Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-04-13
Hays spares PIummer.

Duelling in the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture has been prevented. Representa-
tive Thomas Hays, of Butler county,
will not fight Chairman J. Lee Plum
mer, of the House Appropriations Com
mittee, to the death, for the time, at
least. said special to the.Pniladelphia
North American dated April eth.
By expressing contrition for his conf
parison of Hays with Judas Iscariot at
the session of Appropriations Committee
Yesterday. Chairman Plummer this
morning avoided personal violence at
the hands of the indignant Butler coun-
ty man.
HAYS by note last night, had given
Plummer twenty-four hours to 'apoio-
gize or take the consequences. The
chairman chose the former alternative
and the affecting interview between the
two men took place in the retirement OF
the speakers room.
Just what he expected to do to Plum
mer, if the apology were not forthcom-
ing, HAYS did not like to state for pup,
lication. Some of the members SAID
they thought smashing" might be IN
his mind. Hays was strong IN his de-
termination to have some kind OF salts
faction.
After he had sent his notice to Plum
mer last night, Hays is said to have en-
tered Harrisburg store and asked fol
a rubber hat. He explained to the as
tonished merchant that he would ike
TO see one that would expand, as there
was man it the Legislature whose
head was SO swelled at times that he
could not get his hat on, and had 10 &c
bareheaded.
Expectancy of collision was preva-
lent among the members when the
House assembled this morning. Hays
had not been long in his seat when ne
was summoned by Representative
McElroy, of Mexican county, to the
Speakers room. There Speaker Wal
ton and Chairman Plummer were await
ing him
The speaker acted as peacemaker, say
ing that differences among the member;
of the house were to be regretted, and
that he thought the two ought to shake
hands and be friends.
Plummer voiced his repentance for
having used such term as Judas Is
CARROT" toward Hays, and said that ne
was feeling badly and "out OF sorts
the result of overwork in his ofhcial po
sition, when he spoke SO hastily.
At that Hays declared his Willingness
to become friends with Plummer again,
and there was handshaking. Hays, IN
explaining his words of critislSm OF
the way business had been conducted III
the Appropriations Committee, which
had aroused the chairman's anger, SAID
that Butler county people had DaDlt
Of speaking out on occasions.
Thus the great fued was ended, and
Plummer had nearly twelve hours OF
grace to spare on the time allowance
HAYS had given him. When Hays no
tice to Plummer was returned to him
last night, in accordance with his de-
mand, the sender wrote across the back
of the paper: He has until 94o FRIDAY
night to apologize.
Soon after Hays came from the SpSaK-
er's room Piummer made his appear
ance The chairman walked up tne
centre aisle of the House, stopped al
Hays desk and shook hands again with
his late antagonist in the presence OF al
the attentive Legislators. lncu csoiJ
body knew the threatened fight was
off.
Friends gathered about Hays and
showered their congratulations upon
him when they learned how the Difficult
ty had been settled The dozen or more
who surrounded him proposed him as
candidate for the Republican nominal
ion for State Treasurer, instead of Plum
mer, who has been slated by the Machine
bosses This impromptu convention in.
terfered somewhat with the business OF
the House, and representative Clareney
who was in the chair temporarily. had
to call for order.
Before Plummer left for his home to-
day he again insisted that he is popular
saying.
Last night the General Appropriat-
ions bill went through finally, without
any critisism or opposition. take that
as great compliment
Thus, it will be seen, Plummer is still
posing as statesman and leader,
though his fellow legislators generally
regard him as mere carrier OF orders.