Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-10
THE FEUlS IN CONGRESS
Lots of Buster, but Very Little
Blood.
EASY FOR FIRE EATERS
All of the Rows of Recent Years Have Had In
sipId endings-The Duel Is Out of
Fashion.

man Hall recently threw an inkstand at
Congressman Honey and hit the Misss-
sippi statesman in the forehead, it was
confidently expected by some folks that
the gentleman from Missouri would have
to pay for the accuracy of his aim by
standing up and being shot at on the
field of honor. That is certainly what
would have happened thirty years ago.
But those who have kept tab on the
course OF congressional rows in recent
years knew that there was not much
likelihood of the duello code being resort
ed to. The fashion has changed in WASH
ington and how man can call another a
liar or anything else Vulgarly emphatic
without being perforated with pistol bull
let's or slashed with bowie knife.
There have been any number of red
hot rows in congress during the past few
years. but mighty little gore has been
spilled. In fact, it seems that since the
danger OF the duel has passed statesmen
have been more inclined to lose control
of their tongues and say things which,
in the old days, would have meant their
instant death unless they could shoot
quicker than the other man. AN old-time
fire-eater like Cassius Nj. Clay of LeXing-
ton must have groaned when he read of
the inSipd outcome of what promised to
be q battle royal. That great old demo-
Graf, Andrew Jackson fought duelS for
smaller reasons but in his day the fash
ion WAS different In Germany France,
Austria, Italy, Spain. Russia, Belgium,
and, IN fact, in nearly all the continental
countries the recent row here would have
resulted in a duel or the injured party
would have run the hisk of social ostra-
cisnl.
Hall as Scrapper.
Congressman Hall, whose accurate aim
made a big dent over the left eye of the
Mississippi statesman, has figured in sew
4 Al L.
ly emerged from them with flying colors.
Hall is great big man with the strength
of giant and some people have been
unkind enough to say that he presumes
upon his Physical strength. But those
who know him best say this Is not so.
1t is well known fact that gun shoots
just as hard for little man as 1t does
FOR big man. and Hall has run the CANT
let Of being bored more than once.
Hall ran afoul of Congressman Dockery
IN the early part of the present admins
tration, and the row came within an ace
Of being settled on the dueling field.
Dockery, like Hall, halls from Missouri,
and is no coward, although he is not as
hot-headed as his brother congressman.
He never looks for trouble. but when 1t
comes his way he doesn't dodge 1t.
II seems that Hall and Dockery were
both doing some tall hustling for places
for their constituents, and Hall had the
best of it. Hall went to see Secretary
Carlisle about getting his man appointed
collector Of revef e at Kansas City, and
Carlisle said that Dockery had charged
that Hall had secured more patronage
than all of the rest of the Missouri MEM
bers put together.
This made Hall mad, and without fur
Their words he exclaimed: "If Dockery
said that he Is an Infamous Harp
Han knew that 1t would mean trouble
when his words reached the ear of Dock
cry. so he hunted up Senator Blackburn
of Kentucky, who is we'll versed in all
Affairs of honor. Hall described to him
that as gentleman he was compelled to
hunt UP Dockery and repeat to him what
he had said to Carlisle.
This was almost too much for Hall to
stomach, but he decided to do it. A man
who knows what he is talking about de-
scribes what followed In this way:
Hall went over 10 the house of repre-
eeniatives, and, going to where Dockery
SAT-, asked him to come out In the corri-
dor. Hall expected there would be a
fracas. and didn't care to make the house
its theater,
''Dockery was acute enough to smell
trouble. He would not go to the corridor.
He was 100 busy he said. and could not
leave the debate then going ON.
Finally Hall got him to go to the open
space back of the house seats, Dockery
declining a suggestion to retire TO the
cloak room. Hall then told him his oon-
versa ton with Carlisle, and wound up by
saying:
II told Carlisle that you were an In
famous liar
""Tbose are pretty hard words said
Dockery, turning white.
Yes, sir, those are pretty hard words,
admitted Hall, but l said them. and
having said them to Carlisle felt that l
ought to come and repeat them to you.
"Eockery bit his lips, said nothing
further and returned to his seat The
next day, In company With Tarsney of
Missouri, he came up to Hall In the cloak
room. Hall looked up as Dockery APP
preached.
IT have been to Carlisle, SIR said
Dockery, and withdrawn my statement
about you and the patronage you had
obtained.
Very WE'LL said Hall. I'm glad you
did
at repeat again, sir said Dockery,
after pause. and with what Hall
desmed a rather threatening air, I have
been to Carlisle and Withdrawn my state
ment.
Hall, becoming trritated. 1T is not neces.
sary to repeat 1t TO me a dozen times. l
heard very well what you said
We'll. said Dockery. grimly. IS that
all yon have to say I'm reply?
"'No,' said Hall, jumping up and kick
ing his chair back and clearing for action
in general way. 1t is not all the reply !
have 80 make. / want to add to il, sir
that II had told Carlisle an internal lie
as you did l would want to withdraw it,
Therefore. I'm not at all surprised at
your action
"Docksry and Hall started for each
other. but a dozen men in the cloak room
who knew that there might be serious
trouble jumped between them, and while
some of them dragged Dockery out of the
room Others pushed Hall into n corner
and held him there until he partially COOL
cd off. Mutual friends kept the two
men apart Tor the next few days and sub
sequentIy succeeded in patching up some
kind OF peace between them. I never
learned If Hall went to Carlisle and with
drew his charge, as he should have done.
Hall and Dockery are supposedly friend
ly, but IL wouldn't take a cyclone to
make them fly ct each other at any time
When that row passed without bloodshed
decided that the dueIiing days of CON
gress have passed"
Went for Hutch. Too.
Hall also had trouble with Hatch CT
Missouri some years ago. Hall was a