Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-09-04

iamentary leader of the Republicans,
made vulgar remark which created all
the trouble. Before IL was over Wilson
(WaTh. and Beckwith IN. ]. } had struck
an, b other, and Mason and Cannon had
only failed to do SO because they could
mot get at one another, while similar
rows occurred all over that side of the
chamber.
Cannon, smarting under singing
criticism by McAdoo IN. J.), upon his
resolution directed at the absentees yes
terdsy, used an aggravting phrase that
was 10 Vulgar to appear in print. No one
had any doubt at that moment what
Cannon meant. The whole House rose
TO its feet. Mrs. Mason and the other
ladies' left the gallery.
While member was asking that they
be requested to leave McAdoo was appro-
pEiately chnracterizing Cannon's remark,
Enloe was demanding that the ofen.iVe.
words be taken down, and two dozen
other members were shouting out the
same thing. Cannon saw that he had
made tremendous miatake. Reed saw
It, too; but all that Reed could do was to
decide that Euloes request to have the
words taken down came too late. Reed
did not want the journal distignred with
them. While the House was voting on an
appeal which was promptly taken, from
the decision, everybody on the floor was
taking about Caunon's remark, and the
hum almost drowned the clerks voice.
all the Democrats unres .rvedly con-
demned il, but there was difference of
opinion on the Republican side, some
standing by Cannon, although the ma
iorlty disppproyed, especially those
whose families were in the gallery.
MASON CALLS CANNON HARD NAMES.
Among those was Mason Ill.), who
was trying to get at Cannon across sec.
tion OF desks which separated them, but,
being restrained by friends and his own
size. was hurling epithets at his colleague
which were most audible in the gallery.
You wouldn't have said that il your
family had been in the gallery" Mason
said; "and you wouldn't have said it at
all. If you hadn't been - dirty
tramp" and so on, winding up, as
Cannon protested, to break his wrath,
that his words had been misunderstood.
"You're -, -, lying son of
--!" This excited Cannon SO that his
friends had to hold him or he would have
climbed over the desks 10 hit Mason.
While they were exchanging profane
epithets the same dispute was going on
oil over the Republican side. Every
member expressed his opinion out loui,
and where different opinions were ex-
pressed they almost came to blows in
their excitement. Suddenly two of them
did come to blows.
Wilson of Washington, nervous bru-
nette, and Beckwith of New Jersey,
nervous blonde, were still sitting on
either side OF the staiwart and stolid
Lehlbach OF New Jersey wa ching Mason
MS he shook his fist and hurled his cpl
thets at Cannon Just behind them. Beck
with rose and Wilson struck at Beckwith.
Lehlbsch, rising at the same moment,
caught most Of that blow and all OF that
which Beckwith aimed at Wilson In re-
turn. Nothing was said by either as they
continued aparring over Lehlbach for 8
quarter of a minute longer, but without
hitting ono another. To the great major
ity of the House this whole episode was
nothing but pantomime.
For moment the House became quiet.
Mascn ceased to curse Cannon, Cannon
ceased to curss Mason, and all eyes were
fZ.d on Wilson and Beckwith. The |
other members seemed rooted to their |
places, and Speaker Reed seemed para
lyzsd. Then red saead Williams of Ohio,
rushed down tho aisle to catch Beckwith's |
arm, while Richard Vaux walked aolemuly |
Bcrogs from the Democratic side to seize |
Wilson. Bergen of New Jersey not |
knowing that Williams was coming MS |
peacemaker, struck at Williams Just as
Williams laid his hand on BecEwith, and |
Bsckwith, thinking he was being attacked .
in the rear, turned to fight him. Gear, |
by clRmberinE over an intervening denk, |
checked the row, which threatened 20
become general, while Wilson sang into /
his seat as he saw Vaux coming The |
other Democrats we're laughing and ap.
plauding, except General joe Wheeler OF |
Alabama, who was endeRvoring to get |
over to help Vaux.
BY this time Reed had gotten the ser.
geant-st-arms with his mace out, and the
sergeant alarms marched slowly back TO
the group aud solemnly presented the
mace at Williama, who calculated, "hy |
God, man, am not in it; Pm a peace
maker" However, the sergeant alarms,
who apparently bad not seen the fight,
inlilted on olloEing Williams to his seat
while Beckwith eat quietly down in his
own. While he was doing this the Dem
ecTats, who had been yelling with de-
light at the Republican family quarrel,
HIDblu0u.
Then came one Of the most remarkable
features of the episode, when Wilson got
up and walked back to the seat Of the
late Watson (Pa.), who was his warm
friend, and laid his head down apparently
in tears of regret upon the fl overs strewn
upon the black. covered desk. The SER
geant- of-arms replaced the maze, Cannon
and Mason were induced to sit down, and
tue most diaorderly roll call the House
has known for years was concluded.
Members gathered around Lehlbach
and the others who sat near and tried to
get connected story OF tha Wilson
Beckwith row. It seems that Baokwith,
who had private grievance against
Cannon for naming him among the ab-
Bentess in his resolution yesterday, had
said to Lehlbaoh, as they watched Mason
and Oannon, that Mason was quite right.
"No, he isn't" said Wilson; "OAnnon's
right"
"What have you got to do with it r.
demanded Beckwith.
"Oh, said Wilson, "you're mad be-
cause Cannon put your name in his list
yesterday"
"Well," said Beckwith. at had no
business there, tor was here all the
day"
well" said Wilson, ''it was all right,
tcr its - little you are here any
Way.n