Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-01-12
South Carolina Senator
Talks on Brownsville
Affair.
INNOCENT SUFFERED
Senator Hopkins Comes to the
Defense of Senator
Sm00t.

Washington, Jan. 12.-Senator Till
man spoke on the Brownsville incident
in the senate today. He characterized
the presidents action in the matter "as
nothing more nor less than lynching,"
and challenged anyone to produce in
the army regulations or articles of war
any foundation for the charge of con-
spiracy of silence, mutiny and the oc-
casiOn made against the soldiers, al
though ne declared there was no doubt
the soldiers were responsible for the
outrage at Brownsville"
Contrary to Law.
Tillman said it was contrary to the
fundamental principles of liberty of
English and American law that the in
nOcent should suffer because of the
sins of the guilty. He declared that a
man shall be considered innocent until
he is proved guilty
In this case he said, "167 men
than 20 nave been charged with par
ticipation in the crime
should Not Have sent Them.
Tillman maintained negro troops
should not have been sent to Texas,
as they We're sent there with a wholly
inadequate number of officers. as there
were only five officers for three COM
panies.
This was DONE" Tillman explained, |
without any thought or care on the |
part of the president or secretary of
war as to results. The first thought |
of the president was to protect the |
negroes and punish citizens by the |
abandonment of the post
No End of Wars Bitterness.
Turning attention to Senator Fora !
ker. TiIlman declared the Ohio sena-
tor had belittled himself by attacking
Major Bloksome as a man whose fath-
er was copperhead. Are we never |
TO have an end of war and its bitter
ness?' ne exclaimed. Are the people |
of the north and south never to un-
deTstand each other or recognize the
rights of both sections? 1t is useless
TO deny that the race question lies at
the bottom of all this
First smOOt Defender.
Washington, ID. C.. Jan. 12.-The |
first speech in defense of the right Of
Reed Smoot to retain his seat in the
senate was delivered yesterday b. |
Senator Hopkins of Illinois, who took
the position that senators were not
federal officers to the extent that the
senate could pass upon their qualifica-
tiOns and eligibility or could impeach
them for high crime or misdemeanors.
If senator was TO be punished. he
said. it must be done by the state or
federal courts. Only federal officers
he maintained. were impeachabIe. and
this impeachment must be for acts
committed as such federal officers. He
cited the unsuccessful effort to i'm
peach Senator Blount of Tennessee,
charged with reasonable correspond
ence with foreign nation. more than
100years ago Referring directly to
Mr.. SmOOt. he continued:
ct is conceded by the chairman of
the committee on privileges and cleo
tions that Senator Smoot possesses
all of the qualifications spoken of in
the constitution itself. II is also con-
ceded that Senator Smoot is not po-
lygamist. that he has never married a
plural wife and has never practiced
thdL uc 10 d ltletl. III hio
personal relations as son, as husband
father, and citizen, above reproach."
No Excuse for Expulsion.
He then asked: ''Why, then. should
he be expelled from this body, dis
graced and dishonored for life, stig
ma placed upon his children. his own
life wrecked, and the happiness of his
wife destroyed? He is Christian
gentleman and his religious belief has
taken him into the church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints common
Iy called the Mormon church.
Never before in the history of the
government" he declared with great
emphasis, "has the previous life or ca
reer of a senator been called in ques
tion TO determine whether he should
remain in the senate or not. If mem
bers of any Christian church were to
be charged with all of the crimes that
have been committed in it's name
where is the Christian gentleman in
this body who would be safe in his
seat
New Minority Leader.
Washington, Jan. IA hot fight is
on to give democracy new leader in