Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-30

| the roll call would be conducted in a
satisfactory manner to both factions,
but when the vote stood seven ayes
and seven noes Houghton read the
name u. B. Johnson"
when did he ever pay any dues to
this club?" yelled Fennessy.
What ward does he live in?" echoed
Hay.
"Yes, and is he anywhere in Califor-
nia?" called Welch.
Cries of ''rotten," put him out"
knock his block off" and similar symp-
toms of general disorder were heard
from every quarter of the hall.
Houghton declared the roll call had
carried the minutes, but while he was
doing so Arthur Hay quietly slipped
! into the chairman's seat and an
nounced:
"This meeting will now come to or
DER"
Then things happened quick.
One of Houghton's supporters flew at
Hays throat and knocked his cigar
from his teeth. Fennessy Jumped to
Hays assistance and the entire crowd
standing around the hall, that had just
been waiting for this sort of thing,
were on the platform in minute.
There was a general scrimmage, but
no one was badly hurt.
Houghton had just presence of mind
enough to declare the meeting adj
journed and jump on chair From
this coign of vantage he watched the
disgraceful fight surging at his feet,
and somehow managed to slip through
the crowd without so much as a
scratch from the flying feet and hands
But Houghton's adjournment had
not ended the meeting. Some peace
loving and law-abiding citizens Of the
Sixth ward, who had wandered into the
i /.
from any other motive, backed Hough-
ton into a corner and were pleading
with him to get out quietly
But Houghtons political life was at
stake and he did not purpose to lay
down so easily. He declared that the
meeting that had been called had been
held and adjourned, and that any other
meeting would be simply trump"
gathering and have absolutely no eff
feet whatsoever AS he had the secre-
tary on his side, and no minutes of any
further meetings were kept and are
therefore not official, he has some ar
gument in his favor, it is said
While Houghton was in controversy
with his friends the Fennessy
aggregation named Thomas Winters as
chairman and gave the floor to Attor-
ney Fred Springer, who proceeded to
read a set of resolutions refecting on
Houghton.
Houghton Is Heard
The passage of just such resolutions
was the very thing Houghton and his
friends had come to block. and no
sooner had Springer opened his mouth
than Houghton began to speak at the
top of his voice, and when Houghton
wants to make himself heard. especially
when his political life depends on his
being heard, no one else could make
himself understood with megaphone.
The antis had come to the meeting for
the purpose of passing these very reso-
lutions and they objected to being
gagged by Houghton's voice.
''Shut upl" said three or four across
the hall from where Houghton was
standing.
Houghton refused to shut up
shut up!" they repeated. Hay, Welch
and Fennessy, with two or three others,
advanced threateningly in Houghton's
direction with clenched fists held in
front of them. Dock turned little
white, but continued to yell.
Rush at Houghton
''For the last time. shut up!" they
commanded. dozen brawny men
whom Houghton had brought for just
such contingencies gathered around the
councilman from the Sixth and formed
an impenetrabe wall that those who
would slay Houghton could not break
through. How many hard blows
HoughtOn would have received had 1t
not been for his muscular supporters,
1t is hard to say, for he had enraged his
opponents to a point where they were
ready to do almost anything.
Finding they were unable to do Vio-
lence, Hay, Fennessy and Welch tried
to reason with Houghton.
"Go home, Dock, or you will get
hurt :" threatened Fennessy
"You'ye had your meeting; now go
away and let us have ours, said Welch.
Here Il. 4. Hutchison, whose home
ana political interests lie in the Eighth
ward, jumped to chair and announced