The herald., 1896-05-31
cided that the duelling days of congress
La no. Cd
WENT FOR HATCH, TOO.


WENT FOR HATCH, TOO.
| Hall also had trouble with Hatch of
Missouri, some years ago. Hall was q
member of the banking and currency
committee of that session, and in
speech in the house Hatch charged that
there was not a member of that COM
mittee who was not the slave of, and
legislated at the dictation of, the ma
tonal banks.
This made Hall fairly explode with
rage. He was on his feet in an instant
and shouted at the top of his voice:
80 far as l am concerned, denounce
that statement as absolutely false"
The gentleman would not say that
outside of the house." responded Hall.
Hatch had the reputation of being
something of a re-eater, and it was
we'll known that Hall was big chunk
of animated dynamite. So it was expect
ed that there would be trouble and lots
cf it. But the people who cherished
these expectations were disappointed.
After the house had adjourned Hall
went to the committee room of Hatch'S
committee on agriculture. He raped at
the door, and Hatch, who was inside
with his clerk, called. Come in" Hail
opened the door and stood there.
'I don't care to come in," he said. "On
the floor of the house today denounc-
ed your statement that every member
on the banking and currency commit
tee was controlled by the national banks
as false SO far as it applied to me. You
said that | would not repeat the delara-
tiou outside of the house. l am here
now to repeat it. sir, your statement.
so far as it applies to me, is an abso-
lutte lie"
Hatch, who knew he was in the wrong,
and whose reputation precludes any
theory of coWardice, did not hesitate
to apologize to Hall. who then withdrew
all statements concerning Hatch's ver-
acity. In fact. the two sat down and
had a very amiable time indeed, and
the first thing they did the next day
was to ask the speaker to expunge the
colloquy from the house records
a BRECKINRIDGE SQUABBLE.
At the time of the Pollard -Breckin-
ridge scandal there We're several mar
row escapes from duels. 1t was an en-
barrassing business for all hands, and
it was supposed that Colonel Breckin-
ridge and his friends were on the lookout
to make horrible example of any one
who should affront the colonel or his
connections.
John T. Heard then congressman
from Missouri. was one of the first to
run against the Keep off the grass"
sign. Heard and Mrs Heard were din
ing at the Riggs House when Colonel
and Mrs. Breckenridge entered the din
ing room. The laundering landlord
seated the new couple at the same table
with the Heards, and the Missouri con-
gresham promptly signaled to his wife,
and they left the room without complet-
ing their dinner. The why and where
| fore of their departure was patent 10
every one.
No one expected immediate trouble.
but they knew that at the first opportun-
lty Breckinridge would resent it. A
| short time after, in a house debate,
Heard objected to Breckinridge's pos
session of the floor, and the objection
was sustained Breckenridge rushed
! over to Heard's desk and tried to punl-
mel him. Heard stood quietly while
| Breckinridge struggled in the grasp of
number of peacemakers. The ONLY
INJURY done was suffered by Lafe Pence.
who got thunp on the nose from the
fist of breckenridge. Lafe was one of
the most jealous of peacemakers, and
suffered accordingly. Heard and Rreclr
inridge apologized to the house, and that
was the end of it.
The enthusiasts, of course. thought #
would mean a duel, and Heard's well
known coolness and equanimity made
the gossipers pick him for the winner
One of these said of Heard at the tima.
'He is very cool and very game. IN
deed, the first time | saw John Heard
some dissatisfied constituent was shoot
ing at him with a pistol. This was in
the Sischer hotel, in Sedalia. The fusi-
lade came off in the hotel office, and