The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-04
SENATOR CHANDELIERS EAR.
No Doubt That it Was Pulled by Senator
BIackburn-Senator Faulkner Gives Il
Detailed Account of What Took Place
in the Committee I:oom.
1t'rom the New York Herald. !

From the New ORR Herald.
MARTINsBURG, W. VA, June D.
When the celebrated rencontre between
Senator "Joe" Blackburn, Of Ken
tucky, and Senator William +. Chan
dler, of New Hampshire, occurred at
the Capitol last February, it was wit
messed by three brother Senators-Mr.
Faulkner, of West Virginia; Mr.. Platt,
of Connecticut, and Mr.. Cullom, Of
Illinois.
The trouble arose during Il session of
the secret committee on Indian traders,
of which Mr. Chandler was chairman,
and was terminated 10y MI. Blackburn
pulling Mr. Chandler's ear and in
other ways showing his contempt for
the gentleman from New Hampshire.
This, at least, was the story which Mr..
Blackburn's friends were telling about
the Senate Chamber few hours after
the committees session had closed.
Mr.. Chandler, when spoken with
upon the subject, denied that his ear
had been pulled, or that anything OF a
sensational character had occurred be-
yond, possibly, a heated exchange of
personalities. Mr.. Blackburn, how
ever, was even more reticent than Mr..
Chandler. He not only would not
talk, but requested his friends to be
equally circumspect aud to allow the
matter to Gle out as speedily as possible.
The story, however, continued to
spread and on the following morning
was given publicity i'll the columns Of
Eastern and Western newspapers.
Some of these accounts represented
Mr.. Blackburn not only as pulling Mr..
Chambers ear, but as actually drag
ging him around the room by his
auricular appendage.
Late that evening | called at the
house of Senator Faulkner, and re-
quested him to furnish the Herald with
a circumstantial account Of the affair.
Senator Faulkner declined to discuss
the matter in any form whatsoever.
He promised if at any time Mr.. Chan
dler or any of his friends should give
out statement of the trouble that re-
fected upon Mr.. Blackburn that he
would then make public Il correct ac-
count over bis own signature.
Mr.. FAULKNER SPEAKS.
When Mr.. Chambers statement was
printed at Concord, y. H., yesterday,
l took the train from Washington for
Martinsburg, w. Va, where Mr..
Faulkner lives, to remind him of his
promise. ! found him at his home, on
the outskirts of the picturesque little
village, and Immediately stated the
object of my visit. Mr.. Faulkner read
Mr.. Chandler'S statement carefully and
then dictated the following reply,
which is given in full below. 1t raises
at once a question of veracity between
himself and Mr.. Chandler.
Mr. Faulkner, as will he seen, en-
pressly states that Mr.. Blackburn did
pull Mr.. Chandler's ear, mot, appar-
emily" as the Senator says, "with a
view to personally injuring Mr.. Chan
dler, but to cast an indignity upon
him."
Mr.. Faulkner further Informed me
that he was the more moved to speak
| in the matter inasmuch as Mr.. Chan
Gler in his statement referred to him
{Faulkner} hy name and that, too, in
manner not entirely correct. Mr..
Faulkncr's statement is as follows:
TIE STATEMENT.
''Atter reading the authoritative
statement of Mr. Chandler and moth
! ing the spirit in which it is given out,
the imputationS not only cast upon
the Democratic press. but upon the
Democratic members of that commit
tee, and the attempt upon his part to
present Mr.. Blackburn in the ludicious
and discreditahle attitude of a bully, !
feel that in justice to what I conceive
to he the truth it should be frankly and
without hesitation given to the public
personally. regret the necessity Of
being involved in this controversy
since it has reached the public, es-
| pecially rs the relation between Mr..
Chandler and myself during the last
| two Sessions of the Senate have been
personally friendly. The following
extract, which | herewith clip from
Mr.. Chambers statement, is substan-
TALLY correct rs far as it goes, and will
save repetition on my part.
"'The committee was in session, no
person being present except the five
members and the clerk AS chairman
I was reading the draft Of a report.
Senator Faulkner remarked that he
thought undertook, in a certain para
graph, to assert something which it
had been mutually agreed should not
be claimed. | said that / did not
think so and that I would read the
clause again. Mr.. Blackburn vehem-
! emily interviewed and said that 1 was
certainly violating the understanding,
and that it would 50 appear if I would
read the paragraph again and read it
exactly as read it before.
81 asked him what reason he had
for intimating that l would falsely
read the paragraph. He replied that
he thought so because it would be like
my whole action in the case, and that
he considered me capable of doing
anything to serve a partisan purpose.