The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-07-30

WASHINGTON, July 29.-lSpeCtall-
In the House this morning Mr.. Wheeler,
OF Alabama, rising to question of per
sonal privilege, sent to the clerks desk
book written by Representative Wat:
son. Of Georgia, entitled mot Re-
volt: II is Revolution" In this book
Mr.. Wheeler is recorded as having voted
for the mail subsidy bill. There were
loud demands for regular ORDER" but
Mr.. Wheeler insisted upon being heard.
He had not voted that way. Mr.. Reed,
OF Maine, (sotto voce)-"We will take
your word for little thing like that"
Mr.. Wheeler would not down, and al
though the Speaker decided that no
question of privilege had been presented
he insisted upon being heard
In spite of the objection on ali sides,
Wheeler held his ground, and in order
to secure the floor, had read an extract
from the book, in which it is asserted
that in the present Congress drunken
members reeled about the aisles, to the
disgrace of the republic, and drunken
speakers debated grave issues. This
privilege and Wheeler was recognized.
He denounced the publication as the
most ridiculous falsehood ever uttered
on the American continent. (Applause.)
History did not show an instance of u
vller attack on representative body
than this. (Applause). Every mem Der
Der was tainted with the charge.
Wheeler then proceeded to answer
the speech made by Watson on Wednes-
day: and he was frequently called to
order by Burrows, of Michigan, and re.
peatedly requested by the speaker to
confine himself co the question of privi-
lege, but Wheeler declined to do SO and
was permitted to proceed for quarter
OF an hour longer. When remark
about the organization of the Society of
Sons and Daughter of the Revolution
called for another point of order from
Burrows, who requested inform ton as
to what the organization Of that society
had to do with question of privilege.
Tho chair again appealed to Wheeler to
confine his remarks to the question.
Reed. Cannot the chair suggest some
remedy for this infliction?" The speak
er's patience was now we'll nigh OK
hausted and with firmness he directed
the gentleman from Alabama to confine
himself to the question before the House
or take his seat. The chair would not
allow the gentleman to wilfully violate
the rules of the House. Wheeler said
that he did not wish to embarrass the
chair in any manner, he would there
fore resume his seat.
Watson then rose to reply to Wheeler,
but at first he did not confine himself to
the question OF privilege, and he was
called to order by COombs, of New York.
This intarrunti0p Watcop raoar+od nd
he exclaimed definantly, "no New York
representative can bulldcze a represen-
tative OF the State of Georgia in the ex-
ercise of his right. You Understand
that, will you?"
Continuing his remarks Watson said
that the gentleman from Alabama had
stated that he (Watson) had threatened
him with personal violence The charge
was unfounded. de had gone to the
gentleman to assure him that he had no
discourtesy to him, and to say that if
the gentleman would allow him the priv
ilege of making preliminary state
ment, he would make q full explanation
of the words in his speech, to which che
gentleman objected yesterday.
The gentleman mad denied him the
privilege that gentlemen of the South
had always allowed each other. the priv
IL
to tho gentleman who had been ag.
grieved. The gentleman from Alabama
had quoted from his (Watson's) book.
He assured the house that he had not
entered into partnership with the gen.
tleman to advertise the volume, but the
gentleman in attem pting TO harm the
book had helped. He (Watson) stood
there to defend every line in the book,
and he would do so before all corners.
North or South.
II say" he continued, with emphasis,
that every word in that book is liter.
ally true, and all men that have been
here keeping their eyes open and want
ing to admit the facts, will admit that
the facts are literally true" This dec
laration, made in most vigorous man
ner, was the signal for general kissing.
Great excitement epsued, the general
feeling being adverse to Watson for re-
iterating as he did by declaration the
general charge OF drunkenness made in
his book. Funston, of Kansas, pro-
tested that it was disgrace to the
House when no was waived down by
Watson, who announced his ability to
take care of himself
Tracey, of New York, in voice full
of indignation, called tho gentleman
from Georgia to order. That gentle
man had asserted that every word in
the book was true; that TO k coatain @ l
a general charge OF drunkenness against
members. He called the gentleman to
order for making such an assertion on
the floor OF the House and de-.
manded that he take his seat. lap
plause.l
Mr.. Watson quietly resumed his seat.
Mr.. Tracey appealed to tho House to
say whether Mr.. Watson should DO per
mitied to proceed or not. Mr.. Simps on,
Of Kansas, came to the rescue of his
party colleague with motion that tn .
gentleman be- permitted to- explain WIN