The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, March 06, 1902, Image 6
..
ARE CCNSlil) i
Tillman and McLaurin Together Face
the Music
PUNISH PUGILISTIC PROCLIVITIES
1
^ Both Senators Given a Parliamentary
Scolding and Restored to Fellow
ship in Senate.
Washington. Special.?Senators McLanurin
and Tillman, of South Carolina,
Friday were severely censured by
the United States Senate. The administration
of the censure grew out of
the sensational personal encounter between
the two Senators on the floor of
the Senate lait SatdVday during the
consideration of the Philippine tariff
bill. The adoption of the resolution
of censure probably closes the incident,
so far as official action of the Senate is
concerned.
Immediately after the Senate conven- j
Mr Rnrrowa. chairman of the com- |
mlttee on privileges and elections, to
. which the McLaurin-Tillman controversy
had been referred, reported the
resolution of censure framed by a ma.
jority of the committee. Accompanying
the resolution was a report narra,
ting the events which led up to the
fight between the two Senators and setting
out the conclusions of the majority.
A brief statement was presented
by Senators Bailey, Blackburn, Pettus,
M. J. Foster and Dubois, Democratic
members of the committee, dissenting
from some conclusions of the majority.
They agree, however, to the resolution
offered. A minority report was presented
by Senators McComas, Beveridge
and Pritchara, Republicans, who
maintained that the adoption of a resolution
of censure was not sufficient
punishment. Practically there was no
debate on the resolution, although Mr.
?J nf Pnnnwtl
uamngtrr jiiiu iu>. i .?w, w. ~
cut, made it evident in brief statements j
that the resolution was not quite satisfactory
to them. The resolution was ;
adopted by a vote of 54 to 12.
When Mr. Tillman's name was called
he added now sensation to the pro- j
ceedings by rising and saying with ill- |
concealed emotion: "Among gentlemen j
an apology for an offense committed
under heat of blood is usually consid- j
ered sufficient.'
When the senate was called to order
* a notably large attendance of senators
vras on the floor and the galleries were
thronged. Both Senators McLaurin and
Tillman of South Carolina were in their
seats. Great interest was manifested by
senators on the floor and by spectators
in the galleries in the reading of the
journel which contained the protests
of Mr. Tillman against not being permitted
to vote while under the ban of
the senate's order of contempt
Mr. Burrows of Michigan, chairman
of the committee on privileges and
elections, presented the following resolution
which had been formulated by
that committee.
"That It Is the judgment of the senate
that the senators from South Carolina.
Benjamin R. Tillman and John L.
McLaurin, for disorderly behavior an 1
flagrant violation of the rules of the
senate during the open session of the
senate cn the 22nd day of February,
inst., deserve the censure of the senate
and they are hereby censured for their
breach of the privileges and dignity of
this body: and from and arter ttie adoption
of this resolution the order adjudging
them in contempt of the senate
shall be no longer in force aud
, efTect."
Mr. Burrows presented the request of
the majority of the committee which
was read.,
REPORT OF THE MAJORITY.
The report recited the history of the
altercation in the senate and quoted
the language then used by the offenders.
All agreed to this statement.
The report then continued as follows:
"The majority of the committee are
of opinion that the legal effect of adjudging
these senators in oontempt < f
the senate was to suspend their functions
as senators and that such punish
meat for disorderly Denavior is cieany
within the power of the senate but the
conclusion they have reached makes it
unnecessary to discuss this question.
The offenses committed by the two
senators were not in the ouplnion of a
News in Paragraphs.
The Ohio House of Representatives
declared in favor of the election of
United States Senators by a direct
of the people.'
Miss Elizabeth Chew Williams, of
Baltimore, was elected a vice president
general of the Daughters of the
American Revolution.
Vera and Charles Loner, orphans,
were burned to death at Worcester,
Mass.
A statue to John Burns, a hero of
Gettysburg, has been erected on the
battlefield.
Secretary Hay and Lord Pauncefote
exchanged final ratification of
h? isthmian canal treaty. J
c--"v - - - -i Ufa'y,' ,0
V \i**7 *
?? i i ^ jf
$Y THE SENATE.
majority of the committee, of equal
gravity.
