The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-29
4 CLASH At THE CAPITOL
Trouble Narrowly Averted During
the Occur d'Alene Enquiry.
Harsh Epithefs Exchanged by Mem
bcrs of the House Committee on
Military Ahairs-PcrsOnaI Encoun-
tcrs Threatencd-The Lie Given
and Returned-An Exciting Scene.


and battery were INDUCED in. The dis
order occurred during the Occur dAlene
enquiry before the House Committee en-
Military Affairs Tne relations between
I Representatives Lentz Of Ohio and Hull
OF Iowa were strained to the breaking
point, and Representatives Cox Of Teunes-
see, Jett Of Illinois. Capron OF Rhode
Island Hay Of Virginia, and Dick Of Ohio
were involved
The cause of the outbreak was an OBJ
lection TO a question asked by Mr.. Lentz
Of Governor Steunenberg. and raised by
| an attorney whose name is CLANCY. This
lawyers status before the committee is
not clear. According to his own state
ments he was retained By Governor
steunenberg to represent "the officers Of
the State Of Idaho" but he is persona
non grata with the Democratic members
CT the committee, who have made the
! charge that be is Standard Oil repre-
sentative
Mr. Lentz was quizzing Governor
/ Steunenberg severely about his assump-
( tion of arbitrary authority. the Governor
/ having said ut one point in his examina-
/ tion that he had reserved the right to
| do as he pleased"
Mr.. Lentz Gives offence.
Mr.. Lentz said with a considerable dis
play Of sarcasm: Then you we're the
! state, like Louis XIV?'
/ Mr. Clancy arose and objected to the
| question He also said that the com
I mittee should confine its enquiry to the
matter Of martial law in shoshone County
/ and that it had no right to extend its
/ enquiry into the general administration
/ Of State affairs in Idaho. This Observa-
/ tion on the part OF the lawyer disturbed
/ the temper Of Mr.. Hay whose relations
| with Mr. Clancy have not been placid
! and serene, and he protested against the
/ ''ofTicious Interference" OF the lawyer
/ with the right Of members Of the COM
/ mittee 10 ask questions Of witnesses. The
/ relevancy and pertinence Of questions
/ should be determined by the committee.
I The committee was the court.
I Mr.. Capron criticised the action of the
! committee in permitting an attorney to
/ sit by and prompt one of the members.
Z This was a thrust at Mr.. Lentz, near
whom sits Mr.. Robertson. who represented
/ Paul CorcOran. a bull pen victim at
| Wardner. and who has been the legal ad-
I wiser of the union miners In this contest
with Governor Steunenberg.
( Mr. Parker of New Jersey gave it as
his opinion that the remark tn Governor
Stenenberg about the State and Louis
XIV" was more Of an insinuatiOn than
! an interrog8 tory. ana was improper.
Mr.. Lentz said he would not insist on
an answer to the question, but was ready
to proceed by putting another. Mr.. Hay
wanted a ruling on the point raised by
him that Mt. CLANCY had no right to OBJ
ject TO questions by members OF the com
mittee/ Mr. Parker thought that the at
roruey should have the right TO protect
the witness.
Mr. Lent said He is not here TO pro-
tect the witness, he is here 10 protect this
committee Meaning the Republican
majnrity.I
Mr. Dick charged Mr. Lentz with dis
Jurbing the peace and alleged that his in
situation was discreditable to himself and
unfair to the witness Mr.. Capron Joined
in the contention. Mr. Lent said he
would stand by his record He said it
was disorderly in an attorney to tell the
committee what it was iuvestfga ting or
whst 90 had O. right 10 Investigate. Hc at
tackled he Governor. He has sworn here
fHat Dc aIi as be pl-ased-he did not fol
low thr be- 0hsyod his will his ca
price. h.- malice against set OF men who
voted fas him 1nre bur refused 20 do it
again DE charged that Steuneuberg's
Deputies were running around with guns
and women and breaking into citizens
houses.
By This time Nr. Hull was making o. We
hcmcut declaration that Mr. Lentz had in
suited the committee.
- will not permit 10 pass Unchallenged
these malicious attacks on the motives Of
myself and other members Of this commit
tee. The offence must not be repeated.
warn the gentleman from Ohio
Mr.. HUI WIS irate and he and Mr.. Lentz
were giariug at each other Mr. Lentz
shaking his fist and preparing to say some
things as soon as Mr. Hull should cease
speaking.
Fuel to the Flames.
At this critical point Attorney Chaney
unfortunately injected himself into the
snarl which had become ominous and ugly. !
by declaring that Mr.. Lentzs statement
concerning Steunenberg's deputies was
falsehood."
This precipitated serious disturbance /
Mr.. Lent sprang to his feet, and said If /
you say that iC is not true that these /
deputies in company with women ere :
breaking into citizens homes, you tell .
lie and am inclined to throw you through .
the window. I call for the record in the
Paul Corc0rau trial"
Mr Dick called for the reading OF the
- - ti, tt,-,.-- NJ nm c,o,,t,l
elii'i o' Ifl,iy, H. a,.dr,,tbirl, o,i
.,,t,,, aol otu[i - l,i of ID +b,+
'.,'. 49,. , NO, ,,t ~ nrTor tbo+ NJ
~, 90 ID tbat tba oor,,,,i,t,
I1 I ~ w. - tbat ,r,,,til,,,,
lC,,is ~oui - .tc atc NJ NJ rf -
- 80, bis ssot decIarine tbat II tba
insolent attorney would address to him the
remark he had addressed to the gentleman
from Ohio or anything like that remark