Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-08-28
Disgraceful Scerle in the House.


nois, made vulgar remark which created
all the troubf,. Before 1t was over Wilson,
Of Washirgr 90, and Beckwitb, of New Jer.
sey, bad Struck each other, and Mason AID
Cannon lad only failed to do so because
they could not get at ODE another, while
smiiat rows occurred sll over that SIDE OF
the Chamber.
Cannon, emartiDg under singing crlti-
els N by McAdoo, of New jersey, upon his
resolution directed at the absentees Tuesday
attempted to employ wit and satire against
McAdoo. He made use of language, the
of which is too Indecent to
publish. The whole House rose to its
feet. Mrs. Mns>u and other ladies left tbs
gallery.
While member wss asking that they be
requested to leave McAdco was approDri-
ately characteriz ng Cannon's remark, Ed
loe wss demanding that the offensive words
be taken down, and two dozan other mem
bers were shouting out the same thing. Can
non saw that he had made tremendous
mistake. Reed saw it, too; bus all that
Reed could do was to decide that Enloe's
request 10 have the words taken down came
too late.
MIR. McAdoo shouted out that he wanted
the WORDS to 60 upon the record as epeci-
men of MIR. Canncn's vugarity, and, a6-
dressing himself to Mr. Cannon. said II
you can afford to let that 20 into the Record
as a specimen of your etable-jocky wit. Can
afford to have 1t there. l cannot indulge in
ackRuardism with you. You ought to al
que with sable jockey. That lie your
size"
While the house was voting on an appeal
which was promptly taken, from the deciE-
ion, everybody on the floor was talking
abou. Cannon's remark, and the hum almost
drowned the Clerks voice.
Mason, Of illinois, YVES trying to get at
Cannon across section OF desks which
separated them, but, being restrained by
friends and his own size, was hurting cpl
thets at his colleague which were almost
audible in the gallery. You wouldn't have
said it II your family had been In the gal
lery,n Mason ssid land you wouldn't have
said 1t at all ifyou hadn't been a--dir-
ty tramp" and 30 on, winding up, as CaC-
non protested, to break hiS wrath, that hts
words bad been misunderstood. " You're
- lying son of a" This ex-
cited Cannon 30 that his friends had to hold
him or he would have climbed over the
desks to hit Mason.
Wilson, of Washington. and Beckwlth, OF
New Jersey, were still sitting on either side
of Lshbach, of New Jersey. watching Mason
ss be shook bis fiat and hurled bis epitheis
at Cannon just behind them. Beckwith rose
and Wilson struck at Bsckwif Lehlbach,
rising at the same moment, caught most of
that blow and all of that which Beckwlth
aimed at Wilson In return. Nothing was
said by either ss they continued sparring
over Lehlback for quarter Of minute
the great maj GRITTY of the House this whole
episode was nothing but pantomime.
Fur moment the House became quiet.
Mason ceased to curse Cannon, Cannon
cessed to curse Mason, and all eyes were
fixed on Wilson and Beckwith. The other
mem bers seemed rooted to their places, and
Speaker Reed seemed paralyz,d. Thea
williams, of Ohio, rushed down the aisle to
catch Beck with's arm, while Richard Vau1
walked solemnly across from the democrG-
tic side to seizs Wilson. Bergen, OF New
Jersey, not knowing that Williams was COM
ing as peacemaker, struck at Williams just
as Williams laid bis hand on Beck with. and
Backwith thinking he was being attacked In
he rear, turned to fight him. Gear by
amberipg over an intervening desk check
ed tbs row, which threatened to become
general, while Wilson sank into his seat
as be saw Vaux coming. TIE other demo-
Gratis were laughing and app'sudiDg, except
General J1e Wheeler, Of Alabama, who was
endeavoriDg to get over TO help Vaux.
By this tue Reed had gotten the Ser
geant at Arms with his maos out, and toe
Sereeant-a.-Arms marched slowly back to
the group and eolernoly presented the msce
at Williams, who ejaculated, My God, man,
l am o. in it; Pm peacemaker." How
ever. the Sergean. -at-Arms, who apparently
had not seen toe fight, insisted on following
Williams to his seat. while Beckwith sat
quietly down in his owD.
The most disorderly roll call the House
has known for years was then concluded.
Members gathered around Lshlbach and
tho others VINO sat near aud tried to get
conn ec.ed story of The Wilson Beck with
row. II seems that Beckwth, who had G
private grievance against Cannon for maui
Ing him among the ebsentees 10 his resoiu-
ton yesterday, had said TO Lshlbach. as
they watched Mason and Cannon, that Ma
son was quite right.
mo he isu'I," said Wilson; "Cannon's
right"
"What have you got to DO with to- de-
msnded Beckwiih.
on" said Wison, SIS cure NAL because
Cannon put your name 10 Me list yesterday.
We'll" said Beck With, lit had no bust.
ness there for WAS here al! the day."
We'll" said Wilson, "it was all right, for
it's - little you aye here any way"
you're liar !" said Beckwith.
You're a-- liar T. said Wilson.
'You'ee a-- son of -" retort-
ed Beck With, aud then they fell to blows.
The extraordinary proceedings in the
House wound up with the scathiog reply
wS:o, MoAdoo made to Cannon's paltry
explanation, which the whole Houee felt did
not explain, and CsnuoD's feeble retort.
McAdoo had three-fourtbs if not fout-ffths
of the House with him. During McAdoo'a
reply to Cannon's explanation he said: "a
gentleman was justified under no circum.
stances In ever descending to vulgar. inde-
cent and BLACKBOARD remarks, or remarks
that could be construed as SUCH"
Mr.. Funston, of Ksnsss-He did not do It,.