The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-03-07

he added. "has ought 10 charn
against any public character or priNat
honor. say. let's have IT. out here arr
now. Seth Millken.r and as he said this
CannOn's hand. that had been deliborafcil
raised. fell upon Miliken's shoulder
light blow, but an intended insult and chal
lenge.
THE SECRET or THE DIFFICULTY.
For several minutes this afternoon IL look
i ed as if "A iisticun was imminent bctwcei
those two superiatiye representatives of thi
Republican party. There has been nf
friendship between the two men for som'
time. Cannon was "a candidate for Speaker
and he was very confident. Cannon wa.
/ led 10 believe that Eastern Republicans
would not support Reed and be con
scented 90 unite ulOn Milliken, who belong.
20 the Blaine faction. and never liked
/ Reed n was we'll understood that Cannon
expected the New England friends o
Blaine tO put The knife into Reed. and Doe
was Ted 10 believe that he would be q I
/ choice Of the Eastern Blaine men. lie was
disappointed. as Milliken, and Blaine.
other friends decided that it was policy tf
support Reed. but Cannon has never fDr
given Them for misleading him. and 20 gei
even with Milliken, be seized thl
opportunity to-day 10 attack the com.
]
man. and 90 charge that it was
dividing up public building bills among the
members. This argcred Milliken so that
when he first rot the floor. 10 was almost
impossible for him 10 speak. lie actually
shook an over with excitement and indiMa-
ton. OF course Jhe understood the animus
of the assault. and repelled the attacks
upon his committee, and declared that be-
was "persoually'' responsible for any con-
struction Cannon might see flo % put upon
his language.
A FIsI-FfGHr IMMINENT.
Cannon came bacl, upon him I'm the most
annrOyod priIo ring sfylo. Tie rolled ur
his sleeves and after some ugly word
sparring deliberately advanced upon Milli-
ken. lie declared that Mill.ken had im-
puted personal corruption or improper mo-
lives 90 him. and asserting that no man
could bring such "a charge against him. De
said. standing face 10 face with Mllllkcn.
and with his right hand raised. ''and II lor
can charge me with public or private dis
honesty let's have it ont here and now, seth
Mnliken." at the same time letting hi.
right hand descend in no mia manner, hut
with all the purpose Of deliberate INSULT
upon the left shoulder OF the Maine member.
DEMOCRATS As rEACEAIAKERs.
The latter saw in an instant that it was
fght or retreat. and he rctreated. lie was
not prepared 10 engage the big Western
member i'm "a tussle. tits largely due 20 the
Democrats that a row was prevented on the
floor. for they were the first 90 inierpose ana
to check the threatened conflict. The war
between the rival Republican factions is
just beginning.
NEGILFNT DEMOCRATS.
There was a good deal Of comment and
some "cussing" in Democratic circles last
nieht. based upon the allegation that The
ousting of Cate. Of Arkansas. was due 90
the absence OF number of Democratic
members. This was am exciting topic in
political circles until late hour last night.
and the subject has been h0tly canNassed at
the Capitol to-day. II Is asserted
that Quinn. Mccarthy and several other
New York Democrats were absent
and not paired, and that oeney, OF Ohio.
was equally negligent and culpable; that
had alf the Democrats entitled tO vote gone
on record. Cate would have retained bis
.oat. This is denied by the friends of some
of the absentees. 10 being claimed that they
were paired with Republicans who are not
recorded In other words. that pairs were
arranged and carried Out. bat were not re-
nortpd and recorded. reatDcrstOne got ten
majority. and only one Republican voted
for him. With the changes made prior
to the final vote On the Cate case. the
rn-eating of two Democrats from West y lr-
einia. the Republican majority in The House
wa.-ncreased tO twelve. one OF theirNoie-
transferred 90 the Democrats, leaves them
ten: Just the majority feaiher-tone OBJ
fained. The friends of the accused ] emo
erat. point 90 these figure % show that the
marty strength on botl sides was pOlled.
Al au events eX-~peakcr Carlisle h.
INDIGNANT. He VIII not talk on
fbe subject. hence does not charge
that the seat was lost through Democratic
NEGLIGENCE But he has said 10 Democratic
members that the extent 90 Wh CT absei tC-
ism nreyails is outrageous. several Rcpul o.
licans had intmatcd that they would re-
fraiu from voting in the case. and that ii
the Democrats would muster all their
strength they might win. Acting upon
these hints the Democratic leaders exc
orted themselves TO have all their voters
present. They believed there was a
chance to win and placed that inducement
before the abseniees. Notwithstanding
fhis fhore was long list or Democrats not
present. The Republican leaders fully UNI
derstood the disanectiOn in their ranks, and
with their usual diligence and discipline
nartlv succeeded. al least. in overcoming lt.
They nlied the party lash vigorously and 10
is conceded fact that they can enforce a
discipline which is not known IN the Demo
cratic party.
since the Democrats attained power in
the Forty-fOurth Congress absonteelsm has
been "a curse % them. Now the leaders are
thoroughly arOus d, and IL may De that "a
caucus will be called 10 devise some means
of compelling the attendance OF Democrats.
This becomes Of imperative importance
inst now. in view OF the fact that other con-
tested cases will be called up for action
soon The cases Of Naddill against
Misc and Of Mudd against Compton
are both weak from Republican
standpoint. There are Republicans who
nroiess reluctance % sustain their party in
ihe effort TO deprive these Democrats Of
their seats. Now that break has been
made i'm the Repucldan lines. that the cX-
ample Of openly repudiaiing the majority
report from the Elections Committee has
been set, there Is reason 20 hope
it may spread. wise ana compton
are both members who have seen
long service. They have friends on tne
Renublicau side. cate was q new man. and
Therefore had not had AN opportunity % de-
velop personal friendship among his polifi-
cal onuouents. With Wise and Compton
There are strong legal and equitable grounds
40 warrant Republican friends ln aiding
Them 10 retain the seats % which they were
elected. But this hone must fade away un-
less absentoeism is speedily cured. The
Democrats must remain here, and must
present solid and determined mont
MR.. TAULBEE GRADUALLY SINKING.
II seems 10 be the opinion 81 eX-COngress-
men Taulbeo's physicians and attendants,
that he cannot much longer survive. \
gentleman who spent most Of to-day az the
wounded mans bedside informed The
TIMES correspondent this afternoon that
Mr.. Talbce was gradually sinking. lie
said 10 this gentleman when the latter
left him tins afternoon. "N hen you return
Joe. you may lind me alive; but l will BOT
i've % see another day.
II il asserted by Iadlbee's friends that
tio published statement 10 the effect that he
bad requested that kincaid should not bc
prosecuted, is untrue. ON the contrary, an
lntima G friend Of the wounded man Il
author " for the statement that be said ~
senator Blackburn, the day amer the shoot