"Mr. McLaurin did not commence the
encounter but only stood in his place
at his desk, where he was speaking and
resisted the attack that was made upon
him. In other words his offense was
confined to the use cf unparliamentary
language, for which he had unusual
provocation. Nevertheless, his onense
was a violation of the rules of the senate
of so serious a character that in
the opinion of the committee it should
be condemned.
THE GREATER OFFENSE.
"In the case of Mr. Tillman, the
record shows that the altercation was
commenced by the charge he maue
against Mr. McLaurin. Such a charge
is inexcusable, except in connection
with a resolution to investigate. Mr.
Tillman not only made the charge
without any avowal of purpose to investigate
but also disclaiming knowledge
of evidence to establish the offense
and this he said after the charge
had been specifically and unqualifiedly
denied by Mr. McLaurin.
"Such a charge, under any circumstances,
would be resented by any man
worthy to be a senator; but, made as it
was in this instance, its offensivenes3
was greatly intensified. This feature
of his offense, coupled with the fact
that he also commenced the encounter
by quitting nis seat some uisuiuue
away from Mr. McLaurln, and. rushing
violently upon him. struck him in the
fiace, makes the cause one of such exceptional
misbehavior that a majority
of the oommlttee are of the opinion
that his offense was of such greater
gravity than that of Mr. McLaurln.
CANNOT GRADE THE CENSURE.
The penalty of a Censure by the
senate in the nature of things muot
vary in actual severity in proportion to
the public sense of the gravity of the
offense of which the offender has been
adjudged guilty. Therefore, notwithstanding'
the fact that in the opinion
of a majority of the committee there is
a difference in the gravity of the offenses
under consideration your committee
are of the opinion that public
good and the dignity of the senate will
be alike best promoted and protected
so far as this particular case is concerned.
by Imposing upon each senator
by formal vote the censure of the senate
for the offense by him committed
and therefore, recommend the adoption
of the resolution."
At the conclusion of the reading ol
" i ? <? M. noilav nf Tev.
lilt? UiajUX'lljr I, '**. v* *V?
as. offers! the following statement as
representing the views of himself and
four other senators:
MILD DEMOCRATIC DISSENT.
"We dissent from so mush of the report
of the committee as asserts the
power of the senate to suspend a senator
and thus deprive a State of its
vote, and so much as describes the offenses
of the senators as of different
gravity; but we approve the resolution
reported."
The report of the minority of the
committee then was read.
In this statement the senators signing
It say that while they accept the
statement of the case as made in the
principal report they do not agree with
the majority of the committee as tc
the punishment proposed by tho majority.
They then say:
REPUBLICAN MINIORITY NOT SAT
i I SPIED.
"The junior senator from South Carolina
is guilty of unparliamentary language.
The senior senator from Soutl
Carolina is guilty of physical violence
Neither in the statutes of any Stat? 01
I in the common opinion of mankind an
these two offenses the same. The slight
est form of punishment is a reprimand
or censure. It is the latter which thmajority
proposes to inflict for two of
lenses dineriR? in character ana grav
ity. The minoity of the committee arc
- c? the opinion that this punishment i;
! adequate, and that to ignore the difference
betweeu the offenses is unjust
The minority o? the committee is of the
! opinion that suspension 6f the two offending
senators from their senatoria
privileges heretofore inflicted shouk
now be formally adjudged and continued
for different periods of time."
The report concludes by recommendI
ing that Senator McLaurin be suspend:
ed from his functions as a senator foi
j five days and that Senator Tillman be
suspended for twenty days.
Mr.Pritchard'.a adoption to the above
statement is in the following language:
"I concur in all the foregoing views
except as to the punishment of the
junior serator from South Carolina. It
is ray opinion that the punishment he
has already suffered is adequate to his
offense. I make no recommendation as
; to the punishment to be imposed on
the senior senator from South Caro
una.
IMPORTANT FOR THE RECORD.
