The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-14

ate William L. Wilson. of West viz
ginia. He therefore. read to the house
a letter from a prominent business
man Of Pittsburg, James Campbell
who, after saying that he had been a
democrat all his life. declared tina he
had been forced to leave the party on
account of the attitude of Bynum and
Wilson. and numerically scored them.
On the floor in red-hot speeches By
mum, Wilson and Breckenridge de-
nounced Campbell as a Slanderer.
Bayne with equal intensity defended
him. Eventually Bynum, addressing
his remarks pointedly to Bayne. said:
I desire simply to say that l did the
other day, knowing full we'll the mean
ing of the words and that I was re-
sponsible for them, denounce Mr..
Campbell as a liar and perjurer. l
ant to say that l accept and am will
ling to believe that have as great con-
ffdence in the character of Mr.. Camp
bell as l have in the character Of the
gentleman who makes this attack upon
me-"
Bayne was also referred to as the
sewer through which Campbelr's foul
attacks reached the house.
This ferOciOus attack upon one Of
their prominent leaders aroused the
republicans. and as soon as order
could be restored. and it was done with
much difficulty on the part Of the
speaker, General Cutcheon, of Michi-
gan, demanded that Mr.. Bynum'S
words be taken down. After hours Of
acrimonious debate, almost resulting
in personal encounters between excit-
ing men of opposing sides, by a vote
Of 126 to 103, Bynum's censure VAS or
dered by the house.
When Bynum was directed by the
speaker to appear before the bar of the
house. the venerable Mr.. Holman.
knoWn for many years in congress as
the watch dog of the treasury. offered
his arm and escorted him down the
main isle. Fifty or more democrats
joined in the procession.
"Th house will be in ORDER ex-
claimed Mr.. Reed, pounding vigorous
ly upon his desk. "Gentlemen will take
their seats"
Then the speaker ordered the SER
geant-at-arms, Mr.. Holmes, 70 Clea"
the space in front of the chair, to as
sert his authority under the rules ard
to force members to retire to their
seats. Holmes graSped the mace. or
1.-The goose" as Ike Hill, of Ohio, irrev-
erently calls the American eagle
perched upon the emblem. Both demo-
Gratis and republicans were in bad hu-
NOR. Some of the southern members
advised Holmes to go back. He hest
tated but finally retreated.
Williams. a bald-headed republican
member from Ohio, got greatly eX-
cited, rushed across the aisle and called
out to his colleagues to help him clean
out the rebel democrats John G..
Tarsney, democrat, of Kansas City,
who fought in the Union army,
squared off to fight Williams n drove
him over the line. Old man "Howdy
Martin, of Texas, who blew out The gas
at Wizards Hotel. when he first land
ed in Washington, thought there was
going to be trouble, and hat his friends
Mills and Kilgore might get hurt, so
he began to whet on the sole of his
ranch boots a long bladed knife to be
ready for any emergency.
Once more the speaker requested the
house to be in order. Springer and
others replied:
I'VE are in order. We decline TO be
seated, MI. Speaker" (Cries Of or
DER on the republican side.)
Just here Mr.. Reed, for the first time
during his of the chair,
weakened perceptibly. 1t had been re-
ported-erroneously it afterWard
proved-that the man about to be cen
sured had often threatened that no
matter what happened to him, even if
it cost him his life. he would. before
the session ended, drag Tom Reed
bodily from the presiding officers
chair. There never was any fOunda-
ton for tina story. Mr.. Bynum is not
that sort OF a man M doubtless Mr..
Reed did not think of the report when
he weakened.
What troubled him was the fact that
the house would not be in order, and
If he were too severe in the censure 1t
might p~recipitate a fight among the
hot-heads who had packed densely the
space in front Of the presiding officer q
desk. So when the Sergeant-at-arIaS
retreated and there We're demOnstra-
lions of hostility that might end in a
fight, the speaker in rather tremu-
lous tones simply remarked:
The house of representatives per-
ceiVes that it is Impossible for the
chair to enforce order under its rules
on account of the action of certain
members. The chair will. therefore,
proceed to the discharge Of the duty
which the house has imposed upon
him with the house in its present con-
dition OF disorder"
Members cooled down just a little
and then Mr.. Bynum said:
Mr. Speaker LAY 1 the right to be
heard before this?"
You have not, sir was the speak
er's nswer.
Then the speaker pronounced the
censure in these words, spoken most
deliberately and with considerable
emotion:
Mr. William D. Bynum you are ar
raigned at the bar of the house under
it's formal resolution for having trans
gressed it's rules in your remarks. For
this offence the house has directed
that you shall be censured at this bar.
In the name of the house. therefore, I
pronounce upon you it's censure. The
sergeant-at-arms will DISCHARGE Mr..
Bynum from custody"
Before returning to his seat Bynum
exclaimed:
Mr.. Speaker, under the cir2um-
stances, 1 accept the censure OF the
house as a decoration Of honor"
(Cries of regular ORDER" on the re-
publican side and long and continued
applause on the democratic side.)
After the noise had subsidized Mr..
Mckinley arose and said:
I move that the house do nov adj
%journ.'
The motion was carried, the passions
soon cooled down and in a few min