The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-03-08
WILD SCENE
OF DISORDER
NATIoNAL1sTs PRECIPITATE
ROW IN COMMONS.
PROTEST AGAINST GAG RULE
Refusing to Leave House Are
Carried Out by Main
Force.

Force.
London, March 5-As promised
.Balfour applied closure ON the educa-
tional estimates. The n~ationalists
shouted ''Gag" and refused to leave
the hall when the division was taken.
The chairman twice asked them to
retire from the Hobbies, but then they
shouted: Certainly not"
Flavin cried out, II protest against
the way all Irish votes are closured.
The chairman then intimated that he
must report the matter to the speaker.
In the meantime other members had
returned from the lobbies amid some
uproar, 80 or 40 Irishmen remaining
in their seats. The speaker having
returned to the house the chairman
reported the matter. The speaker
asked if it's members still refused to
obey the order of the house and there
were cries of "Yes, yes"
The speaker then named 16 recalci-
trants and Balfour moved their sus-
pension. This was agreed to without
division. The speaker ordered them
to withdraw, but they refused, amid
great uproar. The speaker called upon
the sergeant-at-arms to remove them.
They shouted defiance. A deputy
ssergeant-at-arms advanced and asked
them to leave, still they refused. At
this a number of officers and policemen
entered to enforce removal.
Eugene Cream, member for southeast
Cork, struggled desperately against his
removal and there was quite a free
fight on the floor, lasting for five min
utes, other Irishmen assisting him.
Eventually he was carried out bodily
by six policemen amid yells and cheers.
The police then returned and carried
out each of the remaining recalcitrants
in the same manner, although there
was no further actual resistance. a
Six policemen scufficed for each
member, with the exception Of Flavin,
who is a big man and required eight.
Many. as they were being carried out
waved their hands and shouted "God
save Ireland"
Those who were removed included
John Cullinan, Patrick White, Patrick
McHugh, William Lunden, William
Abraham, Patrick Dugan, Anthony
Donelan and James Gilhooley.
The trouble arose through Balfoul
,closuring the whole education esti.
mates, without giving an opportunity
to discuss the Irish vote.
Never before had such a scene oc.
Cured in the house as accompanied
the removal of Cream. He struggled
-fercely with the attendants, who sum.
moned the police. The nationalist
.jeered at them. Four or five stalwart
policemen were picked to seize Cream,
who stuck his legs under the seat and
could not be moved for some minutes.
Meanwhile the policemen were strug'
Cling and fighting with other Irishmer
who stood up and obstructed the pas
sage Of the police to Creams seat.
The nationalist fought and struggled
f%rantically, but at length the superior
force of the police succeeded in drag
ging Cream out by the legs and arm!
and carrying him down the floor O.
the house, the Irishmen wildly shout
ing, "Shame," "Murderers' an(
s'South' African brutality"
The speaker then called upon Nc
Hugh to retire, but he defiantly re
fused, his companions shouting ap
prevail. A strong body Of 20 policemen
again stormed the Irish benches. Nc
Hugh, fought, struggled and impedet
them in every way. Angry Shout
rent the air. The benches below tn
gangway on the eastern side were
mass of struggling humanity. Severa
policemen were struck with fists
Free fights between police and mem
bers were general.
AS McHugh was being carried out
his underclothing showing, the QUITE
garments having been torn away in tn
struggle, Flavin shouted from tn
back bench: nineteen policemen +
remove one Irishman," and shouts o
tShame'' were heard from the oppo
sition benches. While Cullinan wa
being removed after struggling violent
ly Patrick O'Brien appealed to tn
speaker to "stop this most distressin
scene" The speaker responded
4'The scene is certainly as distressin
to me as it can be to the Irishmen."
O'Brien. said: "For every membe
on these benches the same scene will
have to be re-enacted. I do appeal t
you, Mr.. Speaker, and to the leader
Of the house to see if they will not lie
the matter end now and allow tn
house to adjourn. Tomorrow we sha,
meet in better and different temper.
The speaker in reply again earnestl
appealed to the members named t
obey the ruling of the house, whethe
they agreed to the course taken or no.
to leave the house %peaceably an
decently. The response to this we