Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1907-12-21


Washington. Dec. 20.--The spirit Of
rivalry that for five years has alter.
nsteiy smouidcred and blaxed between
John sharp Williams Of Mississippi.
leader Of the minority. and David A.
peArmcnd Of Missouri. leader OF the
minority opposition. eliminated In a
fiat fight ON the floor OF the house OF
representatives. The blows of Rep
resentative DcArmond caused blood to
flow down the face OF Representative
Williams. and only the forcible inter
vention OF friends cut the combat
short. Mr.. DeArmond bore away .
cufied nose.
The immediate cause OF the fight
was the passage Of the lie by Mr.. De-
Almond to Mr.. williams. resulting in
. complaint by the former that the
minority leader had broken faith In
"burying" Representative Booker of
Missouri by recommending his assign
ment by Speaker Cannon TO the com
mittee on coinage. weights and meas
ures. According 10 the statement of
the principals, Mr. Williams defended
his action by declaring he had been
told by Mr.. Booher's colleague. Rep.
resentative Lloyd of Missouri. that the
committee assignment would be salts.
factory to Mr.. Booher. Mr.. DeArmand
bluntly questioned the truth of the
statement. and after the failure OF I'm
effort on his part 10 transfer the scene
OF hostility. MIR. Williams struck Mr.
DeArmond blow In the face with
closed fist
down In the Record. for the house had
few minutes before adjourned when
the first blow was struck. but there
was no lack OF witnesses. The organ.
ization OF the house had been complet.
ed by the announcement OF the speak.
er's assignment of members to commit.
tees. the Republican committeeman
having been selected by the speaker
and the Democratic by Mr.. Williams
Scores OF newspaper men were scat
tered over the floor discussing the ar-
potntments. In the overlooking gal.
leries loitered score or more OF
women and four times that many men.
viewing the aftermath OF an interest.
Ing session. Mr., Williams. relaxed
from the long strain Of a..otting pr
ferment among the 167 feilow-Der
Gratis whose minority strength he
ficially leads. was seated at ease a
the desk OF Representative Wallace
of Arkansas In tn, center aisle on the
Democratic side. Mr.. DcArmond ap.
preached. greeted him and took the
adjoining seat At once they engaged
each other In earne'' talk. bn' pitched
their voices so low -, aftcrward only
one or two members. who were very
close 10 them. could recall anything
they had said. They had been thus
In conversation for longer than a few
minutes. when both sprang to their
feet. showing their chairs back and
the gentleman from Mississippi struck
the gentleman from Missouri n glanc
ing blow on the nose. Some repre-
sentative cried out: Look. Look
at the fight"
Everybody looked. but so startled |
wer they by what they saw that no
one seemed FOR the moment 10 think
or rushing forward aud stopping II
Meantime Mr.. Williams and Mr.. De-
Almond. wedged between the two row
OF desks. were still exchanging blows. |
Blood was flowing down the face ~
the leader of the minority. while Mr.. |
DeArmond was endeavorinr To grasp |
his opponent by tibet kroat. at the
same time receiving and vigorously |
returning blow for blow. They We're |
finally separated.