The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-03-06
RIDoLEBEReERs PUBLIC CAREER.
Ends in a DisgracefuI scene on the Senate
Floor.

Ends in a DisgracefuI scene on the senate
Floor.
WASHINGTON, March 3-The career Of Sena-
tor RiddIeberger, which has been an unusually
stormy one, ended tonight in q
scene that has seldom. if ever, been equaled
on the senate floor. As is well known,
the senator has for several days been en-
deavoring to secure an executive session
for the consideration Of the nomination
of Commissioner Webb OF the District
of Columbia to succeed himself, but
has not been as successful as he desired. His
action in this matter was in opposition to the
policy OF the republican caucus, and his course
gave great concern to the members of that
party. Up to tonight they have been
able to control the matter by various
parliamentary pretexts and technicalities, but
it had reached such a point that the only way
in which the nomination could be defeated,
except by direct rejection, which the demo-
Gratis did not want, for obvious reasons to per-
NIT was to talk it TO death. and that would &C.
cupy too much valuable time
So when the senate re-cOnvened this evening
after the days recess there was desire on the
part of the republicans to avoid
it. But Mr.. Riddleberger, whose
condition was as bad, from a total
abstinence point of view, as ii has been at any
time in his official life was determined to push
his motion for an executive session. His
efforts in this direction were ignored by
President protein. ingalls, until they could
no longer to be so treated, and then when the
motion was made and put, President ingalls,
declared it lost. This was not satisfactory TO
Mr.. Riddleberger. who continued his inter
ruptions of business. Finally the chair in
formed him he would not be recognized
further This statement delivered before the
occupants of crowded galleries who had been
moved to laughter at the failure OF the Vir-
ginia senator to secure executive session,
seemed to stun him and he LETT the chamber
That he would proceed In the manner ne did
to express MS feelings toward the presiding
officer no one imagined, when he returned a
few minutes later, again interrupting the
pending business to announce that he had tele-
graphed to Gov. Lee his resignation
for the remaining fifteen hours or his term of
Office, because a republican senator from Vir-
ginia could not obtain recognition from the
chair, a genuine sensation was created in the
chamber both on the floor and in the galleries.
This rapidly rose to excitement when, under
the continued interjections by the irate senator
and his attempts to speak. the presiding
officer ordered the sergeantatarms to
arrest him. Mr. Riddleberger's ap-
peal TO be judged by the senate whether
or not he had violated any rule of the body was
UNDECIDED and Col. Canady proceeded TO exc
cute the order of the senate. He took hold of
Mr.. Riddleberger's coat lapel and the
senator grasped his seat with one
hand and a struggle seemed imminent.
The scene was an intensely exciting one and
the vast throng in the galleries sat with sup
pressed breath, while on the floor the Jingle of
nervous excitement was felt in every frame. At
this moment Mr.. May, one of Col. Canady's
deputies, seized Mr.. Riddleberger's hand
and arm. and his grip being loosened, Col.
Canady, putting an arm around his body, half
carried, half pushed him into the
cloak-room, the door being but a
few feet distant He was kept there under
guard of one of the deputy sergeants-at-arms
while various of his associates endeavored to
calm him and get him into a
reasonable frame of mind. Mean
time the business of the senate proceeded
and gradually the usual condition and appear
ance of things in the presence of q crowd re-
asserted themselves. and the disgraeeful episode
was over for the present.
At last accounts Mr.. Riddleberger had not
received notice of the acceptance Of his resig-
nation by Gov. Lee.