The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-17

exciting that has taken place, perhaps
within the history of congress. 1 have
witnessed a great many exciting and tragic
scenes, both in the house and in the SEN
ate but do not believe there was ever
a time when nearly every man on the floor
of the house was more in fighting humor.
1t is impossible to perfectly describe, or
even approach a truthful description of
the scene. 1t was like fash of a gun.
1t had no sooner begun than it ended 1t
came in a moment. 1t came unexpected.
but it was as intense as it was brief.
1t was the avowed purpose OF the
speaker to usurp his authority of office
for the purpose of playing political trick.
When the foreign affairs committee made
the majority report, which could only be
done by unanimous consent, the speaker
attempted to prevent If possible the MI
.nority from submitting it's report. Mr..
Bailey, of Texas, was upon his feet in an
instant. He would not object to the maxi
ing of the report of the majority, but re-
served the right to object in the event the
minority was not given the same privi-
lege. The speaker forced Mr.. Bailey to
make an objection. He was compelled to
40 lIllS III OTutT that tn6 pOSltlOu VI TIC
democratic party could be placed before
the country in its truthful shape. The
democratic party has been consistent upon
the question of the recognition of the re-
public of Cuba.
While no one has ever questioned the
loyalty of the party in its hostility toward
Spain, yet it had certain political views
which were not the views of the republic
ans. Under Mr. Cleveland's administra-
ton the democratic party took its position.
Though the situation has changed since
the destruction of the Maine, the demo-
Gratis saw no reason to change the line of
policy entered upon more than two years
ago.
Brumm, of Pennsylvania, who called
Bartlett, of Georgia, liar, is well known
for his fighting proclivities. Brumm earlier
in life was coal miner in the anthracite
district of Pennsylvania. He afterwards
became a professional labor agitator, a
kind of walking delegate. He first came
to congress as a greenbacker. He is now
one of the most pronounced gold advocates
on the republican side of the house. In
the Firty ninth congress, in 1886, Mr..
Brumm fiourished the glittering end of
bull dog revolver at Geo. d. Wise, of Vir-
ginia, who completely annihilated Mr.. Bou-
telle, of Maine. That was an exciting scene,
but compared with what happened last
Wednesday was nothing.
Brumm had no sooner called Bartlett a
liar when the latter picked up a bound
copy of the congressional record and threw
it at Brumm. Bartlett threw not unlike a
woman. The book went ten feet from
where Brumm was standing. 1t struck
Miers, of Indiana, on the shoulder. Miers
believed he was being assaulted by re-
publican He is also fighter, and is as
large a man If not larger than Brumm.
Miers was soon Informed as to who had
thrown the book The whole house was in
an uproar in a second. More than fifty
democ ats were on the top of desks, jump ng
as best they could to get at Brumm. More
than fifty republicans came from the other
side of the house to Brumm's defense The
scene took place on the democratic side
at the right of the speaker. Brumm's
seat is on the other side of the house, but
not far from the center aisle.
diately. They shook their fists under each
others noses for fully half minute. Col
onel Ike Hill, the democratic whip, sailed
forth in great haste and vigor with the
goose as the eagle or mace-the author
ity of congress-is facetiously termed. Cen
eral Dave Henderson of Iowa, who is as
hot-headed as any man on the floor, most
profound republican, but unusually fair to
all sides, came forth in the spirit of peace
and appealed to the belligerents that this
was an American congress; that Americans
were members of it, and that reason, not
force should prevail. Henderson's remarks
had a tendency to create greater antag-
onism from the democrats; but when he
had completed his appeal, the fairness of
the proposition was so evident that peace
was restored.
The most enthusiastic man for fight
was DeGraffenreid of Texas. He is a large
portly man, hair as black as a raven and
straight as that of an Indian; fine face,
very heavy black mustache, a typical
Texan, but by no means the swagger of
a bravado, nor the mannerisms of a 'front.'
tiersman. AS soon as the row began De-
Graffenreid, who occupies a seat at the
extreme rear of the hail. not far from the
center door, went running down the AISLE
and at the same time rolling up his coat
sleeves. He reached the scene of hostility
just as peace was declared. DeGraffenreid
was mad. He bore the appearance of
man who could whip thousand men. He
turned to Reed, who, in the excitement
fearing danger had left the chair and was
standing near the clerks desk, where he
had gone to communicate to the clerk to
send for greater number of the force of
the sergeant-at-arms, and said: eff this
thing had not stopped when it did and
where it did, you would have been killed.
You would have been the first man killed.
We would have cut your throat from ear to
ear, if we had believed that you were at
tempting any more of your czar-like polit-
ieal tactics" This frightened Reed very
much, and DeGraffenried walked away in
Triumph.