection
that the country is beginning to make
a truer estimate of the character Of
"Ben'' Tillman as the years go by. No
man upon the floor Of the United
States Senate is more generally liked
by Republicans and Democrats than
the fighting Senator from South Caro-
lima. His rugged honesty and straight
forward methods command the respect
and admiration Of all. 1t is true that he
at all times talks 80 plainly and harsh-
~ that he seems brutal ana vulgar.
The earneptness and intensity with
which h. fights IN Z, cause In which be-
= enlisted makes him appear 70 soms
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