The news & observer., 1897-03-06

Il
olina Railway, to which the Senate sub
stitute bill was referred, arose.
| Mr.. Cook, who is the chairman Of that
special committee, was in the chsFi
| Mr. Lusk had presided during .se ear
| lier part of the session, and Speak& lille
man, who was so hoarse he spoke with
difficulty, sat on the left of Cook.
| Mr. Sutton asked consent to call up n
resolution asking the Supreme Court to
give tomorrow its opinion in the mat
ter of the Senate substitute for the House
bill.
Mr.. Blackburn sprang to his feet and as
the hands of the clock pointed TO noon,
declared that the hour set for the special
order, the Senate substitute lease bill,
had arrived, and that it must be taken up.
Both he and Mr.. Sutton kept ON their
feet. Demands were poured at the Speak
er to recognize one or the other. Con-
spicuous among those who cried out were
Sutton of Cumberland, Hancock and
Alexander. Mr. Sutton said he wanted
the special order held up until the resolu-
ton was acted on. He wanted delay.
Then the storm burst.
Blackburn said: "You know that under
the resolution adopted by this House
no resolution can be introduced save
journal shows that the resolution is not
introduced. / move that the House con
cur in the Senate substitute
Then confusion broke loose, Twenty
members were on the floor at once, all
shouting, all protesting; some one way
some another. The two factions arrayed
themselves. For two or three minutes
the uproar continued Then DR.. Alexan-
II 4oly 5tp-
cess until 3 O'Clock There was roar Of
protest, ''vote it down! Vote it down.!
and amid the din the voice of Person,
the two Suttons and Hancock could be
heard seconding the motion. The
aisle filled Cook put the motion. There
was roar of 'aye," followed by a
sweeping rush of mo" both ratified
to the dome and descended i'm a torrent
OF sound Division" shouted Black
burn, Murphy and forty more. But Cook
had declared the House had taken a re-
cess until 3. Blackburn strobe up the
aisle, "that is false" he cried. Il appeal
from the decision of the chair"
The scene was at this moment hides
cribable. Cook left the chair as the gavel
fell. He stepped to the rear lobby. The
uproar ranged. Pandemoneum broke
loose. Members rushed to the front.
Some put on their hats and moved to-
ward the door Some of the nervous ones
hurried to the lobby. The atmosphere was
filled with execratious, mainly of Cook
and his ruling. ''It is tyrrannical." 1T is
unjust" 1--WE will not submit to ii"
HE had a right to declare the House
adjourned shouted Cooks friends. The
factions found each other prepared for
battle. One blow would have caused
an instant riot.
Some men shouted For Gods sake
stop this. 1t is the most disgraceful
scene the State ever witnessed. Never
talk about the Legislature of 1868 again"
During the turmoil the Speaker lille
mani sat serene in his chair ON the
Speakers desk. Suddenly some one shout
ed. 1.-The House is without a Speaker
] move we elect Freeman Speaker pro
tenn" II second the motion, said Black
burn and a score of others. Murphy put
the motion. There was rattling volley
of ayes and then taking Freeman by the
arm murphy led Freeman to the Speak
er's desk. Freeman did not take the
chair but stood at the end of the desk.
The assemblage was now a mob. The
excited spectators. The uproar reached
the Senate and the Senator's poured into
the hall of the House. Suddenly Lusk
rushed to the front and leaning over the
desk at which the war correspondent OF
the newspapers were seated, raised his
arms high above his head and in his
loudest voice shouted, as he looked at
Freeman at the Speakers desk, II pro-
test. In the name of North Carolina
protest. This is treason. This is revolu-
ton. We ought to send for force to clear
this hall and to stop these riotous and
revolutionary proceedings. Be ashamed
of yourselves BE men" All this was
said with a rising note; to an accom-
paniment Of yells and cries which stunned
the ear.
DR.. Alexander rushing up near the
desk shook his fists at Freeman. His
eyes flashed with anger. 'Come down
from that place." he cried, you are a
usurper!' "You are a traitor"
The factions, all party lines broken,
roared and glared at each other. Angry
words passed and repassed. Suddenly
FL. A. Gudger appeared. While freeman
was speaking, and stood beside him.
Freeman was entreating the House to be
quiet, to listen to him. 81 am not going
to hurt you," he cried. Gudger leaned
over the desk and said, "Now boys, let's
all leave" Freeman said, "Don't get ex-
cited. This is o small matter. The
journal shows we have taken a recess un-
til o'clock"
Claud Dockery, walked to the clerks
desk and said, Gentleman, hear me. We
will settle this matter at this session Of
the legislature, and fairly, but protest
against this revolutionary business"
Freeman stepped down at 1912. The
whole affair had occupied but 8 minutes.
But minutes seemed hours.
There were cries, Freeman ought to
be inpeached." There were others,
Cook must be impeached. He is not
our Speaker. He will not act fairly"
There were loud curses of Cook, who
by TINS time had left the hall for his