New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-22
A DISGRACEFUL SCENE IN THE HOUSE.
WAR OF WORDS AND ALMOST oy BLOWS BETWEEN
Mr.. WEAVER AND Mr.. SPARKS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TKIBUSEI


tiyes has been again the scene of disgraceu per-
sonal alteration between two of its members, and
this time fist fight was prevented only by the ac-
tive Intervention of members who threw themselves
between the would-be combatants and dragged one
of them away.
The beligeTents to-day were ex- Presidential Can
ddate Weaver and Representative Sparks, of
Illinois. Mr. Sparks has been engaged in similar af-
fairs before since he has been member of the
House, although he has never before escaped real
fight narrowly as he did this afternoon. The
difficulty between him and Mr.. Clymer last session.
in which the lie given by Mr.. Sparks is still
membered, as well as the ample apology which he
made TO the House at the time.
The prelude to the difficulty of to-day was a long
and somewhat bitter discussion between Mr.Weaver
and Mr. Bland, of Missouri, in the course of which.
while Mr.. Bland was speaking, Mr.. Sparks made
some personal remark about Mr.. Weaver, which
that gentleman resented. short colloauy ensued
between the two, and Mr.. Sparks applied the word
false " TO something that Mr.. Weaver said When
Mr.. Weaver had finished his reply to Mr. Bland he
referred to what Mr. Sparks had said. That gentle
man interrupted hlm, having in the meantime sent
him an explanatory note. and said that the whole
difficulty had evidently arisen out of a misunder
standing. He desired to recall any harsh language
he had used. Mr.Weaver accepted this explanation
and proceeded, evidently in good humor to hint
temper we'll known-ought never to
speak at all when he was excited. Mr. Weaver
added that he always tried to keep cool himself but
that if any had within reach of his applied
to him the language that Mr. Sparks in the heat of
passion had used, he should have resented it with
blow.
SIr. Sparks sprang to his feet and in voice
quiverDg with rage, exclaimed, as he pointed his
fuger at Mr.. Weaver: That man who stands
tolo hoI
the reach Of his arm Why, that arm is beneath
contempt ard more Of tue same sort, delivered IN
q theatrical style
Mr. Weaver. apparently still in good humor,
said that was all right. The whole matter was
settled. He accepted the genteman's apology.
But" he added, pleasantly, the gentleman is
mistaken in one point: my arm is not puny as
he appears to think. My fighting weight is 1S5
pounds"
BY this time Mi.Sparkss rage had entirely got the
best of him. and he went TO say that Mr.. Weaver
was no gentleman and had been guilty of dishon- |
orable conduct in the last political campaign. This
brought the House state of comparative silence
End attention Mr.. Weaver arose, and speaking |
very calmly and deliberately that he could be |
beard perfectly throughout the hall. said that he
personally before the House and country. branded
the gentleman from Illinois a lar"
Mr.. Spa;Is from his seat, retorted that the gen.
teman from Iowa was "scoundreD and evil |
Jain" Mr.. Weaver, thereupOn. without uttering |
another word, stepped into the aisle and marched
toward Mr.. Sparks, who was sitting IN of the |
front seats on the Democratic side
For an instant the members quietly looking on,
and i'll another second blows would have been ex- |
changed. Mr. Osmer. of Pennsylvania and others |
seized Mr. Weaver and drew him away, after a |
struggle that lasted fully minute.
Mr. Sparks kept his seat until Mr. Weaver drew
very near, when he arose. After Mr. Weaver had |
been seized, Mr. Sparks jumped forward and tried TO
wrench up q desk to weapon. He taken
in charge by Mr.. Townshend and one two Others,
but his struggles to get at his enemy not ex-
tremcly violent. One spectator in the gallery re-
marked that :" it took fifteen men to hold Weaver
and only one to hold Sparks"
Mr.. Covert was in the chair. and was helpless.
The Speaker rushed down the aisle and, Seizing the
gavel from Mr.. Covert's band, shouted for ORDER
and sent the Sergeant-3t-Ams to enforce his COM
mauds. With mace in hand officer took his
position in front OF Mr. Sparkss seat and, after the
use Of some persuasion and force Mr.. Weaver was
also seated in his own place.
There can be no doubt that Mr.. Weaver's intention
to fight was real enough. and several members who
helped to pull him away say that his resistance
powerful He turned on of the gentemen-Mr.
D mer, of Pennsylvana-who was one of the first
to seize him and commanded him with an oath to |
" let co." Mr. Sparks too appeared very anxious
1
Texas. with his tall form and gray head towering |
above the rest conspicuous the very front of
the fray aud appeared anxiousy seeking for head
to hit
AS soon order was in measure restored Mr. 6
MeLane moved an adjoprnment, a which was unani-
abiy will be devoted to composing the difficulty.
PERSONAL explanations 10 w will have to be made by both
probably take some action. although-as the dis 4
qrbanee took place when TIE Mho House was in
not not reported to the House when the com:
mittees report was made-Speaker Randall
eo take o es i1' T S
however will undoubtedly refer to the matter :,
when he explains to the House why be apparently y
usurped authority to-day by taking possession OF ,
tie Speakers chair and exercising his authority
wien the House was in Committee OF the Whole. :,
the Manual where decision - given that covers b
ease in which the Speaker told the House that he
.. had taken the char without an order to bring p
The disturbance of to-day has in all probability b
rendered t impossible for the House to dispose of O
the Rsfundine bill before the holiday recess. al
whole blame & ~ OF the outbreak On Mr. Weaver, who,
be says. is "a trnculen qgarrelsome fellow always
pitching into other people" -
"Wlll there be anything further between you and q
General Weaver, Mr.; Sparks !. he was asked, >. Il
know about that. shall do nothing more abOutit
can't answer for General Weaver This Is ds The
The fellow Weaver is pestilent, fellow,
ana tfieu 10 pick quarrel Win s6feiai otncie tl
Today. could whip Weaver aud Pd have done o.
i If he had struck me [ never was afraid of any g
set of men aud don't fear Weaver aud his 't
whole d-d crowdp e;
General Weaver was found at a late hour this y
evening at his rooms Capitol Hill He WAS In an - .
excellent humor and when his passage at arms with y
hr. Sparks mentioned, he laughed and said that "
,e was very sorry the affair had taken place. .
eay like Sparks" be said. 81 think no is q man
# good itnpulses but Of ungovernable temper"
" Do yoa think the quarrel will go any further
senerai Z" was asked. @.
'' Not my motion. am sick of 1t all now and q,
resume Mr. Sparks is. While was no doubt. un- " ~