Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-01-26
TILLMAN'S SATIRE
STIRRED SENATORS
Compared Senate TO Minstrel Show
and Ridiculed Members.
APOLOGIES FOR BEING FUNNY

Washington. Jan. 22.-Few features
OF the spectacular were missing from
the proceedings Of the senate. The
Brownsville affair was the subject Of
controversy. and the day began with
the announcement OF a compromise
resolution. which brought both Repub-
lican and Democratic senator's togeth-
er on the basis OF ordering an inves-
tigation OF the facts Of the ARRAY.
without bringing into question the au-
thority of the president TO dismiss
the negro troops.
When the harmony" testimonials
were all in Senator Tillman took the
floor and delivered a speech IN reply
TO the recent criticism OF himself by
Senator Spooner This speech began
with satirical picture OF the senate
as a minstrel show. which Mr.. Till
man later said was his drst and last
attempt 10 be funny" an attempt
which at its conclusion brought a
singing denunciation from Senator
Carmack IN resentment of illusions
10 him. This was preceded by a ser
ious reply from Senator SpOoner on
the attitude taken by Mr.. Tnlman on
the race problem. all finally resulting
in n session OF nearly two hours be-
hind closed doors.
The secret session was followed by
a brief open one. in which Mr.. TIL.
man made a profuse apology 70 Mr..
Carmack 90 all senators whom he had
brought into his FIRST essay In the
line of humor." and finally TO the en-.
tire senate. Il very much regret that
! ever undertook TO be funny. and l
viii never do so any more" Mr. TILL
man then withdrew all he had said in
his funny essay" and said il would
not appear in the Record.
In his speech Senator Tillman said
the press had denominated him "the
burnt-cork artist Of the senate" and
be added. II he were entitled to this
appellation. or that OF "Pitchfork
Ben" at one end OF the minstrel line.
certainly "Fire-Alarm Joe" (Senator
Foraher) ought not to be ignored at
the other. We both do the Orlando
and Furioso act admirably.
Senator Culberson was designated
as performing a solo on the bones"
in praise of the president; Senator
Daniel was called "the brilliant and
courtly senator from Virginia. whose
speciality is oratory. and who works
his rhetoric overtime"
Next" said Mr.. Tillman. I'VE have
the dying swan. Smiling Tom. of Col.
orado. the state recently bought at
auction by one Guggenheim. and the
swan song is a dirge for the dying
Democracy OF the north stabbed Ia
its vitals by Ben Pitchfork.
Next we have the redoubted Ten
nesseean (Carmack). who was once a
knight. a very hotspur in the lists,
whose spear has rung true and clear
upon the visor of the usurper at White
House. and who has made the sparks
fly in many an onset; but his spear
head is broken of. he has been I'M
horsed- His speciality is "A song. Re.
nominate our idol. or give us back
our platform
Then comes the star of the troupe.
'Gumshoe Bill from Old Missouri
He can dance the Highland fling on
top Of 10-rail fence and never touch
the ground. but his greatest feat IS
walking on eggs without breaking the
shells.
Last We have the artist from the
Badger state (Spooner). an acrobat
and juggler of international reputa.
ton. lie is supple. sly and foxy and.
having once been a lawyer. is noted
throughout the land for his ability 10
get on either side of any question
and maintain the negative or affrma.
tive in any argument with great force
and fervor. He sings bass. alto. so
prano or tenor. ard is superb in any
role.
Have ever advocated lynch law
at any time or at any place! / an
swer on my honor. never | have
justified for one crime. and only one.
and I have consistently and persist
emily maintained that attitude for the
last il years. AS governor OF South
Carolina I proclaimed that. although
had taken the oath OF Office to sup
mort the law and enforce n I would