The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-19
Especial Correspondence

Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Sept. S.-A book could be
written about statesmen in trouble There
have been many personal encounters on
the floor of congress, and not a few deeds
growing out of bitter words spoken in de-
bate. The recent 1isticud exhibition be-
tween the member from New Jersey and
the member from Washington has plenty
of precedents Some of these alterations
have been investigated by special commit
tees, and others have been permitted to
''blow over" A fight between members
which attracted great attention at the
time occurred in 1910, when paper pur-
porting to contain document from the
treasury department was read from the
clerks desk. In this document Mr.. Rice
Garland's name was mentioned, and Mr..
Garland was on the floor.
Henry A. Wise addressed the chair, and
said the paper had been prepared by his
colleague, Mr. Bolts, who would stand by
It. In conversation among the members
Jesse Bynum said, in Garland's hearing,
that it was Lying paper" Garland re-
torted that it twas true every word OF II,
whereupon Bynum gave Garland the lie,
and Garland retorted with the statement
Chat Bynum was not only a liar but
scoundrel "Tbereupon," in the language
of the official report, 1.-THE parties engaged.
Mr. Bynum grasped Mr. Garland's cane,
and a struggle for possession Of the cane
ensued Finally the cane fell to the floor.
Garland then collared Bynum and struck
him at least once. Bynum returned the
blow The parties being separated Bynum
stood near the bar of the house, drew his
penknife from his pocket and attempted to
open it, but did not do 80. He looked to-
ward Garland and shouted: You id
thief and rogue. That fellow was run off
from North Carolina, id thief" The
investigating committee contented itself
with reporting the facts, and made no
recommendation, though 1t had examined
forty witnesses.
Some Of rhe committee reports on per-
sonal alterations have been very quaint
in their phraseolOgy In 1874 John White,
of Kentucky, made a speech of one hour
defending Henry Clay, and denying that
Mr. Clay had used certain language con-
corning slavery which had been attributed
TO him. Mr. Kennedy, of Indiana, endeav-
sred TO obtain recognition for the purpose
of showing that Mr.. Clay had so spoken,
but was unable to do so. Never mind"
said Representative George Rathbun, of
New York, eve can prove il all around"
eff you do" retorted Mr.. White, you
will prove lie Swallow that" The COM
mittee at this juncture takes up the story
as follows: "Mr Rathbun asked Mr. White
if he intended to apply the lie personally
TO him. Mr.. White said he did, where
npon Mr. Rathbun Immediately thrust his
hand toward Mr.. White and against the
upper part of his chest, and a personal
conflict ensued." The modern newspaper
writer,w who delights in descriptive phrases,
will turn up his nose in disdain at thrust
his hand toward Mr.. White and against
the upper part of his chest"
In this case also the committee was
content with reporting the facts. It did
add, however its condemnation of the use
of opprobrious language and epithets of
personal insult on the floor of congress-
pointing out that in the four years previ-
Gus there had been four cases of personal
assault between members Of the house.
A curious thing about quarrels in con-
gress is their contagiousness. When
Beckwith and Wilson struck at each other
recently three or four other ouarrels were
on the tapis, and their unpleasantness
grew directly out of a war of words be-
So it was in this WhiteR athbun fight.
On the floor was a kentuckian, w. S.
Moore, and of course he was ready to take
the part Of his fellow Kentuckian, Mr..
White. He grabbed the sergeant-at-
arms and held him as that officer was about
to lay hold of White. For this Moore was
seized 10y Representative McCauslen and
thrust out of the hall, and as he went out
he lala ~,
but hit instead Policeman Writ, inflicting
a flesh wound in the leg.
Perhaps the most ludicrous, as it was
also the first, personal encounter in the
American congress occurred in the year
lbs. Here was a case in which one mem
Der used a cane and his antagonist the
fongs from the fireplace, and the speaker
did not want the combatants separated.
The following from the report of the inves-
tgsting committee. being the testimony
of Congressman Elmendorf, is quaint:
ION Thursday morning last, having been
engaged in writing IN my room until l
thought it was very late, l entered the
house Of representatives, with some sur
prise at not finding it engaged in business.
The speaker sat Il think writing in his
chair as | crossed the floor to the letter
1
Lyon in his seat ia the posture of writing
or reading papers lying Oh his desk before
him, having his hat on and not appearing
to perceive me to pass him, although very
near him. From my seat, which is the
second in the third row, almost directly
behind his, which is the same posture i'm
medistely before, heard the first blow of
cane, upon hearing which l observed
him still sitting with one arm in the po-
sition of covering his head and wardng off
blows and the other in feeling, rs | thought.
for cane on the door, beside or before
hira. l saw Mr.. Griswold at this time on
the open floor directly before him beating
him, with all the strength and dexteritv
apparently in his power, with a cane OF the
stoutest kind of American made hickory.
and repeating his blows as fast as Thought
he could make them Under this pressure
Mr.. Lyon, in a defenseless state, made
out of his seat sideway, being hemmed in
before and behind by the desks and seats.
so that il was wholly out Of his power TO
escape a single blow, or TO interrupt Mr..
Griswold in the act of beating him I'm
mediately | myself. for one, rose in my
seat, and loudly and repeatedly called 10
the chair for order. heard the same call
from different parts Of the house, but
did not observe or hear any effort from
the speaker to restore it, or any personal
attempt by any one near 10 interfere and
prevent the attack. On the contrary,
think distinctly heard the speaker reply
that the house had not yet been called 10
order as reason for not interfering at sill.
AS soon as Mr.. Lyon had got out Of the