The Anaconda standard., 1898-01-23
ENDED IN A FREE FIGHT
Dreyfus Debate Causes a Hot
Time in the Chamber.
BLOWS WERE EXCHANGED
The President of the Chamb Der Was
Powerless to Restore Order-The
Tribune Was Cleared Amid
Great Excitement.

Faris. Jan. 22.-The chamber of dep
uties was thronged to-day and there
was great excitement when Minister
Cavagnac repeated the Interpolation
of the government on the question of
Dreyfus. He affirmed the existing re-
port of Captain Dernaud, containing
the confession of Dreyfus. whose guilt,
he added, was thus established, and
blamed the governments silence
NJ. Meline, in reply. said he could not
communicate the contents OF Captain
Dernaud's report The government did
not think 1t right TO publish it. because
the ministers thought once the discus
sion was opened it could not be closed
There was another cause. The premier
said that the present campaign in re-
gard to Dreyfus was deplorable. ZAP
| plause.) a prominent writer had used
| his pen to dshonor the army. Cap
plause and protests) AT this point the
president of the chamber, NJ. Brisson.
interviewed and adjured the deputies to
calmness. He then denounced the So
cialist newspapers for attacking the
government. by which they are prcpar-
ing for new edition of the debate, one
Of Zola's novels. The remark caused a
tumult among the members of the ex-
treme left.
Nj. Cavagnac replied that the moral
result sought had been attained. and
that he desired To withdraw his inter-
pellation.
This caused great excitement in the
house, and NJ. Jaures, the socialist
leader, reintroduced NJ. Cavagnac's in
terpellation for the government He
protested against the attack on the So
cialists and accused the conservatives
OF helping 10 adopt reactionary meth
ods and OF preparing a way for a de-
pate, IhG accusation n fttr
among the members of the chamber
Continuing, M. Jaures characterized as
lies the complete charges filled i'm the
prosecution of Zola." applause from
the left)
NJ. Debornis. conservative accused
NJ. Jaurcs of being the spokesman of
the Dreyfus syndicate, to which NJ
Jaures replied. You are "A scoundrel
and coward" NJ. Debornis thereupon
made rush toward the tribune. but
ne was seized by socialists and series
of tights ensued during which NJ. De-
oornis' fought his way to the tribune
and struck Nj. Jaures. The conserva-
tives and socialists charged the plat
form and the melee became general
with fighting and shouting ON all sides
The president of tho chamber. NJ. Bris-
son, being powerless To restore order
left the chair. saying, Il am going TO
consult the procurator general
"A few minutes later the order was
given 10 clear the tribune amidst the
greatest excitement among the con-
tending deputies and journalists. who
We're threatening and iostling each
other and almost coming to blows Sew
eral persons In the press gallery ex- |
changed blows during the uproar. and
the people In the public galleries
climbed up on the seats. shouting en-
couragement or abuses at the deputies |
When the order was given TO clear |
the tribune. the reporters We're invited |
To retire. but before so doing, several |
OF them made a demonstration in favor /
Of NJ. Jaures, shouting, Bravo. viva |
Jaures."
The subsequent proceedings of the |
chamber were not known for some time |
as the doors were closed. but later il /
was announced that the bureau of the
chamber was in session under the pres
ideney OF VI. Brisson considering
measures advisable to be taken.