Evening journal., 1892-08-04

imosities Were Engendsred During the
Heat of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Incidents.
Especial Correspoadencel
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 for
nearly hundred years outdone all the
other national capitals in the world in
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 aud 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
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 80 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 a
member in a 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 It was measure which carried
no appropriation, and was of small i'm
portance. embracing no principle OF
other cause Of dispute. 1t could have
been disposed of in two minutes. and nc
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 thai
day, and he promptly entered the fata
II object.
Lockwood pleaded and explained Oh,
nature OF the BILL but Watson was oh
durate Then Mr.. Fitch, Of New York
added his voice to that Of his colleague
Still Watson held his ground, and the
bill was not passed An hour after
ward Watson and Fitch met in the cor
ridor. Watson" said the New York
er. still angry, II want TO tell you wha
think of your objection to Dan Lock
woods bill II was mean and childish.
lyon have no right to talk to me in tina
way" said Watson. ''and if you say tina
again will slap your face" mo, yol
won't" retorted Fitch. And then, Il
see whether he would or not, Fitch re
peated the offensive remark. Mr.. Wat
son by this time had his temper unde
control and walked away. 1t was wei
for him he did, for Watson is not mucl
bigger than peck Of apples, and Fitch
who was educated in German colleges
is a clever amateur boxer and an al
around athlete.
Watson is a very good fellow, but h
was unfortunate enough the very mex
day to become involved in a quarrt
with General Wheeler, of Alabama.
was all about something Watson sal
Wheeler had once said. To this day n
one knows very clearly what it wal
But at any rate they were at logger
heads about it. and Wheeler wanted I
make personal explanation or defens
on the floor. Then ensued a funn
scene In the course of three hour
Wheeler made about fifty attempts I
speak his piece. But the speaker coul
not see that the question presented WI
one Of personal privilege, nor was he alb
to make General Wheeler comprehen
that he had decided against him. For
times did the speaker state his decisic
and five times did the pugnacious lit
man from Alabama persist in his effo
TO deliver his well prepared remarks.
Finally, while every one was laughin
at Wheeler, the speaker was compellt
to declare, 1.-THE gentleman from Al
bama is out Of order" But, M
Speaker. want to- 1.-THE gentlems
from Alabama will take his seat" The
General Wheeler sat down, but in a fe
minutes he was up again, and again
was suppressed. Then the plucly lit
mamie weighs no more than eighr
pounds-began tilibustering. He VI
angry, and proposed to have what
thought were his rights or prevent Il