The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-04-13
FIGHTING BEGINS
Wall Street Will See to 1t That the
Spanish Affair Begins and Ends in
Nothing More Serious Than q Fist
Fight.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April H-Before
the submarine mine that had been carefully
planted on the Democratic side of the house
of representatives could be touched off by
Tom Reed yesterday afternoon, an internal
tional explosion occurred, shaking the capt.
toll from cellar to dome. Its reverberations
were heard all over Washington, and the
echoes will penetrate the country.
For 80 minutes the American congress was
In commotion that put the elements to the
blush. even in the midst of a sudden eectri-
cal storm. For two hours before the foreign
affairs committee submitted it's majority and
minority reports, the house atmosphere vas
surcharged with volumes of pent-up wra,h
ana indignation. In truth, the storm had
been gathering ever since the message Of
the president was submitted to congress on
Monday.
Human nature cannot be changed and
men OF clear perceptions and cool Judgment
sometimes reach a point where their passions
get the better of their dignity and there is
consequent repentance.
The occasion yesterday. where partisanship
Tor time held sway over patriotism will
add one instance in the history of the house
where personal encounters have taken place
!or tne vinolcation OF the honor and in
taken of his feet for time, and his her
culean blows with the gavel sounded like
ram drops on velvet carpet when compar ed
with the din. At least so members, about
equally divided between Republicans and
Democrats, jumped into the fray when
Brumm. of Pennsylvania, passed the lie up
to Bartlett, of Georgia
AS IN the ante-bellum days, 1t was fight
between North and South. Brumm Is an Old
Dattle-scarred veteran OF the Union army, by
trade Matchmaker. by profession a lawyer
The first fight he ever had in congress was in
1917, when he claimed seat as representa-
tive In the body, but was counted out nv a
democratic house. He was elected to the
F1fty-flrst congress and secured d seat Dur
ing q former session he had a row out in the
capitol corridors with the house carnenter
ana came out second best with a black eve
Later Brumm had the house carpenter re-
moved and had his own son appointed.
Bartlett Is fiery Southerner, who's,
father fought for the Confederac,, ana
while his choice Of weapons in the ON
counter this afternoon was not Of the hest
ne nevertheless made game fight under
the circumstances. The alteration. as is
invariably the rule. started through a nris
understanding and mutual apologies win
be In order today.
The Democrats, chatting under the re-
straint of rule that would not nermit
them to embelltsh the record with cam
paign oratory. accused the Republicans ne
bad faith and charged them with under.
taking gag rule. 1nasmuch as the Dem
ocrats have ridden the Cuban hobby nj,
through this session and the last ana often
spoken to their hearts content, this cha rra
was not well grounded.
Certain 1t is. however. that the plans of
the Republicans. as originally carried out
were to put the resolutions through yes.
terday. The demonstration OF belligerencv
caused by the encounters between Brumm
ana Bartlett was enough to satisfy tha
most warlike member in the house.
Davis came in for a great deal OF comnu-
ment for the admirable report ne sub
United yesterday. 1t will rank among thu
strongest papers on International questions
that have ever been submitted
The issues involved in the recognition or
Independence Of the present government Of
Cuba before the Intervention takes n,aca
Will provoke a discussion that will 10 os
far reaching in its effects as any mattcr
that congress has been called upon to deol
with since before the civil war. The matn-
tenance of the Monroe doctrine will he in
voked by Foraker and Davis. who apraa
practically on the question that Snanish
sovereignty must end on the Western CONT
nent. and the rights and powers OF othnr
nations In the present controversy will
necessarily be considered during the d,s-
cussion in the senate.