Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-01-17
WAR IN THE HOUSE.
Personal Encounter Between Gaines
ofTennessee and Mahon Of Penn
sylvania Narrowly Averted.
THEIR FRIENDS IATERFERED
Great Excitement Prevailed And Pro
siding officer Raped So Violent
Iy For Order That Head Flew
OF The 0avel.

Washington, Jan. 11.--Late Thurs
day afternoon Mr.. Gaines Of Tennessee
and Mr.. Mahon Of Pennsylvania, we're
only prevented from meeting In
personal encounter by the interven-
ton Of members on the floor OF the
house. Mr.. Gaines was making
speech on his bill to dock members
pay for absence from the house and
was being twitted by both sides OF
the chamber to his evident embarrass-
ment. During his speech he charged
Mr.. Mahon with being absent from
the house 95 per cent of the time.
Previous to this sweeping asser-
ton, Mr.. Gaines had read excerpts
from the record in relation to the
Withholding Of pay In the 5Srd con-
gress and the part Mr.. Mahon had
played at that time.
Mr.. Mahon remained silent through
cut Mr.. Gaines's speech with the ex-
Leption Of interfering a remark or
tive at the beginning. When Mr.
Gaines had concluded Mr.. Mahon
rose. He explained how in the 5Srd
and 55th congresses he had had 81
900 due him and that Speaker Crisp
had given him an order on the Ser
geant-atarms for the amount which
was paid. Then coming to the crux
Of Mr.. Gnines' charge Mr.. Mahon
Numbered:
ANY man who charges me with be-
ing away from this house 95 per cent
Of the time, tells an untruth."
Mr.. Gaines's started down the aisle
from his seat. mo man can tell me
/ lie," he exclaimed.
Mr.. Mann (Ill.) who was in the
chair, ordered both men to their
seats, Mr.. Mahon obeying the COM
mand. while Mr.. Gaines stood two
seats away from the center OF the
chamber shaking both fists and head
at the Pennsylvania.
Whom order had been restored MI
Mahon again rose. Having been eau
TONED by the chair that It was against
tho rules to address member IN the
second person he measured his words
saying he would speak in the "fourtn
person" He then said:
"The charge Of the gentlemen from
Tennessee that am away from this
house sS per cent Of my time Is Q
deliberate falsehood."
With a rush. Mr. Gaines reached
the center Of the chamber, making d.
rectly toward the gentleman from
Pennsylvania, insisting as he went
that no man could call him liar witn-
out personal ohastisement.
The house was in an uproar by this
time the chair adding to the noise,
II not to the confusion. by pounding
the desk with his gavel. His efforts
finally caused the head Of the gavel
to Nv off and 1t bounded into the body
of the house almost striking one Of
the members.
The rush Of Mr.. Gaines upon his
adversary brought dozen members
before the speakers desk Messrs
Ollie James Of Kentucky, Taylor oil
Alabama. Bell Of Georgia; Williams
of Mississippi, the minority leader;
and Stafford Of Wisconsin, grabbed
Gaines. who, resisting vigorously
was taken back to his seat
Mr.. Mahon seemed to wait for the
impact which never came. With Mr.
Gaines back in his seat, the Pennsyl
vanian made his speech Of explana
ton as to how he became connected
with the invoking Of an old statue
compelling members to1forfeit pay
for the time absent from the house
He said the charge that he was away
from the house 95 per cent Of the time
was a lie on its face and that he wal
there s5 per cent Of the time, as every
member who cared to inquire coult
ascertain.
Later each made public explana
ton Of his conduct and amicable re
lations were established before TIL
Incident olo-ed.