Mr. Bacon called attention to what
he considered an important omission
in the narrative of the majority con|
currence3 of last Saturday. There was
President to Determine.
Washington, Special.?Presideni
Roosevelt has an appointment with s
committee of Charleston citizens whc
are coming here to urge that he visit
the exposition. At that time the ex
pectation is that a final determina
tion will be reached by the President
as to whether he will go to Charles
ton or not. He Is very anxious to dc
this and has not abandoned his original
purpose to do so, which was only
prevented by the serious illness ol
Theodore. Jr. He probably will consult
the Charleston committee regarding
the effect of the Tillman dinner
invitation episode and then decide
whether he will carry out his cherish
ed wish.
no official record of the proceedings in
the secret legislative session, he said, |
but some of the salient facts ought to
be brought out. He said that the senior
senator from South Carolina (Mr.
Tillman) had expressed his desire
through the senator from Kentucky
(Mr. Hiackburn) to make public acj
knowledgment of his error and to apologiac
to the senate. The junior senator
from South Carolina (Mr. McLaurin)
had expressed the same desire through |
him (Mr. Bacon). He deemed it important
that these facts should be
made a part of the record.
THE McLAURIN'S WOULDN'T
VOTE.
When the name of Mr. McLaurin of
Mississippi was reached in the roll call,
he said:
"Being related by kinship to one of
the senators involved, I ask to be ex- 1
cused from voting." ' (
The request was granted.
! Mr. McLaurin of South Carolina, one
| of the offending senators, said in re1
sponse to his name, which had been re- i
j stored to the roll: "I refrain from
voting for obvious reasons."
When Mr. Tillman's name was called
he rose deliberately. Every eye in the 1
chamber was fixed upon him. His face
. was stern and set and he was pale as
a sheet. Evidently he was laboring
| under great emotion.
! "Among gentlemen," said he, slowly. 1
and his words were heard distinctly in
the uttermost parts of the chamber. ,
"an apology for an offense committed
under the heat of blood is usually considered
sufficient."
Then he resumed his seat amid gasps
of astonishment among senators and
! spectators.
Mr. Burrows hastened to the desk of
the official stenographers and directed
i that Mr. Tillman's words be written
' out at once.
At the conclusion of the rcil call but
; before the announcement of the vote,
, j Mr. Kean of New Jersey, who had vo
| ted rcr the resolution, addressing tno
i I president pro tem. changed his vote in
, i tha following statement:
KEAN CHANGES HIS VOTE.
"Having heard the senator from
' South Carolina (Mr. Tillman) again
, ! insult the senate, I change my vote
from aye to no."
The resolution was adopted, 54 to 12,
the detailed vote being as follows:
Yeas.?Aldrich, Allison, Bacon, Bailey,
Bard, Bate, Berry, Blackburn,
' Burrows, Carmack. Clark of Montana,
Clay, Cockrell, Culberson, Cullom, Depew,'
Dillingham, Dolliver, Dubois. El'
kins, Fairbanks, Fccaker, Foster of
Louisiana, Frye, Gallinger, Gibson,
Hansborough, Harris, Hawley, Hoar,
, i Kearns, Lodge, McCumber, McEnery,
j McMillan, Mallory, Martin, Mitchell,
" i Money, Nelson, Patterson, Perkins,
' j Pettus, Piatt of Connecticut, Quarles,
! Rawlins, Sirmons, Stewart, Talaiferro,
Teller, Turner, Vest, Warren, Wetmore.?54.
Neys.?Beveridge, Clark of Wyom,
ing. Deboo, Dietrich. Foster of Wash!
ington. Kean, Kittridge, McComas,
. ! Millard, Pritchard, Proctor, Scott.?12.
BEN COOI^ QUICKLY.
As soon as the vote was announced
Mr. Burrows demanded that the statement
of Mr. Tillman made during the
s roll call be read to the senate. Scarcely
had the clerk concluded the read"
ing when Mr. Tillman, addressing the
' president, said:
! "The words uttered by me were not
1 intended to be offensive, and if they
> were so considered I very gladly
withdraw them."
