Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-13
REPLIES TO LAMAR
Minority Leader Williams
Addresses the House.
DEFENDS HIS COURSE
DECLARES HE ACTED IN INTER
FsTS OF PARTY HARMONY.
Says That he Has No Feeling Against
Mr.. Hearst, But Has Given Him
Good Committee Assignments.

The ill feeling existing between Repre-
sentative Lamar of Florida and Repre-.
sentative John Sharp Williams of Missis-
sippi. the minority floor leader resulted
in another scene on the floor of the House
of Representatives this afternoon After
a discussion of the reference of the part
of the Presidents message relative to
federal control of insurance Mr.. Lamar
secured time to make personal state.
ment. In a mild and temperate manner
he began his story. while the House list
ened with open ears and silence so pro-
found that pin could have been heard to
drop.
Mr.. Lamar reviewed the facts In the case
as described In The Star of Sunday. He be-
gan with the consideration of the Davey
bill East year In committee. with the calling
of a caucus and the adoption of the So
called Davey bill of two sections. He then
told OF the amendment of the bill In COM
mittee and of the attempt OF the minority
leader to amend it on the floor of the House.
He spoke of the minority leaders dislike OF
Representa- tive Hearst of New York and
Grew the inference that it was the fact
that he tMr. Lamar had made n s,te}sf1 diary
report on the Hearst bill. that had resulted
in his removal from the House COMMITTEES
on interstate and foreign commerce.
Mostly Tempsrately Stated.
Mr. Lamar preserved his temperate tone
almost throughout his entire speech. At
times his tones would ring with strong
feeling and his hand would tremble as he
raised it aloft to emphasize some portions
of his remarks. But he explained to the
House that he had slept on the matter
that he did not have that feeling of ex-
element which actuated him when he
arose in his place Monday and demanded
laoa ar aal
He reviewed in this calm manner the en-
tire situation and told his colleagues that
he wanted his constituents In Florida and
that he wanted the entire country TO know
Of his position In the matter and TO realtzo
that 1t was not merely feeling of personal
resentment against his removal that actu.
ated him. but that he objected to the rea-
sons given by the minority leader for his
removal from that important committee on
interstate and foreign commerce.
During the course of his remarks Mr..
Lamar made the point that last year. when
Representative Sullivan of Massachusetts
had risen in his place and fayed Repre-
sentative Hearst of New York Mr.. Williams
did not then object 10 what he was pleased
TO term in connection with the Lamar in
cident the washing of democratic linen for
the amusement of the republicans.
Mr.. Williams Takes Notes.
The moment that Mr.. Lamar began his
remarks Representative Williams rose from
his place in the second section toward the
rear of the chamber and walked briskly
down the aisle to a. seat just behind Mr..
Lamar and across the aisle. The minority
leader listened attentively to all that Mr.
Lamar had TO say and made copious notes
as the statement progressed, and at its
close he addressed the House.
Mr. Williams Replies.
Mr.. Williams said he had an unpleasant
duty to perform but he thought that the
manner in which the gentleman from Flor
ida had presented the matter to the public
in the newspapers and by his remarks
the floor demanded an explanation by the
minority leauer for his line of conduct
The gentleman from Florida takes him.
self too seriously, said Mr.. Williams He
takes himself entirely too seriously. warn
him that he cannot make a national issue
of committee assignment"
Mr.. Williams then went on to say that
in the last session of the last Congress-
the railroad rate question was one of the
most important things before the body.
In this Congress, he said. euspba tically, it
certainly was the most important ques-
tion.
And 1 should have been a fool, should
have been unutteraJbly asinie. 1 should
have been unworthy of my place as mi
nority leader, if / had not endeavored to
secure harmony among the minority
members of the committee on Interstate s
and foreign commerce by removing two
of the gentlemen who in opposition to the
other four, made the discord."
Mr.. Williams pointed out that he could
have removed the four members to whom
Representatives Lamar and Shackelford
were opposed but that he thought it was
the more sensible thing to remove two of
them He had offered Mr. Lamar place
foreign affairs. more important COM
mtttee than that of interstate and foreign
commerce-in fact the fourth most i'm
portant committee in the House-to let him
down easily.
Mr.. Lamar might have gone out and told
his constituents in Florida that he had
t,.AA,
known the difference; no one would have
questioned it.
'Oh, the gentleman takes himself too se-
riously,' said Mr.. Williams again. The
gentleman ha some quality IN common
with his uncle, the great Justice Lamar
and the latter had quality which the
gentleman from Florida does not possess.
Justice Lamar possessed a superb egotism
but 1t was justified, aye consecra:ad by a
superb intellect" Qaughter.)
Mr. Williams then regerred TO various
newspaper interviews which Mr. Lamar had
given out and said that he did not intend
TO take any notice OF the personal things
said about him.
Feelings Toward Hearst.
Referring to his alleged dislike for Mr..
Hearst. the minority leader said that he
had no feeling on the subject At the last
session he had given the representative
from New York the only committee asslgn-
ment he had requested, that OF the CON-
iittee On lttpoF, removing one or mis- own
friends Tor the purpose. In this Congress,
learning that Mr.. Hearst was interested on
irrigation, he had also made him a member
In addition to his labor assignment, of the
committee on the irrigation of arid lands.
Il never let my personal likes dlsiikes
interfere with my duty minority
leader" said Mr.. Williams. II think that
have that reputation. cloud APPLAUSE
ON the democratic slde.)
Closing his remarks Mr.. Williams said
that what he had done was right. was just
was wise, was sensible and. moreover had
been justified by the practically unanimous
verdict of the democratic side OF the House.
loud democratic appiause).
The gentleman asked me ON the floor OF
the House to call caucus In order that
might have myself rebuked." said Mr.. VIII
liams sarcasticalIy. Il have too much self
love to call caucus for that purpose.
wish to say that in my course in this mat
ter have had held malice to none and
charity to ALL I even promoted the gem
tleman from Florida. but he did not see
It,
The House Amused.
Mr. Williams to illustrate his po:nt. anl