Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-11-25

Sorts OF Impromptu Weapons,
From Pocketknives to Chairs,
Were Used-One Member Clicked
Till He tainted.
Vienna, November 24.-The members
Of the lower house of the Reichsrath
to-day excelled themselves in produc-
ing the most disgraceful scene yet wit
messed in that branch of parliament.
The turbulence resulted from a motion
that only one OF number of similar
petitions against the ordinance making
the Czech language coordinate with
the German language in Bohemia
should be read and printed. This order
of the government has been the basis of
the many uproarious scenes which have
taken place for weeks past, although
the question of renewing the compact
between Austria and Hungary, provis-
ionally at least, has been mixed up in
all the bitter feeling manifested by the
German and anti-German elements.
The members of the Left party pro-
tested uproariously to-day against the
motion referred to, stigmatizing it as
Oppressive and Illegal" Finally the
members of the lower house became so
disorderly that the president of that
body, DR.. Abrahamovics, was once
more compelled to suspend the sitting,
and he soon afterward left the house.
The departure of President Abraham
OWES was the signal for scene of the
widest disorder. DIR. Wolff, the Ger
man Nationalist leader, clambered up
into the presidents tribune, seized a
heavy bell and swung it to and fro. ma
terially increasing the disorder prevail
ing. The bell, however, was almost i'm
mediately wrenched from DR.. VOLTS
hand by Deputy Pollock.
While this incident was in progress
challenges to fight duels and showers
Of billingsgate and other insults were
exchanged on all sides until the inter-
inr of the house in every way resem-
bled an inferno.
A number of Young Czechs and Poles
made rush for the presidents tribune
and attempted to tear DIR. Wolff down
from the position which he occupied,
and they in turn were attacked by a
number of Leftists, and disgraceful
scrimmages were the result This was
only the beginning OF the fighting.
During the preliminary scuffiing some
OF the Young Czechs struck DR.. Wolff,
and this caused such an uproar that
pitched battle with fsticuffs followed,
lasting for about a quarter Of an
hour
Herr Schoenerer, the leader of a
section of the German opposition,
caught hold of and brandished over
his head one of the minister's arm
chairs, and was evidently about to hurl
it at the heads Of his immediate oppo-
nents when he was seized and disarm-
ed by Herr Hoganhofer.
BY this time tho disorder was Of such a
nature that even the public in the gal
leries cried shame upon the fighting,
swearing and insut-exchanging deputies.
A Polish member, Herr Po,acz. rushed
upon another member Herr Pfereche.
and was neary strangling him. when PIER
eche on the impulse of the moment, drew
a penknife from his pocket and opened 1t.
but he was dlsarmed by a colleague before
any futher harr. was done. Herr PIER
eche was by this time so exhausted by
the choking he had received at the hands
Of Herr Polacz. and so overcome with ex-
element, that he tainted, stu further
adding TO the sensation.
AT this moment President Abrahamovics
returned TO the house. but after repeated
and vain efforts to quell the disorder pre-
vaiing. closed the sitting OF the house.
In so doing the President raiG:
In view of the acts Of violence which
have occurred IN this house to-day, /
consider it my duty to close this sitting.
VIII those members who are willing TO
give the names Of the~yiolent members
please come to my Officer
President Abrahamovics was greeted
with cries of Polish scoundrel,' swim
der "blackguard," and "Badini Gu
nueh.''
one deputy was stabbed in the hand;
another had his collar bone broken; a
third received severe scalp wound.
Count Padini. the premier. with a snesr
on his face, WATCHED the combat through
out. Herr Wolf declared that he would
bring his revolver 10 the next sitting.
Several members Of the house accepted
the invitation Of the President. and as
result Il is believed that Herren Schoen-
erer. woln and Pfereche will be arrested
upon the charge Of fighting in public.
Ths house will meet again tomorrow.