The morning times., 1896-03-18
HOT WORDS WERE PASSED
Senator Push and Don DiCkin-
son Nearly Came 10 Blows.
OCCURRED AT A HOTEL
tatements of Witnesses Are That
the Michigander Was In the Wrong.
Profane Epithets Said TO Have Been
Exchanged-Mr +. Mcmillan Was Pres
ent and Interfered.

Don NJ. Dickinson, Postmaster General
under Mr.. Cleveland's first administration,
| and unquestionably the closest personal
and political friend the President has,
and Senator James l.. Pugh of Alabama,
| came together at Chamberin's hosiery
| last Saturday night--not in a spirit OF
Democratic hrotheriy love, but In quite
| another way:
This is the story, as told 10 The Times
by gentleman who was present:
senator Pugh and Congressman McMil-
! Ian We're sitting at n table engaged in
| conversation. Suddenly some one near
| by remarked, Why, there is Don Dickinson
sitting at q table all alone This was true.
Mr. Dickinson occupied seat at one OF
the windows fronting ON Fifteenth street
He was fully twenty feet from his
nearest neighbor and he was alone.
HOW 1T OCCURRED.
with that chara cterlstic politeness for
which Mr.. Mcmillan is famous the Ten
nessee statesman arose from his seat and
remarked to Senator Pugh that, he would
go over and fetch Mr.. Dickinson. Senator
Pugh remembered that he had&never met
Mr.. Dickinson and would IikeN to he iu-
| troduced.
I'm the next minute Mr.. McafiIan had
the MiCliigander S arm and the two started
toward senator Pugh. They were arm in
arm. Mr.. Dicknson's gait was very IN
steady.
Senator Pugh," said Mr.. Mcmillan,
permit me to introduce the Hon. Don II.
Dickinson"
Il don't know Senator Pugh aud don't
want TO know him. Pugh is an old fool -
was Dicknson's samtatibe1 His words
came slow. his articulation being a trhle
out OF gear. The words had hardly dropped
from the eX-PostnIaster Generals lips
before Senator Pugh responded il raspiug
| tones: ~. TIC
Il consider you a scoundreI and don't
recognize you as gentleman"
The Senator then arose, and might pos
sibly have followed his denunciation with
a blow If he had not at this time recog-
niZed the condition of Mr.. Dickinson. All
this while Mr.. Mcmillan was engaged in
trying to get Mr.. Dickinson out of The room.
He finally succeeded.
NOT OVER CARDS.
report of the occurrence states that
the row occurred at a poker table and that
Senator Pugh threw deck of cards at
Dickinson. This is denied by every one
present. The fact is, Senator Pugh does
not play cards. The report referred to
also says that the row was caused by Sena-
tor Pugh making diSparaging remark
about President Cleveland. which was re-
sented by Dickinson. This, too, is with
out color of truth.
Times man called on Senator Pugh
last night and asked him for a detailed
statement of the affair. he refused abso-
lutely TO mention any Of the particulars,
but said:
''As far as any assault at card
table WIS concerned the story had no
foundation whatever. i have not touched
card during the fifteen years ! have
been in Washington.
There was an unexpected and disa gree
able alteration between Don Dickinson,
whom / had never met before, and myself,
wholly unprovoked by me. which ended
in less than minute in 4 manner entirely
satisfactory TO myself.
II never said a word against the ad
ministratioD, or mentioned the name of
Mr.. Cleveland. There was no allusion TO
politics. and the alteration was a great
surprise to me-"
The episode certainly shocked the gentle
men who witnessed it, and Mr.. Dickinson
was denounced by all as the aggressor.
One OF Senator Pugh's most intimate
friends. in a conversation with The Times
last night, said:
"Wmie Mr.. Pugh differs with the presi-
dent on certain economic questions, and has
been manly enough from his place in the
Senate to say so, he has never a any time,
either in public or private, said a word
against the President which could be con-
sidered personally offensive. No one
knows this better than the President him
self.
Senator Pugh admires the President
as a man and has never hesitated to
praise him when he thought he was in the
right on any question which affected the
interests of the country. If Don Dickinson
intends TO pulverize all Democratic states
men who differ with Mr.. Cleveland ON hi s
| general policy he has taken q big contract
Oh his hands,"