The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-14

4 ana Wuen the explosion came pdHutHluiliuth
| regned Mr.. Bartlett Dem.. Ga), off the
| right of the chair. was supporting the pro-
tests of the Democrats against the taunting
| words which were coming from the other
side.
| Suddenly in his rear in the next tier of
| seats came in stentorian tones from Mr..
| Brumm tRep.. Pa) a taunt addressed gen
| orally to the Democratic side: You got
| just what you did not want he shouted.
THAT is not true, cried out Mr.. Bartlett,
who II was explained subsequently was ad-
| dressing his remarks to Republican on the
! other. side
Il say 1T is retorted Mr.. Brumm, hotly.
ct is not fiared back, Mr.. Bartlett turn
ing and facing Mr.. Brumm.
You are liar" responded Mr.. Brumm.
The lie had passed. Instantly Mr. Bart
lett reached for large bound copy of the
Congressional Record I'm the desk before
him, and, raising ii aloft hurled it at his adj
versary. It fell short. and then the two
antagonists rushed for each other The
House Immediately was in an uproar. Some
OF the ladies in tho galleries screamed hys-
terically. Members crowded toward the
combatants from all quarters. They ran
across the area in front of the speakers
desk and crowded up the adjoining asles,
like madmen. 1t w3s like free fight in the
street. Shouts of anger and indignation
were heard on every hand. Members in the
crush espoused the cause of the two orig
inal combatants and there were several ex-
citing collisions, but no blows struck. Mean
time Mr.. Bartlett and Mr.. Brumm were
trying to get at each other over the
benches, but they were borne back by
friends.
Mr.. Bartlett, who is a slight man, was
carried off his feet, and Mr.. Miers, of In
diana, a stalwart, broad-shouIdered
Hoosier, blocked the path of Mr.. Brumm,
who is himself evidently man of great
physical vigor. In his efforts to stop Mr..
Brumm, Mr.. Miers became involved with
Mr. Pierce, of Missouri, and they almost
came to blows.
All this time the gavel of the speaker was
heard above the awful din and his voice
was commanding the sergeant-at- arms to
restore order. Armed with the great silver
mace, tho emblem of the authority of the
House. Colonel Russell, the sergeant-at-
arms, repeatedly charged the thick mass of
struggling members, but was often swept
aside One of the other employees, Griffin
Halstead, a son OF Murat Halstead, while
attempting to pacify Mr.. Brumm was felled
| ny d OlOW OL tHd Jaw. AZ last ny lilC SL-
forts of a dozen muscular members the bel
ligerents were separated the angry leglsla-
tors retired to their seats and a sembance
of order was restored. 1t was one of the
most disgraceful scenes witnessed in the
House in many years.
GENERAL. HENDERSON SPEAKS.
The effort to get the resolution before the
House having failed, the committee on rules
retired and formulated a special order,
| which was brought in few minutes later,
which General Henderson presented. 1t pro-
vided for the immediate consideration of
the resolutions presented by the foreign af-
| fairs committee. The House was at this
| time stil laboring under a great stress of
| suppressed excitement Partisan feeling was
| still rampant. Mr. Henderson explained
| that the rule did not propose to close de-
| bate. THE sentiment on this side of the
| House. said he lis almost Overwhelmingly
in favor of action. not talk" (Applause on
Republican side.) THE time has come, in
| the opinion of the country, for action on this
| great question. 1t has been discussed by
| the public press, 1t has been discussed in
| the pulpit, it has been discussed in the
| ISouse and in the Senate; it has been dis
cussed at every ireside in the American
| Republic and we believe, Mr. Speaker that
| the time has "Ame sad as it is, when this
country can no longer stand idly by, every
! thing having been done by our chief execu-
tive to secure peace on that island without
arms-the time has come when the last re-
! sort must be appealed to by our country
| Il and my colleagues replied Mr.. Bailey,
| heartily agree to the rule which provides
! for the immediate consideration of this inn
portant resolution. 1t would not have been
| 70 box baId Of
! committee on rules if the gentlemen on
that side of the House had been patient
| enough to have allowed those of US on this
/ side to propose an understanding with re-
| gard to debate; simply reserved the right
| to object in order to ascertain if it was pos
! sible to reach an agreement about the time
| to be occupied in debate, and while the
| gentleman representing the minority of that
| committee was attempting TO present
| resolution which has the Endorsement of
! himself and his associates 1 was required
! either to consent to the immediate consid
| Grafton of the proposition presented by the
| chairman of the committee or TO deny to
my own side the right to present its views
! to the House and TO the country. That
| asked only what was reasonable, will be
! testified to by the gentleman from Maine
/ CMr Dingley). because, after the unseemly
| occurrence which came more nearly dis
| gracing the House of Representatives than
! any act which has occurred during my
membership in this body. the gentlemans
| own sense of fairness compelled him to ask
! the House to do precisely and only what
| asked for i'm the beginning. 1 did not intend
! to interfere with the immediate considera-
| tion of this resolution, but l wanted the
! country to understand that" (Dersive
! laughter and jeers on the Republican side)
| A Member--Don't pay any attention to
| him.
| Mr.. Bailey-Mr. Speaker, believe l will
| not disgrace myself by commenting on such
| behavior as that. applause on the Repub-
| lican sde)
| BAILEY'S GRATIFICATIoN.
Il am gratifed to know, continued Mr..
! Bailey that after fifteen months of delay
! and suspense it has at last dawned upon the
Republican majority of this House that the
! time for action has arrived. (Applause on
! the Democratic sideD For more than a
| year we have been entreating you to take
some action, and it is at least some salts
/ faction that you have resolved at last not
| to heed our appeal but to heed your angry
| constituents at home. tApplause on the
| Democratic side.) But true to your policy
and your traditions, you have resolved that
| when al last you are compelled to act, you
/ will deny to members of this body the OPP
/ portunity to discuss your conduct. There is