The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-28
Mr.. Wilson Rightly Smites Foul
M0uthed Democrat.
ALMOST A RIOT IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Cannon and Several Filibusters
Bandy Indecent Language.
suit, But Gets no Satisfaction-sena-
tor Harris, OF Minnesota, Indorses
Blaine's Reciprocity.

WASHINGTON OlT1. aug. L.-lQefo was
fight with bare knuckles on the floor of
the House this afternoon. Two or three
congressman called each other liars and
applied epithets to each other. Blows fol-
lowed, and friends who rushed in as peace
makers were drawn into the arena, until
the big mace. which is brought out only to
preserve the peace of the House, had to be
taken to the scrimmage. The scene was
the most sensational that has occurred in
the House for years.
Wilson of Washington and Beckwith of
New Jersey were the combatants, while
Cannon and Mason of Illinois, Williams of
Ohio and Lehbach of New Jersey were ''in
it." 1t came during the height of the fiji
clustering on the compound lard bill. Ma
son and Cannon have been having a pre-
iminary fight for two days, and their
blood was up.
During heated passage of words Can
non made some remarks to Mason which
were unfit for publication. They savored
of smut Mason was indignant. He took
it as q personal Insult to his family, some
members of which were in the gallery.
Enloe wanted the remarks taken down,
but the speaker ruled him out on point of
order. He appealed.
Mason said Cannon was a dirty tramp
Half q dozen members were talking at
once. Wilson was sitting on the right of
Lehlbach, and Beckwith was on his left
Wilson had no sympathy with Mason, for
he, like many other Republicans, had
grown tired of the fiibustering. He is a very
nervous man, and said: mason had no
business to make such an attack on
Cannon"
Then Beckwith came in. He said:
"Mason is right. Cannon is low-lived
tramp. He put my name in his resolution
yesterday as an absentee while was pres
ent"
at does not make much difference" said
Wilson. "You are absent enough to make
up for it."
Up to this time the dialogue had been in
good nature, but Beckwith got angry at
once. He jumped to his feet. His face
was afire: "You are id liar" he said
to Wilson.
"You are another" replied John L.,
jumping up and turning pale. He has not
been well for some weeks, and the excite
ment showed itself. He trembled.
"You are damned --from Wash
ington," hissed Mr.. Beckwith, using an
epithet that is supposed to be confined to
the slums, and which usually means a
fight. 1t did in this case.
Wilson raised his right for Beckwith's 8
jaw. The New Jersey man had no time to
parry.
Biffl Mr.. Wilson landed squarely on the
Democrats shoulder. Representatives
crowded around them. Speaker Reed
pounded with his gavel Then some one
Balled ''Timel" Others ran down the aisle
toward the two men, yelling at the top
of their lungs. Mr.. Lehlbach, over whose
seat the blows had been struck. arose, and.
taking each of the combatants by the col
lar, held them apart. Beckwith struck
once at Wilson but did not reach him.
Williams, of Ohio, tried to draw Beckwith
away and Beckwith turned to scrap with
him.
Then the sergeant-atarms' deputy
brought the mace from its place above the
desk, and before the rods and the eagle the
fight stopped. 1t was several minutes be-
fore order was restored.
Wilson began to make an apology to the
House, but the speaker waved him down,
asking him to hold his remarks for the
present. He did so. Then the filibuster-
ing went on again.
Later in the day Beckwith apologized to
Wilson. Wilson accepted the apology.
They shook hands, SAT side by side and chat
ted for fifteen minutes, the observed by all
in the galleries.