The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-06-25
cHANDLER 5 EAR

mink SO Too.
The New York Herald of Sunday has the
following:
MARTINsBURG, W. VA, June 22.-When
the celebrated rencontre between Senator
joe Blackburn of Kentucky and Senator
William E. Chandler of New Hampshire,
occurred at the capitol last February, it
was witnessed by three brother senators
Mr.. Faulkner of Virginia, Mr.. Platt of
Connecticut and Mr. Cullom Of Illinois.
The troubly arose during a session of the
secret COMMITTEES, on Indian traders, of
which Mr.. Chandler was chairman, and
was terminated by Mr.. Blackburn pulling
Mr.. Chambers 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
we're telling about the Senate chamber a
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 beyond, possibly, a
heated exchange of personalities. Mr..
Blackburn. however, was even more reti-
cent than Mr.. Chandler. He not only
would not talk, >but requested his friends to
be equally circumspect a:d allow the
matter to die out as speedily as possible.
The story, however, continued t. spread,
and on the following morning was given
publicity in the columns of eastern and
western newspapers Some of these &C
counts represented Mr. Blackburn not
only as pulling Mr.. Chambers ear, but as
actually dragging him around the room by
his auricular appendage.
Late that evening called at the house of
Senator Faulkner and requested him to fur
nish the Herald with circumstantial &C
count of the affair. Senator Faulkner de-
clined t. discuss the. matter in any form
whatsoever. He promised If at any time
Mr.. Chandler or any of his friends should
give out statement of the trouble that re-
hected upon MIR. Blackburn that he would
then make public correct account over his
own signature.
Mr.. FAULKNER SPEAKS.
When MIR. Chandeliers statement was
printed at Concord, n. H., yesterday, |
took the train from Washington for Mar
tinsburg, w. Va, where Mr.. Faulkner lives,
to remind him OF his promise found him
at his home, on the outskirts of the pictur-
esque little village, and Immediately stated
the object of my visit. Mr.. Faulkner read
Mr.. Chandeliers statement carefully and then
dictated the following reply, which is given
in full below. 1t raises at once question
of veracity between himself and Mr..
Chandler.
MIR. Faulkner, as will be seen, expressly
states that Mr.. Blackburn did pull Mr..
Chandler's ear, ''nov, apparently" as the
senator says, with a view to per-
sonally injuring Mr.. Chandler, 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.. Chandler in his
statement referred to him (Faulkner) by
name, and that, too, in manner not en-
tirely correct. Mr.. Faulkner's statement is
as follows:
THE STATEMENT.
;"After reading the authoritative state
ment of Mr.. Chandler and noting the spirit
in which it is given out, the imputations
not only cast upon the democratic press,
but upon the democratic members of that
committee, and the attempt upon his part
to present Mr.. Blackburn in the ludicrous
and discreditable attitude of a bully, feel
that in justice to what conceive to be the
truth, it should be frankly and without
hesitation given to the public personally. |
regret the necessity of being involved in
this controversy since IL has reached the
public, especially as the relations between
Mr.. Chandler and myself during the last
two sessions of the Senate have been per-
sonally friendly. The following extract,
statement, is substantially correct as far as
it goes, and will save REPETITION on my part:
The committee was in session, no per-
son being present except the five members
and the clerk. AS chairman ! was reading
the draft of a report. Senator Faulkner
remarked that he thought I undertook, in
a certain paragraph, to assert something
which it had been mutually agreed should
not be claimed. / said that did not think
nd hot I al
Mr.. Blackburn vehemently interviewed and
said that was certainly violating the I'M
dersta ding. and that it would so appear if
l would read the paragraph again and read
it exactly as did before.
Sc 4 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 pur-
pose. Then ensued an angry colloquy,
which cannot undertake to produce with
accuracy. / said that | resented his inn
putation and he replied defAntly. At some
point he made a charge on my
official integrity, and I made most bitter
imputations upon him. / do not remember
the order OF sequence. Then he, making
some threat of personal violence Il d. not
recall the worlds, started around Senator
end of the table, where I sat with Senator
Cullom at my right. / said that he did not
dare to do what be had threatened
AN OFFENSIVE REMARK.
''In this statement Senator Faulkner
continued, ''Mr. Chandler fails TO repeat
the offensive utterance made by him which
so angered Mr.. Blackburn. 1t was this:
I do not intend to be bulldozed by any
Kentucky negro driver When l heard
that expression from Mr. Chandler / tul ned
to look at Mr.. Blackburn, who was o. my
left, to see its effect upon him. his face
manifested the most intense excitement aud
almost uncomfortable rage, and / appre-
clated the fact at once that the wordy con-
Toversy between these two gentlemen was
70 be brought to prompt conclusion
MI. blackburn, i'll a moment or two,
arose from his chair, at the same time inti-
mating his purpose to make a personal as
sault upon MIR. Chandler He walked
around my chair to the head of the table,
where Mr.. Chandler continued to sit with
out the change of o muscle or the utterance
Of word. Mr.. Chandler is mistaken when
ne says that at this point of the controversy
either Senator Cullom or myself interposed
between him and Mr.. Blackburn.
Mr.. Blackburn stood over Mr.. Chambers
cnalr some moments using language which
would convey to the mind of any one the
doubt existing in his own mind as to what
course he should pursue, inasmuch as Mr..
Chandler still remained seated, and it was
lnlDOSslhla for. Rlaot ht1Tn m etrika him