The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-05-01
BENNErrsv LILLE, s. 3ezFRIDAY, NAY i, 1908.
IN HOT FIST FIGHT.
a Very Disgraoeful Affair in tho
Illinois Legislature.

a Very Disgraceful Affair in the
Illinois Legislature
WHIRLWIND OF WILD DISORDER
Grew Out OF the Municipal owner
ship Fight, Chairs and Desks
Completely Wrecked in
the Melee.
at Springfield, ILL.,, slugging aud
rolling over across each other across
the speakers platform in q frenzied
general fight, at the feet of score of
female guests, the members Of the
| Illinois legislature Thursday surpass-
ed the Widest scenes Of the Austrian
reichsrath. Charges by the speaker
OF the house, Isaac Miller, that at
tcmptS had been made to brbc him
were formally made as an explanation
Of the extraordinary actions on his
part, which prccipitated the riot.
The interier Of the Legislative cham
Der resembed, In a measure, the trace
Of a tornado, SO general was the wreck
age Of :!iairs and desks.
Chicago street railway franchises.
more valuable than gold mines, were
directly at stake, federal court receiy y
crsllip proceedings against the Union
Traction company Of Chicago having
brought the matter TO Il sudden issue
The st0rmleSt time ever experience
ed In the Illinois legislature began al
most without warning, i'll u whirlwind
of wild disorder, which arose Thurs
day In the house Of representatives
over rival traction measures, or so
called municipal ownership bills.
Adhercnts Of the Mueller bill, indlg-
nant at Speaker Miller's ruling in
favor Of Lindlcy bill, attempted to
pull the speaker from his char The
speaker raised his voice above the
turmoil and declared the house ad-
Jnurned. Thereupon Representative
Murray, Mueller bill man, called for
the election Of speaker pro tempore.
Chas Allen Of Vermiliion was selected,
but had difficulty in forcing his way
to the speakers chair. The aisles
we're thronged with crowd SO excit-
ed that it was almost mob. Even
tually he made tue passage and Henry
Beitler was made clerk. It was found
exceedingly difficult, however, to ,ac-
complish business.
During roll calls on amendments to
the Lindley bill nearly half the mem
bers Of 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
4 row on the Democratic side, was Wig
oroCsly welding board.
Personal violence against the speak
er was threatened. a number OF Ia
dies were sitting on the couch on tile
speakers desk
VIII the ladies please move from
behind?" shouted Mr.. Allen.
| Get them OUT" shouted Mr.. Shcr-
man, get tile ladies out Do not act
the coward"
~ fight broke out on the Democra-
tic Side, Il few feet from the speaker.
Werdell (Dem.), and Glade (Rcpt.)
were the central figures, but eight or
ten other mcmbers-ln fact almost
everybody in their immediate vicinity
appeared to be taking hand in the
melee, in evident endcavor to separate
!, the two combatants. 1t afterwards
developed that Werdel had started
for the speaker with mcnacing air
and that Glade had seized him, thus
prccipitating the encounter.
The municipal ownership fight now
in progress is the most exciting which
the State capitol has witnessed in
many years. Chicago sentiment is
said to favor the Mueller, and Ma yor
Harrison and others Of influence have
been here several days working for it.
The Lindley bill, the municipal owner
ship measure favored by an ac-
tive minority, has, however, been
forced ahead. Thursday the speaker
refused Il roll call on a motion to post
pone consideration OF the Lindley bill,
4 although a majority OF the house de-
manded the roll call. The postpone
mcnt motion was declared carried,
ami the protests OF tho majority. TO.
day Speaker Miller ordered the Lind
ley measure advanced to a third read.
ing In the tumult Of voices rose In op-
position, during which the attempt
was made to pull the speaker from his
chair. After Speaker Miller declared
the house adjourned the newly or
ganiZed house recalled The bill from
third reading and proceeded, section
by section to substitute the Mueller
bill for 1t. The time then ar
rived for the regular afternoon
session and Speaker Miller resumed
the chair without opposition. Con
siderable confusion attended at
tcmpts 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 roll call on the
Mueller bill, but as the house desired
1t he washed his hands Of the entire
matter and would permit a roll call
An agreement WAS reached for re-
consideration OF the Lindley bill and
the house adjourned until Friday.
4 The iowa Disabled.
The lattle-ship Iowa, which left
Pensacola, Fla, Monday to complete