Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-08
HOT WORDS PASSED
ALEXANDRIA COUNTY CITIZENS
NEARLY COME TO BLOWS.
Dr.. Rust and Mr.. Lyon Lock Horns
In Meeting-Trouble Finally
Smoothed Over.


smoothed Over.
Alexandria county court house on Fort
Myer Heights was the scene Thursday
night of a great deal of excitement and
no little fun. While a gathering of citizens
struggled with local school question in
one room the board OF supervisors in an
other apartment held a strenuous session,
which at one time waxed so warm that it
gave promise Of furnishing something more
serious than hot talk.
There was trouble brewing in the board
room when Dr. D. N. Rust, chairman of
the supervisors. and Frank Lyon, editor
Of the Alexandria County Monitor, began
to lock horns. AS their controversy pro-
cee0ed from one stage to another the
citizens present confidently looked for a
collision of physical forces Beginning
with difference Of viewpoint as to the
control and regulation Of the county thor
oughfares, the discussion soon assumed
formidable character. Sarcastic illusions
were succeeded by direct personal re-
marks, which gave way in turn to abusive
epfthets. 1t was with much difficulty that
an encounter between the two was pre-
vented by others in the room and the
matter smoothed over.
Soon after the meeting opened DR.. Rust
asked IL Commonwealth Attorney Crandal
Mackey had prepared a report dealing
with the question of the authority of rail-
way companies in using certain streets
within the county. Mr.. Mackey said he
had not had time to make such an ex-
animation as would be necessary to de-
termine the rights of the railway lines in
the premises. DR.. Rust then said that he
understood that the improvement of the
streets was really desired, but he an
nounced that he was unwilling to go into
the matter until an opinion on its legal
phases had been furnished.
Said Brains Were Needed.
1t was finally decided to limit the dis
as county roads, and it was agreed that
the advocates and opponents CT the prep
osition be heard in turn and a vote taken
After the discussion had proceeded at
some length Mr.. Lyon made q vigorous
speech in favor of adopting the streets as
county roads. He was interrupted by
questions from DR.. Rust. one of which no
characterised as idle. DR.. Rust then said
something about potato diggers." whose
interests he was there to protect. Mr..
Lyon replied warmly that talk OF potato
diegers sounded to him like demagoguery
and was the sort of thing a man resorted
to when he had not brains enough to an
swer an opponents argument DR.. Rust
referred to the brains needed to be an
editor and was speaking further .a In the he
thought Mr.. Lyon meant no real disre-
spect to the chairman Of the board.
yes, I think he did, replied DR.. Rust.
firmly. and, it is asserted. let slip the word
skunk
Mr.. Lyon half arose from HIS seat with
an epithet which is generally recognized
down south as a challenge to fight;
I'll settle with you outside when this
Now or any other time will suit me-" re-
piled Mr.. Lyon now on his feet. and 1t
looked like fight on the spot. Twenty men
were on their feet in a moment, some, APP
parently, with an idea of taking sides.
Clerk Rucker as custodian of the building,
commanded the peace, and said he would
ask Tailor Collins to take charge Of any
one who disobeyed.
Mr.. Douglas Offended.
Supervisor Douglas SAID he would not
sit on the board with man who so far
forgot himself and announced that he
was going home. DR.. Rust disclaimed any
action in his public capacity. If he had
been understood to say anything offensive
while sitting as chairman, he said, he
humbly withdrew it, and hoped Mr..
Douglas would accept his explanation and
return to the work in hand. He had no
apology to make to Mr.. Lyon, however, as
the provocation, he asserted, had been
ample to warrant all that he had said, and
he Furthermore declared that he Intended to
settle with Mr.. Lyon outside. Mr.. Douglas
accepted the explanation and resumed his
work as supervisor. Mr.. Lyon stated that
he wished to withdraw anything he said
that was offensive. He apologized for the
terms he had used in replying to DR.. Rust.
The latter answered that he could not set
tie the matter while sitting on the board.
He said he had been compelled by his pub
lie duty to accept the position of coward.
and remarked that he had a right to act
in the matter when off the board. He said.
however, that he must. of course accept
an apology made in good faith.
1t was past midnight when. upon motion
Of Mr.. Douglas. further discussion was
postponed until the regular meeting next
month when Mr.. Mackey will be called
upon for his report on the legal status of
the streets.
Lively Citizens Meeting.
The topic which kept the citizens meeting
keyed to high pitch was the location of
the school to be opened on Fort Myer
Heights September II.
The district school board was expected to
meet to consider the selection of a place
for the Heights school, but when a dozen
King, S. H. Turner c. E. Lewis James H.
Tayman and G. B. Kicker, had come in
none of the Arlington district trustees was
on hand Superintendent Clements, who
called the meeting to order, set forth the
need of immediate action, and explained
the heavy expenditure of money on the Co.
lumbia school.
He said he was anxious to open school
for Fort Myer Heights, and had been try
ing to get the district trustees to act They
claimed he added, to be doing all they
could, but to be unable to find suitable
location.
Mr.. Clements expressed his readiness to
approve any reasonable selection, but said
he wanted 1t clearly understood that any
location chosen must, under the law, re-
ceive his approval. The meeting adjourned
to await action Of the district board.
FOLLOWS GULF STREAM.