The Washington herald., 1907-01-13


Senator TiIlman treated the Senate and
crowded galleries yesterday to a speech
on the negro question. His remarks were
based upon Senator Foraker's original
resolution providing FOR an inquiry into
the discharge Of the negro troops When
Mr.. Foraker called up his resolution he
gave way 10 Mr. Tillman, and the fun
was begun.
Every seat in the chamber was occu-
pied. The couches in the rear held many
members Of the House. Employees Of
the Senate were ranged along the walls.
The galleries could hold no more. Even
in the gallery reserved for Senators the
aisles were filed and handsomely gowned
women We're crowded in the narrow space
between the last tier Of seats and the
wall. Members Of the families of for
eign representatives were in the diplo-
matte gallery. Leading from the doors
OF all the galleries into the corridors were
hundreds of people, white and black, who
had been standing for hours in the hope
THAI they might find a place inside The
number Of negroes in the public galleries
was quite large.
When Mr.. Tillmans viTiolic line of
thought had spent itself and he flung
himself down with q gasp for breath.
Senator Patterson. Of Colorado. who goes
out of the Senate March g. proceeded TO
administer d catigation to the South Caro-
lima Senator He warned him that after
Of NV.~,F a.. -, t4- .-.....
in the North would have but two Sena-
tors in the chamber, and said It
was due to the continual agitation of the
race question by Southern Democrats.
This was the first utterance that indicated
the course which Patterson had mapped
at for himself. He charged Tillman with
advocating lawlessEess and championing
policy that if persisted in. would soon
make the representation from the North
s0lidly Republican. and from the Southern
States solidly Democratic.
Dramatic Scene.
sir Patterson scored the anti-negro
argument up and down and back and
forth At times the galleries dared 10
defy the rules Of the Senate against ap-
plause. and broke out in loud demonstra-
tions in appreciation of the Colorado
Senator
The South CarOlinian repeatedly hurled
defiance at the head of the Coloradoan
but the only effect if any, was to make
7lEs- Patterson more emphatic in his
declarations. He narrowly escaped, how
ever, having his words reported from the
Vice Presidents desk. Under the customs
equivalent to questioning his veracity.
This incident, which for a time threat
ened a serious and startling complication
was brought about through Mr. Patter-
sons use OF the name of Gov. Vardaman,
Of Mississippi. in emphasizing the hostile
attitude of Southern leaders toward the
negro.
Mr.. Money insisted that the governor
had been misrepreseuted, and although
the Colorado Senator declared that he
had not meant to reflect upon the gov
euor the Mississippi Senator contended
for the accuracy of his position by call
ing for the reading of the notes Of the
official stenographer
For two hours and a half the bitter
criticism of the President by Mr.. Tillman
had been listened TO with the deepest in
tcrest The tension was high A moment
of relaxation that followed the conclusion
of the South Carolinian's speech was
frightened by the causuc criticism of the
Bugnucious Senator from Colorado. When
Mr. Moneys demand was put by the Vice
President Senators looked exceedingly
grave. Mr. Pattcrson's face flushed
deeply Turning 10 Mr. Money, he ex-
planned that if he bad made any reflection
upon the governor Of Mississippi. it had
been entirely without intent. as he was
well acquainted with his position in deal
ing with lawlessness, and he had no crit
icism TO make of it,
i am perfectly satisfied with the ex-
planation OF the Senator, and I will not
enbarrass him further exclaimed Mr..
Money II withdraw my request for the
reading of the stenographcr's notes. -
This ended the Incident, but not the dis
cusyion
\ variation was furnished when Air.
Patterson began reading extracts irom
Senator TiIlman's lectures to show that
the man with the rhetorical pitch
fork had openly advocated forcible
measures TO keep negroes from voting
I.
quoted from one uf Nj R0oseveIts books.
"Roughing II 90 show that the Presi-
dent had approved the lynching OF horse
thieves and other criminals tn the wild
regions OF the West Mr. Tillman was so
tickled over 1Ir. Moneys discovery that
he hugged another Senator just 10 find 4
vent FOR his feelings There were some
rather forced pleasantries during the col
l0quy started by Mr. Patterson, but
everybody kept his temper, and the Senate
managed to adjourn without Il row.
Unique Position for TiIIman.
Some Of the negro soldiers were
guilty. Senator Tnlman held. but 9TH
ers were innocent. and he blamed The
President for having made martyrs
- innocent men who would roam over
the country. and. by exciting sympathy
among their kind, increase rare hatred
lEe contended that il was the ex-
ample OF President Roosevelt Ia preach
Ing equality among the races that had
encouraged the negro soldiers Of the
Twenty fifth Infantry and other negroes
to acts Of violence. and hc refused To ap-
prove the Presidents dismissal order
Witch ho declared had thrown innocent
iuel Guf ~ The army
.'Tho Presidents action in dismlssing
tbrae mon 81 nothing more nor less than
InchiHe shouted Mr Tillman He de-
a.aTcd thaf in recognizing Booker Wash
iistoH socially, sir R0oseyeit had offend
arar-r. 90