As Mr. Burrows was about to ad.
dress the senate Mr. Teller said:
"The senator from South Carolina
was not called to order by anybody. I
think wo had better proceed."
! Mr. Burrows explained that he had
1 j had no pportunity during the roll call
] to direct the senate's attention to Mr.
i Tilh'ir.p's words. The chair (Jlr. Ifrye)
i said:
I "The senator has withdrawn the rc;
marks. Is there objection on the part
i of the senate to their withdrawal?"
IT GOES ON TIIE RECORD.
"I object, Mr. President," insisted
I Mr. Dietrich (Rep.) of Nebraska.
I The effect of the objection is to incorporate
Mr. Tillmar's statement in
the record of the proceedings.
I The senate adopted the conference
j ; report on the permanent census bill
. and then began consideration of the
I irrigation measure. Mr. Clark of Wy'
| oming delivered a speech in support of
1 the measure. For a time later the
" ; senate considered the omnibus claims
| bill but did not dispose of it before adk
i journment.
, | Houses Fall Into Flood.
Macon, Ga., Special.?The Ocmul1
gee river is as high as the record and
\ there has been much destruction of
| property. Half a dozen houses near
4 K/> c + knvf A ATirArtf
'-uo Svicaui uavc ucca oncpi illiu LllC
i I flood. Six lives were saved with great
difficulty. The City Park is inundated.
The Macon, Dublin and Savannah
bridge is in danger. Trains
on the Georgia Southern and Florida
have had to proceed over tracks covered
with water and the Southern
I trains are unable to use their own
i ; tracks south of Macon.
Goes Through? Bridge.
t Griffin, Ga., Special.?A Southbound
L passenger thain on the Columbia
, branch of the Southern Railway, went
. through a trestle into a creek at midnight,
near Zetella, Ga. The following
were killed: A. F. Matthews, engineer
Columbus, Ga.; I. L. Hill, baggageman,
Colummus, Ga.; Leo. G.
Murray, mail clerk, Atlanta; Isaac
McDowell, flreman, Columbus, Ga.
Several passengers were injured but
none fatally. The structure had been
weakened by the heavy rains and
three bents of the bridge gave way.
The train was running cautiously and
was not making over eight miles an
hour. The first class coach was the
only car that did not go into the wash,
out.
* * .....
' * " T"
;y
GETTING RED HOU
f<
? n
The Jim Tillman-Roosevelt-Jenkins ?
Sword .Matter S
# L
GROWS IN INTEREST DAY BY DAY. J
p
g
Major Jenkins Declines the Sword?
Governor McSweeney TakesaHand "J
D
?Also Exposition Managers. b
. a
C
TTio Tillman.Rrinspvelt-Jenkins COTl
troversy grows in interest A fund was
secured by subscriptions to have made j
and engraved for Major M. J. Jen- S
kins, who won great honors at Santi- ^
ago, a beautiful sword. President ^
Roosevelt had ber*n invited to present c
the sword during his visit to Charles- p
ton, and had accepted the invitation. t!
After the invitation to Senator Till- ?
man to the President's dinner to d
Prince Henry had been withdrawn, d
Col. James Tillman wired the Presl- f|
dent to withdraw his acceptance of f
the Invitation to make the presenta- h
tion. The remainder of the episode ^
to date is told in the following dis- c
patches:
Exposition Managers Act. P
Charleston, Special.?At the meeting w
of the board of directors of the Exposi- p
tion Company, Colonel J. H. Tillman's ^
message to President Roosevelt was -j
fully discussed and the following resolutions
unanimously adopted:
"Resolved, That the president of the i
Exposition Company be, and he is here c
by requested to communicate as once J
with His Excellency, Theodore Rooseveit,
the President of the United States v
and extend to him the cordial greeting |]
and good wishes of this board of direc- t
tors, with assurances that we look for- 1
?,* ?nn. ?
Wu/ra lO QUS piuuimcu noil 11/ iuv
sition \.-ith the greatest pleasure and ?
that he.will receive from our people F
the warmest welcome. r
"Resolved, further, That the PresI- u
dent be Informed that the board of dl- D
rectors deny any responsibility for the 1
recent communication made by Col. J.
