The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-02-03

The fact that the Senator had not
attempted a set speech since his de-
parture for Europe last spring, on ac-
count of illness, was commented upon
with interest almost as marked as
was the circumstance that he was to
appear in response to the serious ac-
cusations of the President and in de-
tense of his own course.
1t was generally understood that he
would attempt to justify his course,
and the disposition of the audience,
both on the floor and in the galleries,
was to wait his explanation before
passing final Judgment.
APPLAUSE FOR TILLMAN.
The appearance of Senator Tillman
in the Senate chamber three minutes
before II o'clock, before the vice pre-
sident had taken his seat, gave the
galleries an unusual opportunity for a
demonstration of handclapping with
out being called to order. A round of
applause was given the South Caro-
lima Senator as he stepped into the
chamber and proceeded to his seat.
The attendance of senators was not
unusually large when Vice President
Fairbanks assembled the steps leading
to his seat as presiding officer. On
both the republican and democratic
sides the leaders were present.
The buzz of conversation that came
from the galleries was hushed as the
assemblage was called to order and
Rev. Edward Everett Hale, the chap
lain, delivered the usual invocation.
The reading of the journal had hard
ly been ordered when Senator Culber-
son of Texas asked unanimous con-
sent that procedure be dispensed with
and Senator Tillman arose and he
agn his speech.
APOLOGY FOR READING SPEECH.
Mr.. Tillman had gone to his seat
without speaking to any one and sat
there quietly until the unanimous
consent to dispense with the reading
OF the journal had been given. Then
he arose with a printed COPY of his
remarks in his hand
Departing for a moment from his
written speech Mr.. Tillman said that
he desired to have the Indictment
against him clearly expressed and to
precede his reply. He therefore asked
that the papers sent by the President
to Senator Hale be published in the
Record in full ahead of his speech.
This request was granted.
In deliberate tones he proceeded to
excuse himself for the unusual pro-
cedure of reading his speech on the
ground that he was replying to the
President in an unusual attack upon a
senator.
The metallic and piercing voice OF
the South Carolina senator was kept
within control as he proceeded. The
galleries INDUCED in no outbreak, al
though there was occasional suppress
ed laughter, until Mr.. Tillman declar-
ed that the President had placed him
in the Ananias club.
On the part Of the senators present
Mr.. Tillman was given the closest at
tention. After he began speaking al
most every senator's seat was occu-
pied. The rear of the chamber was
filled with members of the House OF
Representatives. Representative Bour-
Ike Cochran of New York secured a
seat alongside of Mr.. Tillman.
A peal of laughter was called forth
when Mr.. Tillman declared he had not
known that Executive hide had been
so greatly stung by the darts he had
sent at him at various times when he
had criticised him in the Senate.
When he suggested that doubtless
the President believed that the pitch
fork had, gone out of business" anoth-
er roar of laughter was called forth.
WARNING TO GALLERIES.
The Vice President admonished the
galleries that applause of any kind
was not permitted in the Senate, and
if persisted in would necessitate the
clearing of all galleries.
The section reserved for the diplo-
matte corps was held for members OF
the corps until - o'clock, at which
time others were permitted to occupy
seats there.
Postmaster General Meyer occupied
a seat in the diplomatic gallery and
was an attentive listener.
Mr.. Tillman kept closely to his ma
nuscript as he proceeded, except when
he referred to Mr.. Hartman as 1.-The
Presidents dear friend" who held q
100000 acres of the land in question,
he looked over his eyeglasses, and,
glancing around the chamber, added:
Possibly the relations are not so