Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-02-09
STATESMEN FIGHT.
a Nationa Representative and
a State Senator.
CANNON AND BACON, OF ILLINOIS,

Try to Settle Their Difficulties a La Jim
Down and His Face Somewhat Dis6e.
ureo In the Leland Hotel at Springfield
Political Jealousy Causes an Animosity
That Is Probably Not Washed Away in
B-l-u-d"-DetafIso of the Affair
| SPRINGFIELD, Ills, Feb. 9.-Yesterday
morning at $50 o'clock Senator George
bacon, of Edgar county, Knocked down
Congressman-elect Joe Cannon, of the Fiji.
teenth district in the lobby of the Leland
no'ei ana went almost Immediately to the
uinihg room, where he ate hearty meal.
alter the collision there was large con-
fusion on the right side of Mr.. Cannon's
forehead from which the blood flowed nro-
1usely The skin on the bridge of his nosa
was badly lacerated and his face was COW
cred with blood. The encounter caused a
great deal of excitement in the hotel and
was the talk of the town yesterday. Conn
ments about it are varied, but the impres-
sion seems to be that neither of the gen.
tlemen was particularly anxious to avoid
the difficulty.
Didn't Seem to BE Room Enough.
The facts in regard to the ARRAY are az
follows: Cannon was standing at the CASH |
lers desk in the hotel preparing to settle
MS Dill In order that he might leave on the !
$50 train for his home. Senator Bacon /
started across the rotunda toward the
chcck room and on his way ran against the
congressman. After the collision both men
turned and faced each other. Bacon made
a remark about there being room enough
IN the hotel Tor both of them and blows
Immediately followed 1t is certain that
cannon struck at Bacon, but not certain
Ihat he hit him. Bacon's right fist landed
on Cannon's forehead and the congressman
dropped '-'''D
Bystapders Stop the Fight.
AS ne went down Bacon struck him tbis
time bruising his nose Bystanders nov
nterfered and pulled the combatants apart
Bacon went to his breakfast and Cannon
rs soon as he had collected himself. re-
'alred to his room. Cannon and Bacon
AVE Deen political enemies for some wears
ma they have not been on speaking terms
hce last October. Cannon has claimed
nat bacon tailed to support him for con- /
'ress IN leso, when he was defeated Last ,
ear bacon was candidate against Can .
ION for the Repu blican congressional nomi-
a'ion IN the Fifteenth district Cannon :
vas nominated, and Bacon openly declined :
support him for election. !,
Decl;led an Olive Branch. ,,
One day last October Cannon went NV in
.ltatlon to town in Edgar county where
he Republicans had a po,e-raisine and a =
ohtical meeting Both Cannon and Racon
'ere advertised to speak Cannon smoke
no when he had concluded made some
leasant alluslon to Bacon, who was to fol- T
wv MN. Bacon spoke about ten minutes
MY, put IN that time he gave MANY rea-
ons why he could not vote for Cannon pI
lnce that time the two men have not ay- D,
hanged friendly Creating. Cannon can,a n,
Springfield Monday night, but he and
aeon bad not met until yesterday morn
lg.
Statements of the Two Men.
both men made statements Cannon
lys he was standing by the cashiers desk f'
men Bacon ran against him. nearly knock ca
g HIM down. As he turned Bacon said: m
N you, do you want all the roomsn -
Id came forward menacingly Cannon r
rev up his hands, but does not know i
neither he struck at Bacon or not. but
Us that Bacon struck or kicked him after
was down, Bacon says his remark was.
here is room enough for both of us and
at Cannon struck at him
Ihe Representative Outclassed.
Cannon is 81 years of age, of medium
lght, and spare form. George E Bacon
a lawyer, and is about 40 years of age
is tall and built like an athlete. Can
n and Bacon are both Republicans. No
rther hostilities are expected as the re-
1t OF the days encounter. Cannon's
uses are not serious. He expects to go
washington next weeS, and says he will
prosecute Senator Bacon for his as
ult. ,