H. Tillman to President Roosevelt, and
express their utter lack of sympathy c
with his action in that matter." t
A committee was appointed by the i
board of directors to convey this action t
to President Roosevelt. The city coun- i
cil will hold a special meeting to take g
action in this matter. h
Colonel Tillman was interviewed at c
his home in Edgefield by a correspondent
of The News and Courier and said: P
"I do not propose to be placed in the |i
light by my conduct of having been E
the cause of President Roosevelt's de- ]
clsion not to attend the Charleston Ex- j
position. I am in no way connected
with the exposition, officially or other- 3
wise." j
JlaJ. Jenkins Declines.
Warrenton, Va., Special.?Major >
Micah J. Jenkins has declined to ac
cept the sword which it was proposed
to present to him at Charleston, S.
C., when the president visited that
place. Major Jenkins, who is a mem- r
ber of the faculty of Bethel military 1
academy here, has sent the following >
telegram to Lieutenant Governor Till- ^
man, of South Carolina: 3
"Lieutenant Governor James H. 1
Tillman, Columbia, S. C.?You are c
represented in 1 He press as navmg r
telegraphed President Rocsevelt at
the request o? subscribers to the
sword recently offered me through '
you, requesting hini to'-withdraw ao- t
ceptance to present tame. If this is r
so, I must decline under these circumstances
to accept the sword.
Thanking you f<?r .personal kindness
in the matter, I am, truly your3.
"M. J. JENKINS." J
Charleston Will Present Sword. ^
Cnarleston, Special. ? President D
Roosevelt will be asked by the people J
of Charleston to present Major Micah *
Jenkins a sword on behalf of the ciii- 1
sens here. A movement was started 0
to this end Saturday, but was halted v
from considerations of possible em- I
barrassment to Major Jenkins. In T
view of his action in declining to ac- f
cept the sword purposed for him by j
Lieutenant Governor Tillman, the r
movement here is released. Already
nearly half the amount wanted has
been subscribed and by Monday probably
the order for the aword will be
given. t
Supplementary to the resolution c
passed by the exposition board ?>f g
directors Friday night renewing the
invitation to President Roosevelt to t
nf Phorlpstnn and also I r
visit tut: "?. _
disclaiming any responsibility and 3
sympathy for Lieutenant Governor
Tillman's action in regard to the pre- c
sentation of a sword to Major Jenkins, t
the city council passed resolutions
repeating the invitation already ex- I
tended by the city and appointed a h
special committee to present the reso- ^
lutions to President Roosevelt, and I
to express to him the earnest desire,
of the people of Charleston that he
visit the city.
Warns the President.
New York, Special.?The Times of
Sunday says that Senator Benjamin r
R. Tillman, of South Carolina, was a r
caller on Senator Piatt, on Fifth ave- m
nue Saturday. The talk lasted over .
half an hour. One of the principal
topics of conversation was the pro- '
posed visit of President Roosevelt to c
the Charleston exposition. * e
Senator Tillman is said to have been t
very explicit in his assertion that it .
would not be politic for President
/V
im\f' ti: -v<r
.oosevelt to make a visit to South
arolina, owing to the state of public
;eling there over the McLaurin-Tflllan
incident and tho withdrawal of
rc.iucnt Roosevelt's invitation to
Se Senator to meet Prince Henry at
ie dinner at the White House, which
'as followed by the telograrn from
ioutenant Governor Tillman, of
ou'h Carolina, canceling the invitaion
to the president to present a.
word to Major M, Jenkins. Senator
'latt, when asked about the conversion.
said:
"I have had a talk with Senaior
'ilirr,?n The facta which he has
rought to my attention will he laid
efore President Roosevelt. I shall
dvise the president not to visit
Jharleston."
Tillman Denies.
