The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-20
SENATOR IIlLMlE's REPLY.
<nNTkRESrING DESCRIPTION OF
THE DRAMATIC SCENE IN
THE SENATE.
'x1llmsn Had the sympathy OF the
Crowd.



oas II witnessed such dramatic ten
u>on and extraordinary episodes as
when senator Benjamin Ryan Till
man. OF south Carolina. offered his
0sfense TO the accusations against him
from Presideat Roosevelt.
The famous South Caroiinian on
many prior occasions had occupied the
senter Of the forensic stage before
erowded galleries while hurling de-
Mance at the president. but never at
trHcted such eager crowds as those
&hat streamed through the marble
Dortals OF the capitol today. In an
olripsuon OF an exciting afternoon
tsousands OF persons swarmed
through the corridors and utterly dis
rouraged the police. There was a
<oiid phalanx OF humanity blocking
4hs entrances 10 the gallery doors In
= wild struggle for admission. while
ths spacious staircases aud broad lob
tiss were populated as thickiy as an
ant hin.
The bcdlam OF voices was frequent
~ punetuatsd with the screams OF wo-
mon caught I'm the crush. Garments
were torn. plumaged hats wrenched
nj. society coiffures deranged and
Dockstbooks lost Whether there were
pickpockets intermingled in the
'farong Is not yet establis shed. but
watches and jewelry were reported
rnissing. An Q iderly gentleman
rsught In the eddies OF this human
maelstrom opposite the entrance to
tho committee room Of Senator Bur-
rows tainted and fell against the edge
oS one OF the gallery doors. cutting
Nh head. He had to be removed into
~ committee room to recuperate. He
save his name % c. r.. L. crowdy. and
ssid he was a retired merchant.
More than 10000 sought admission
IN the galleries. whose capacity Ia only
|. few thousand persons, and as less
1hAn half Of the availabls space was
rnsrved. the wives and daughters
sven Of senators were In many In
's>ancss unable TO enter the chamber.
uns family Of Senator Tillman--em-
>bescins party Of five. including Mrs.
Tmman and the senator's charming
daughtsr--were. for instance. able to
secure admittance only upon q special
order from the vice president. and
then they were unable to secure bet
1cr accommodation than seats upon
'zhs carpeted steps of the mems pub
1sc gallery. The gallery reserved for
me use OF the families Of senator's was
nlled before the arrival Of the Tillman
party. and this was the best that could
no done for them.
When the doors were thrown open
me crowds which had bsen held In
leash by capitol policemen rushed
xhrough like q flood. Down the slop-
tug stairways went men. women and
xhildren In a scramble for seats. AL
most In the twinkling of an eye every
-Eest was occupied and people were
coon standing In solid array around
fne walls. The opening OF the doors
had no appreciable effect upon the
size OF the throng In the corridors.
The doors were left open. the aisies
wsre crowded and men and women
tammed In the doors almost crushed
The doorkeepers. Occasionally during
ths delivery OF Senator Tillman's
speech the pressure upon those stand
tng In the doorways from the restless
rear Of the crowd was so great that
Deople were almost showed over the
heads OF those sitting In the gallery
ssisIes. When the commotion was su-
able down In the pit Of the senate
tho srave and intent men at the desks
looked upward and frowned.
Upon the floor Of the senate itself
there was another solid array Of hu-
man beings. Every seat was occupied
oy senator's. ex-senators OF represen-
1ativeo. More than 100 members Of
the house OF representatives stood In
the lunette-shaped spaces behind the
last row Of circular seats. mingling
with committee clerks. private secre-
taries and others entitled to the priv
1leges of the floor. Representative
Pearre. of Maryland. stood In the
gathering behind the Republican
chairs. Near him was Representative
Hobson, OF Alabama. Other familiar
house faces were those OF Judge Coop
ar. OF Wisconsin; Burleson. of Texas.
and Longworth. OF Ohio. -beared
william A. Stewart. of Nevada. for
many years senator Of the pre-