Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-22
BEN TILLMAN
TURNS SENATE
TO MINISTRIES
Makes Last Effort to
Be Funny
South caroIinan Indulges In Person.
alities, Then Rees Pardon and
Says He Will Not Do
It Again
BY Associated Press.


BY Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21-A spectacu
lar speech by Senator Tillman was the
chief feature of an exciting day in the
senate. The South Carolina senator.
effort was reply to the recent crit
iclsm of himself by Senator Spooner
He began with satirical picture of tn,
senate as minstrel show which Mr.
Tlllman later said was his first and las
attempt to be funny" an attemp
which at it's conclusion brought sting
ing denunciation from Senator Car
mack in resentment of illusions to him
This was preceded by a serious repl,
from Senator Spooner on the attitud,
taken by Mr.. Tillman on the race
problem, all finally resulting in a ses
sion of nearly two hours behind CLOSED
doors.
The secret session was followed by
brief open one in which Mr. Tillmal
made a profuse apology to Mr.. Car
mack, to all senators whom he ha'
brought into his first essay in the lin
of hunger" and finally to the entir'
senate. II very much regret that
ever undertook to be funny, and I will
never do so any more" Mr.. Tillmal
then withdrew all he had said in hi
funny essay" and said 1t would no
appear in the record.
This apology was at once accepted b,
Mr.. Carmack. who regretted he haC
questioned the motives of his friend
and he, too, withdrew words he hat
uttered in protest.
Argue Brownsville Affair
The Brownsville affair was the sub
ject of controversy and the day begal
with the announcement of a compro
mise resolution which brought Repub
lican and Democratic senators togethe
on the basis of ordering an investigation
Of the facts of the affray without bring
ing into question the authority of tn
president to dismiss the negro troops
The resolution was submitted to an
approved by the president at con
ference yesterday.
After the speeches and mutual apol
og1es had been made Mr.. Foraker al
tempted to get a vote on his resolution
Objection was made and the matter wi
be taken up tomorrow.
The senate adjourned at 6:15.
Senator Tillman took the floor at tn
conclusion Of the morning business t
reply to the recent criticisms of himsel
by Senator Spooner. AS prelude t,
his remarks he paid his compliments t.
senators who had spoken on tn
Brownsville incident. He said tn
press had denominated him the burn
cork artist of the senate" and re
marked that If he was entitled to thi
appellation or that of "Pitchfork Ben,
at one end of the minstrel line certainl,
Fire Alarm Joe" (Senator Foraker
ought not to be ignored at the other.
Delivers Some Hot Ones
Senator Culberson was designated as
performing a solo on the bones" II
praise for the president; Senator
Daniel was called "the brilliant ant
courtly senator from Virginia, whose
speciality is oratory and who works
his rhetoric overtime"
Next" said Mr.. Tillman, 1--WE have
the dying swan. Smiling Tom of Colo.
RADIO, the state recently bought at auc.
ton by one Guggenheim, and the swar
song is a dirge for the dying Democra.
cy of the north, stabbed in it's vitals
by Bens pitchfork. His act is very
pathetic and always brings tears to the
eyes of the audience.
nesseean, who was one knight, very
Hotspur in the lists, whose spear has
run through and clear upon the visor
OF the usurper at the White House
and who has made the sparks fly il
many an onset. but his spearhead is
broken off; he has been unhorsed, but
before retiring he seizes a garland OF
flowers and placing it on his headless
weapon (noW, alas. no longer of any
use), he lays 1t at the feet of the vic
torious Roosevelt as a peace offerine
and joins the minstrels to sing a last
song to the victor of Brownsville, who
whistles to the Democrats to come tC
the White House and lick the hand
which so often smote them. His spe-
cialty is a song, 'Renominate Our Idea
or Give Us Back Our Platform.
Next, as the negro preacher and the
telephone artist in the show, who OF
some occasion gets into communication
with the White House over the wire
and acts as a receiver and repeater
veritable chameleon in his accuracy
in reproducing White House colors-we
have a senator from Massachusetts
the home of the sacred God, where the
Adamses vote for Douglass and Lodge
walks with the Almighty.
"Gumshoe Bill" Enters
GAS the middleman we have the
pompadous artist from Georgia. whose
speciality Is to never answer any ques-
tions and who depends on his voice tC
carry conviction to his audience.
"Then comes the star of the troupe
'Gumshoe Bill from Missouri He car
dance the highland fling on the top OF
ten-rail fence and never touch the
ground, but his greatest fete is walk
ing on eggs without breaking the
shells.
Last, we have the artist from the
top of the Badger state. an acroba
and juggler of international reputation
He is supple, sly and foxy, and hav
ing once been a lawyer, is noted fol
his ability to get on either side of any
question and maintain the negative
or affirmative in any argument will
great force"
AT this point Mr. Tillman turned hi
attention to Senator Spooners recen