Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-09-05
A DisqraoefuI Scene in Congress.

day Of last week.
Cannon, republican. of Illinois,
made a vulgar remark which created
all the trouble. Before it was over
Wilson, of Washington, and Beck
with, of New Jersey, had struck each
other. and Mason and Cannon had
only failed to do so because they
could not get at one another, while
similar rows occurred all over that
side Of the chamber.
Cannon, smarting under a singing
criticism by McAdoo, Of New Jersey.
upon his resolution directed at the
absentees Tuesday attempted to em-
pIoy wit and satire against McAdoo.
He made use of language, the inter
probation of which is too indecent to
publish. The whole House rose to
its feet. Mrs. Mason and other ladies
left the gallery.
While member was asking that
they be requested to leave McAdoo
was appropriately characterizing
Cannon's remark, Enloe was demand
ing that the offensive words be taken
down. and two dozen other members
were shouting out the same thing
Cannon saw that he had made a tre-
mendous mistake. Reed saw 1t, too !;
but all that Reed could do was to de-
eide that Enloe's request to have the
words taken down came too late.
Mr.. McAdoo shouted out that he
wanted the words to go upon the re-
cord as a specimen of Mr.. Cannon S
vulgarity, and, addressing himself to
Mr.. Cannon, said: If you can afford
to let that go into the Record as a
specimen of your stable-jockey wit, l
can afford to have it there. l can
afford to have it there. | cannot in
dulge in blackguardism with you.
You ought to argue with a stable
jockey. That is your size.
While the house was voting on an
appeal, which was promptly taken,
from the decision, everybody on the
floor was talking about Caunon's re-
mark, and the hum almost drowned
the Clerks voice.
Mason, of Illinois, was trying to get
at Cannon across Il section OF desks
which separated them, but, being re-
strained by friends and his own size,
was hurting epithets at his colleague
which were almost audible i'll the
gallery. You wouldn't have said it
if your family had been in the gale
ry," Mason said and you wouldn't
have said it at all if you hadn't been
a 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 al This ex-
cited Cannon so that his friends had
to hold him or he would have climbed
over the desks to hit Mason.
Wilson, of Washington, and Beck
with, of New Jersey, were still sitting
on either side of Lehlbach, of New
Jersey, watching Mason as he shook
Cannon Just behind them. Beckwith
rose and Wilson struck at Beckwith.
Lehlbach, rising at the same moment,
caught most of the blow and all Of
that which Beckwith aimed at Wilson
in return. Nothing was said by
either as they continued sparring
over Lehlbach for a quarter of amin
ute longer, but without hitting one
another. To the great majority of
the House this whole episode was moth
ing but pantomime.
For "a moment the House became
quiet. Mason ceased TO curse Can
non, Cannon ceased to curse Mason,
and all eyes were fixed on Wilson and
Beck with The other members
seemed rooted to their places, and
Speaker Reed seemed paralyzed.
Then Williams, of Ohio, rushed down
the aisle TO catch Beckwith's arm,
while Richard VauX walked solemnly
across from the democratic side to
seize Wilson. Bergen, of New Jersey,
not knowing that Williams was COM
ing as peacemaker, struck at Williams
just as Williams laid his hand on
Beckwith and Beckwith thinking he
was being attacked in the rear, turned
to fight him. Gear by clambering
over an intervening desk checked the
row, which threatened to become gen
eral, while Wilson sank into his seat
as he saw Vaux coming. The other
democrats were laughing and APP
plauding, except General Joe Wheel
er, of Alabama, who was endeavor-
ing to get over to help Vaux.
By this time Reed had gotten the
Serg with his mace out,
and the Sergeant alarms marched
slowly back to the group and solemn
ly presented the mace at Williams,
who calculated, "My God, man, am
not in it I'm a peacemaker. How
ever, the Sergeant-at-Arms, who APP
parently had not seen the fight, in
sisted on following Williams to his
seat, while Beckwith sat quietly
down in his own.
The most disorderly roll call the
House has known for years was then
concluded.
Members gathered around Lehl-
bach and the others who sat near
and tried to get q connected story of
the Wilson-Beckwith row. 1t seems
that Beckwith, who had a private
grievance against Cannon for naming
him among the absentees in his reso-
lutionyesterday, had said TO Lehlbach,
as they watched Mason and Cannon,
that Mason was quite right.
No he isn't" said Wilson {; Can
mons right"
What have you got to do with it?'
demanded Beckwith.
oh" said Wilson, you're mad be-
cause Cannon put your name in his
list yesterday"
Well" said Beckwith, sit had no
business there for l was here all the
day"
WELL" said Wilson, sit was all
right, for it's - little you are here
any way"
You're liar - said Beckwith.
You're u - liarr' said Will
son.
You're -- son of a-!'
retorted Beekwith, and then they fell
to blows.
The extraordinary proceeding in
the House wound up with the scath-
ing reply which McAdoo made to
Cannon's paltry explanation, which
the whole House felt did not explain,
and Cannon's feeble retort. McAdoo
had three-fourths if not four fifths of
the House with him. During Nc
Adoo's reply to Cannon's explanation
he said "A gentleman was justified
under no circumstances in ever de-
scending to vulgar, indecent and
backguard remarks, or remarks that
could be construed as such"
r., g L 4