The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-28
SCENE.
Frenzied Assault on the Speaker of
the Illinois Legislature Yesterday.
and Wa1IOwed Each
Other at the Feet of Ladies'.

Springfield, Ill, April 23.-SIuggirs
and rolling each other across the
speakers platform in a frenzied gener-
al fist fight at the feet of a score of
female guests the members of the Ill
inois legislature today surpassed the
widest scenes of the Austrian RcIchts-
rath. Charges by the speaker of the
house, Isaac Miller, that Attempts had
been made to bride him were formally
made tonight, as an explanation of the
extraordinary actions on his part, pre-
cipitated the riot. The interior of the
Legislative chamber tonight resembles,
in a measure the track of a sOrnado
SO general was the wreckage of chairs
and desks.
Chicago street railway franchises
more valuable than gold mines were
directly at stake, the federal court re-
ownership proceedings against the
Union Traction of Chicago
yesterday having brought the matter
to issue. The stormiest time ever ex-
perienced in the Illinois legislature be-
gan almost without warning in a whirI
OF Wild disorder, which arose today in
the house of representatives over rival
traction measures or SO called munich
pal ownership bills. Adherents of the
Mueller bill, indignant at Speaker Mil
lers rulings in favor of the Lindlay
bill, attempted to pull the speaker from
his chair. The speaker raised his voice
above the turmoil and declared the
house adjourned. T"hereupon Repre-
sentative Murray, a Mueller bill man
called for the election of a speaker pro
tempore. Charles Allen, of Vermillion,
was selected but had difficulty in fore
in phIo no 30 IL
oisles were thrOnged with a crowd SO
excited hat it was almost d mob.
Eventually he made the passage and
Henry Better was made clerk. 1t was
found exceedingly difficult however, to
resume business.
During roll calls on the amendment
to the Lindley bill nearly half the
members f the house stood on their
desks, shouting and gesticulating.
Many members had seized bill books
and were pounding their desks While
Mr.. Cummings from his seat in the
front row on the democratic side was
vigorously welding a board.
Personal violence against the speak
er was threatened. A number of ladies'
were sitting on the couch on the speak
er's desk.
will the ladies please move out from
behind?" shouted Mr.. Allen.
Get them out" shouted Mr.. Sher
man. Get the ladies out Do not act
the coward"
A fight broke out on the democratic
side a few feet from the speaker.
Wordell. democrat, and Glade, republi-
can, were the central figures. but eight
or ten other members-in fact, almost
everybody in their immediate vicinity,
appeared to be taking a hand in the
melee in an evident endeavor 70 sepa-
rate the two cOmbatants. 1t developed
afterwards that Worde1l had started for
the speaker with a menacing air and
that Glade had seized him, thus pre-
cipitating the encounter.
The municipal ownership fight now in
progress here is the most exciting
whic the state capital has witnessed in
many years. Chicago sentiment IS said
to favor the Mueller bill and Mayor
Harrison and others of influence, have
been here several days working for It.
The Uindley bill. the municipal owner
ship measure favored favored by an
active minority, has, however, been
forced ahead. Yesterday the speaker
refused a roll call on a motion TO post
pone consideration Of the LindIey bill
although a majority Of the house de-
manded the roll call. The motion was
declared carried amid the protests OF
the majority.
Today Secretary Miller ordered the
LIndley measure advanced to the third
reading and a tumult of voices rose in
opposition, during which the ATTEMPT
was made to pull the speaker from his
chair. After speaker Miller declared
the house adjourned the newly o-ganiz-
ed house recalled the bill from the
third reading and proceeded section by
section to substitute the Mueller bill
for it. The time then arrived for the
regular afternoon session Speaker
Miller resumed the chair without ONO
sition. Considerable confusion attedad
attempts to transact business and a
recess was taken until evening.
At the night session Speaker Miller
said his action in refusing a roll call
was due to reports that he could make
money by allowing a roll call on the
bill, but as the house desired
II. ne washed his hands of the entire
mater and would permit a roll call.
Too Great a Risk.