The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-08-12
VERY QUARRELSOME.
AMERICAN STATESMEN CELEBRATED
FOR THEIR BELLlGERENCY.

|
There Were No Fist Fights During tn,
Past Session of Congress- but MANY An
imosities Were Engendered During tn,
Heat of Debate-Entertainin Inciden
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, Aug. 4.-Statesmen are
very, very human, and being human
will quarrel one with another. The his
tory of this capital shows that it has fol
nearly hundred years outdone all the
other national capitals in the world ir
number of its quarrels and duels be-
tween prominent public men. Dueling
has gone out of fashion happily, and
there are not SO many quarrels of a Sc
rious nature as there used to be- sup.
pose we are becoming a more polite and
a less savage people all the while, but
there is still room for improvement.
During the past session we have had
no fist fights on the floor, as we had in
the last congress, when Mr.. Wilson, of
Washington, and Mr.. Beckwith, of New
Jersey, passed the lie over trivial mat
ter and then sprang from their seats and
let drive at each other with their rights.
Nor has any senator pulled the ear of
another senator, as belligerent Joe Black
burn was reported to have pulled the
ear of William E. Chandler in the SEN
ate committee room about year and a
half ago. We have had our quarrels,
though, and if | could do so without
violating confidence think should be
able to point out to you about twoscore
Of statesmen Of greater or less renown
who do not speak as they pass by owing
to hot words spoken in debate or in pri-
vate conversation.
| often wonder there are no more
quarrels than there are. Not only is
the heat of debate likely to make sparks
of anger fly, leading to bad cases of the
rankles and get-evens afterward, but
members have so many opportunities in
the way of objections to unanimous con-
sents and in other parliamentary pro-
cedures to exercise one man power by
stepping very hard on some ones toes,
that it is marvel more personal an
imosities are not engendered. An illus
tration Of the manner in which an Il
object Mr.. Speaker" may involve
member in personal quarrel was af-
forded few days ago.
Mr.. Lockwood, of New York, some
what famous as the man who nominated
Grover Cleveland for mayor of Buffalo,
for governor of New York and for pres
ident of the United States, asked unani-
nous consent for the calling up of lit
tie bill. 1t was measure which carried
no appropriation, and was of small i'm
portance, embracing no principle or
other cause of dispute. 1t could have
been disposed of in two minutes, and no
one expected an objection, for Dan
Lockwood, as he is generally known, is
one OF the good natured and popular
members of the house. But Mr.. Wat
son, of Georgia, the courageous and elo-
quent young champion of the Farmers
Alliance, was not in good humor that
day, and he promptly entered the fatal
ii object"
Lockwood pleaded and explained the
nature of the bill, but Watson was OBJ
1urate. Then Mr.. Fitch. of New York,
added his voice TO tnar OF MS colIeague.
Still Watson held his ground, and the
bill was not passed. An hour after.
ward Watson and Fitch met in the cor
-idor. WATSON" said the New York
IT, still angry, 81 want to tell you what
think of your objection to Dan Lock-
woods bill. 1t was mean and childish"
You have no right to talk to me in that
way" said Watson, "andif you say that
lgain | will slap your face" "No, you
WON'T" retorted Fitch. And then, to
zee whether he would or not, Fitch re-
,eated the offensive remark. Mr.. Wat
on by this time had his temper under
control and walked away. 1t was well
or him he did, for Watson is not much
bigger than peck of apples, and Fitch,
Who was educated in German colleges,
5 a clever amateur boxer and an all
Iround athlete.
Watson is a very good fellow, but he
vas unfortunate enough the very next
lay to become involved in a quarrel
With General Wheeler, of Alabama. 1t
vas all about something Watson said
Wheeler had once said. To this day no
ne knows very clearly what it was.
,ut at any rate they were at logger
leads about it, and Wheeler wanted to |
make personal explanation OF defense
n the floor. Then ensued funny
Gene. In the course of three hours
Wheeler made about fifty attempts to
peak his piece. But the speaker could /
lot see that the question presented was
ne of personal privilege, nor was he able
o make General Wheeler comprehend
hat he had decided against him. Four
ines did the speaker state his decision
nd five times did the pugnacious little
nan from Alabama persist in his effort
D deliver his well prepared remarks.
Finally, while every one was laughing
{ Wheeler. the speaker was compelled
D declare, 1.-THE gentleman from Ala
anna is out of order" "But, Mr..
peaker, want to- "The gentleman
rom Alabama will take his seat" Then
General Wheeler sat down, but in few
minutes he was up again, and again he