New York. Special.?The Times of
londay says: Senator Tillman, of
louth Carolina, who was in the city
lunday night, ridiculed the idea that )
'resident Roosevelt would inviteanger
in the event of his going to
!harleston. To a New York Times reporter
ho declared that there was noruth
in the statement that he had
ailed on Senator Piatt, on Saturday,
nd advised him to warn the Presient
not to go to South Carolina. "I
id not reach New York until 4 o'clock
aturday afternoon," said he. "Conseucntly
I was not in New York yeserday.
I did not therefore see Sena)r
Piatt, nor do I intend to see him.'"
"Do you think the President would
e in danger of his life if he visita
lharleston?" was asked.
"Oh! Oh, mercy!" the Senator relied.
"I am sure he would be treated
rith the utmost courtesy."
The Times will also say Senator
'latt denies having received a call
rom Senator Tillman.
illman's Letter Not WorryInf tha
President.
Vv* ashington, Special. ?Ex-Senator
I. C. Butler, of South Carolina,
ailed upon the President to express
he earnest hope that the TillmanIcLaurin
episode and the letter of
.ieutenant Governor Tillman would
lot Interfere with his plans for visltng
the Charleston exposition. Senaor
Butler told the president the acicn
of Lieutenant Governor Tillman.
ra3 not approved by the people, of
South Carolina. The president redied
that Lieutenant Governor Tillcan's
letter would have no effect
ipon His course, but aia not say aeniltely
whether he proposed to make
he trip to Charleston or not.
Roosevelt to McSweeney.
Columbia, Specil.?"Pray accept
ay heartfelt thank3 for your coureous
telegram, which I appreciate)
^heodore Roosexelt.'' This telegram
o Governor McSweeney is the latest
u the Jenkins-Tillman alfair. The
;overnor's telegram to the president
ins not been made public, but its drift
an be surmised.
In his statement Lieutenant Govrnor
Tillman detailed how he had
nvited Governor McSweeney to subcribe
to the Jenkins sword fund, and
he governor had declined on the
round of being unable to afford it.
lovernor McSweeney says: "This is a
aistake. Lieutenant Governor Tillaan
did not ask me for any contribuion
for the Jenkins sword fund, nor
ras I asked by any one else to con
ribute to that fund."
The Million Bale ilark Rcched.
Savannah, GaSpecial.?The cotton
eceipts at this port since September
, 1901, the beginning of the cotton
car passed the one-millicn-bale .mark
rhuisday. The gross receipts up to
ml including Thursday arc 1,001,964;
lot receipts 1,001,509. This i3 about
me month ir. advance o? the million
nark last season, and the earliest
ho port has ever touched the sevenigr.re
mark. Cotton men aay it means
hat the crop is being marketed more
apidl/ than last year.
Railroad Sold.
Nashville, Special.?The sale of the
* ? DoUrno^ tr\ th A
?asavuie cz n.uui?mc nam v? ?
'ennessee Central has been consumlated,
according to a telegram reeivsd
from President Shepley, of the
Jnion Trust Company, of St. Louis,
'he message says a payment of $500,00
was made today and oil the Nash llle
& Knoxville securities have passed
nto the hands of the Central trustees.
The Nashville & Knorville evtends
rom Monterey to Lebanon, Tenn., 110
niles, and !s the "fc^nntlal link in the
troposed Tennessee Central system.
Minor Alention.
It is said that the Northern Securiies
Company can nullify the effect
if Attorney General Knox's suit by
;etting a foreign charter.
Charles F. Jones continued his teeimony
in the trial of Albert T. Patick,
accused of murdering William
Jarsh Rice in New York.
The Interstate Trust Company .was
hartered at Trenton, N. J., with
iroau powers.
Application was made before Judge
XT T U..
smory at ixewam, m. ?j., uj a
.olders of the Distilling Company of
America, who seek to examine the
looks.
Bridge Swept Away.
Atlanta, Special?The Seaboard Air
Jne's bridge over the Savannah
iver at Calhoun Falls, Ga., was carled
away Friday night by the high
rater. The Atlanta and West Point
irought a train Into Atlanta from
Montgomery at 11 o'clock at night
iver its own tracks. This road, howiver,
is sending its Montgomery
rains over the Southern, by way of
Birmingham.
' . . ' - J