The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-01-17
TILLlIAN ARRAIGNED
Mr.. Spooner Bitterly Scored South
Carolina Senator.
QUOTED LATTER ON LYNcHlNa
Wisconsin Senator Declares to Encour-
age Burning Negroes at the Stake lie
a Disgrace to CiViIization-Tillman
NJfI

age Burning Negroes at the Stake lie
a Disgrace to Civilization-TilIman
viii Answer.
Washington. Jan. l6-Goaded by
frequent interruptions from Mr.. TIL
man. the speech of Mr. Spooner in the
senate on the resolution for the inves-
tigation of the ARRAY at BROWNSVILLE
Texas was changed from defense OF
President Roosevelt's course In dis
charging a negro battalion of the army
To severe arraignment of the South
Carolina senator. He quoted from MT.
Tillman's utterances defending lynch
ing as a means of controlling negroes
and said that to encourage such mop
violence was a disgrace 10 CIVILIZATION.
Mr. Tillman was not permitted to re
ply. but at the conclusion OF Mr..
Spooner's attack declared that at an
early date ne would take occasion To
defend himself against the insulting
illusions" made to him.
Mr.. Spooner took the position that
article of the articles of war gives
TO the commander-in-chief of the army
the power to dismiss the troops in the
manner employed. lie referred 10 the
ARRAY at Walla Walla. Wash. during
President Clevcland's administration.
and said that the investigation OF that
disturbance resulted in a recommends
ton that the four companies involved
be dismissed. He said that the only
reason these men were not dismissed
was because there was then no au-
thority for such action. The order pro
viding for dismissal without honor
said Mr. SpOoner. was made 10 meet
Just such cases.
Mr.. Spooner then subjected the
South Carolina senator TO one OF the
most direct and singing indictments
ever delivered by a senator against
colleague. Mr. Spooner quoted from
Mr.. Tillman's utterances defending the
burning of negroes at the stake, and
said
NO man ought 10 encourage such a
horrible thing as that II is a crime
AGAINST civilization TO encourage t..
Continuing. he said that he had
looked with admiration on the efforts
of Governor Vardaman and other ex-
ecutives of southern states to sup
press mobs seeking the lives Of ne
groes without giving them trials on
account OF the crimes they were sus'
peCted Of having committed. Il have
been shocked" he said "by the att-
tnde OF the senator from South Caro-
lima on every occasion when he has
spoken here in justification and SUD
port of the continuance Of lynching. II
there is one man who ought not TO en-
courage II. it is the man who sits here
as the maker of laws.
Dlsclaiming any intention 10 abuse
Mr.. Tinman. the Wisconsin senator
said il was his intention only 10 make
n plea for good government
and want TO say here. he con
tinued. that any man who enccug
ages lynching. murder and lawlessness
will have much 10 answer for. and the
higher the position ana the mightier
his influence the more he will have
10 answer for No man can come here
with good grace 10 impeach the presi-
dent for his dismissal OF men because
they we're not identified as criminals
who comes 10 that accusation from a
lvnching bee. or who iustiies one
After again stating his belief in the
legality and business Of the presidents
action. Mr.. SpOoner concluded his
speech with a brief discussion Of the
race question. declaring his belief that
the majority of the people Of the south
did not entertain the radical views
which had been expressed by Senator
Tillman. He admitted the difficulties
and hardships of the race problem in
the south. and said the people OF the
north felt that the best way 20 aid in
the solution of this difficulty was for
them to refrain from discussing them
IN this connection he did not believe
the agitation of Senator Tillman couil
have the effect TO quiet the situation.
Mr.. Spooner quoted a newspaper re-
port Of one Of Senator Tillman's lee
lures. in which he referred TO negroes
rs babboons. and said when asked
How about the law" replied: ITO
hell with such laws
Mr.. Spooner said he knew OF no bet
ter way TO perpetuate the struggle
between the two races than to be con
stantly and violently declaring such
trouble TO be imminent and unavoid-
able