The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1907-12-20
HOT WORDS LEAD 70
BLOWS IN HOUSE
coNGREssMEN DEARMoND AND
WILLIAMS OF MINORITY
IN ROW
Trouble Occurred Over Some Commit
tee Appointments Representative
Gaines Calls Washington Paper a
Liar for Printing Statement Con-
cerning Him First Appropriation
Made.

Washington, Dec. 20.-The word
'liar" twice was used in anger on
the floor of the house of representa-
tives yesterday, the first occasion be-
ing when Representative Gaines OF
Tennessee denounced local news
paper for printing "a statement re-
garding his alleged interest in the
deficiency appropriation for seeds for
free distribution, and the second and
more serious occasion when Mr..
Dearmond, of Missouri, applied the
epithet to Representative Williams of
Mississippi, the minority leader, re-
sulting in the two men engaging in
a fistic encounter which only ended
when they were forcibly separated.
The trouble arose over a misunder-
standing regarding a conversation of
a week ago about some committee
appointments, Mr. Dearmond insist
ing that he had not made any speci-
fic recommendation but only had ask
ed that representative Booker of
Missouri, and one or two other demo-
Gratis from that state be considered
according to their special fitness. Mr..
Williams maintained otherwise and
the anger of the two men increased
until they, came to blows.
During its two hours and twenty
minutes session the house got down
to actual work and transacted con
siderable business. All that had re-
mained to make this possible was the
announcement of committee appoint
ments, which was made yesterday by
the speaker. Several chairman i'm
mediately became alert with regard
to their rights and forced the refer
ence to committees of several PROPOSE
tions upon which immediate action
was desired, This was not accomp-
lished, however, with more or less
debate, whic hat times grew warm.
The first money appropriated by
the present congress was awarded
yesterday. The amount was $4,000
and it is to be used to supply the
seed deficiency caused by the destruc-
tion by fire of the government ware
houses Of this city.
The house will meet again on.
Saturday on which day adjournment
for the Christmas holidays will be
taken.
Blow Drew Blood
I The blows of Representative Dear
mond caused blood to flow down the
face Of Representative Williams and
only the forcible Intervention Of
friends cut the combat short Mr..
De Almond bore away scuffed nose.
Z L {. 5 Y. u . + e e
The immediate cause of the fight
was the passing of a lie by Mr.. De
Almond to Mr.. Williams, resultant
of a complaint by the former minor
ity leader, Of his broken faith in
"burying" Representative Booher of
Missouri by recommending his assign
ment of Speaker Cannon to the COM
mittee on coinage, weights and meas
ures. According to the statements of
the principals, Mr.. Williams defends
his action by declaring he had been
told by Mr.. Booher's colleague, Rep
resertative Lloyd of Missouri, that
the committee assignment would be
satisfactory to Mr.. Booher. Mr.. De
Armond bluntly questioned the truth
of the statement, and, after a fail
ure of an effort on his part to trans
fer the scene of the controversy, Mr..
Williams struck Mr.. De Almond a
blow in the face with his closed fist.
While MIR. Williams has for the
last five years held the place Of min
ority leader, a considerable element
among the democratic members has
favored Mr. De Almond for that posi-
tion. Resultantly there has been
more or less rivalry between them.
80 --F---
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