The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-22
Representatives Cook and Bywater
Have An Encounter.
SCRAP WAS oNE-SIDED
IN CLOAKRooM OF THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES.
After the Fight Was Called Off and
When Mr.. Bywater's Arm Was
Held, MI. Cook Took Advantage
and Struck-The Ladies Were
Scared-Bad Feeling In House.

The feud between Representatives
Bywater and Cook broke out afresh
yesterday in the house of representa-
tives. The sequel was d bloody one and
a trifie one-sided. Fortunately neither
gentleman is from Kentucky, otherwise
the hostilities between them would ere
this have probably ended in a scene
over which the coroner would have
Jurisdiction.
1t appears that Representative Cook
made further and ample apology to the
representative from Salt Lake on Mon
day for the inSinuation made by him
at Saturdays joint assembly of the
legislature rejecting upon Mr.. By
waters honesty OF purpose in connec-
ton with his support of A. w. McCune
for the senatOrship.
The parting between the two repre-
sentatives on Monday was quite friend
ly, but their meeting yesterday morn
ing in the legislature soon assumed
stormy aspect. Mr.. Bywater asked the
representative from Rich county if he
had inspired the distorted publication
in the Tribune of the article relating
to Mondays episode. The reply was
that he was in no wise responsible for
it, yet ne maintained the Tribune's ac-
count was substantially correct To
this statement by Mr.. Cook, the gen
tleman from Salt Lake took exception.
The lie passed and the two retired on
Mr.. Cooks invitation to go into the
cloak room to settle their differences.
Rich county's representative was the
aggressor. and despite the entreatieS of
Speaker Roylance and several attaches
of the house, both belligerents peeled
their coats and prepared to square off
in vindication of their impugned hon
Il ~ 1.,l
became very much excited, and begged
that the representatives prove them
selves true gentlemen. Mrs. Lapish also
happned in, and made an effort to re-
store peace.
At last, in Difference to Speaker Roy
lance'S insistence and the ladies en-
treaties, the two Representatives, whose
anger had risen to the point of des-
peration, agreed to postpone further
hostile demonstrations Mr. Bywater
put on his coat and. agreed that he. a
lawmaker, would not be one TO then
and there fracture the peace and the
dignity of the representatives hall. Not
so with Mr.. Cook. The latter had not
yet put on his coat, and while Mr.. By
waters left arm was held tight in an
others embrace. he Bywater) snapped
his fingers in the Rich county gentle
mans face, saying: We'll settle
this later, Mr.. Cook" who let
out with a vicious blow, striking Mr..
Bywater between the eyes. Sergeant
alarms futile and all the peace-mak-
ers We're utterly surprised at Mr..
Cooks strike after the fight had been
declared off.
Mr.. Bywater retired to the toilet room
to wash his bleeding nose, but he was
able to take his seat a. few minutes later
in the joint assembly, looking but lit
tie the worse for the encounter. On
the contrary, Mr.. Cook. although the
victor under circumstances advantag-
eous to himself, looked as though he
had a troubled conscience.
Hostilities between the two may
break out again at any time. Both have
their champions. a fact that is indica-
tive of the bad feeling that exists
the representatives as a result
of Mr.. Cooks and Representative Laws
accusations concerning the senatorial
candidacy of Mr.. McCune.
A rumor was in circulation last night |
that Representatives Cook and By
water had locked themselves in a room
to finish the fight. but the rumor was
only an echo of yesterday mornings af- /
fray. If the finish fight should be /
pulled off under such conditions, Mr. /
Bywater's friends are willing to bet
that he won't be the Vanquished one.