The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-20
,rr. willism.,. stntc,nc Mt.

opposite direction, and both were re-
4 leased.
Mr.. Wiliinm.'s Statement.
When Mr.. williams was released he
cioakroom at tho rear OF the chamber.
and while removing the stains OF the
combat, made the following statement
OF the trouble.
THE disagreement arose over a com.
rlittes assignment
''Mr. DeArmond called me to hook
4 for recommending his colleague, Mr.
mittee than on Coinage. Weights and
Measures. replied that had been
Lloyd. OF Missouri that M. Eooher
signment. Mr.. DeArmond answered to
the effect that ] could have gained
such an idea only by. the operation
Of my imaginatdlon or ps anneesaed
to him that the floor of the House was
no place for q quarrel or scene. anu
asked him to desist. His answer was
outstanding with me about Mr.; Booher
us had declared. and he added that my
subsequent action was the result either
OF error or OF untruthfulness. I again
suggested that the House was no place
to settle personal difference OF
opinion. He retorted that i was not
matter of opinion. but OF veraclty,
merely made a mistake. then strucls
him. and we exohar gid blows. 1t is
most regrettable that the floor shouldi
be selected for so unpleasant an affair.
Mr.. Diamonds Story.
Mr.. DeArmond remained in the
House for some little time after the
but he subsequently returned and then
made a statement of the circums tances
leading up, to the affair from his point
40 10 pt1So1p over the
question of the correctness OF con-
versation between himself and Mr..
Williams about ten days ago regarding
the committee appointments OF some
Mr. Booher. Mr.. DeArmond said he
had spoken highly of Mr.. Booher and
the other members as being competen,
not specified to Mr.. Williams any spe-.
cial committee on which he would like
to have Mr. Booher or any other mem
Der placed
This. Mr.. DeArnond said. Mr.. Will
Itams to-day denied. saying 1t was al
matter of recollection between them
Upon Mr. DeArmond's insisting that
or committees to which he desired to
have his colleagues assigned. MIR. VII.
liarns. he said, brusauely repeated that
It was simply matter OF recollection
between the two.
"He said this said Mr.. DeArnond
ain such q a way as to leave no other
inference than the one l suggested,
and I told him l believed him to be
q liar. He thereupon struck me, ana
think gave him as good. The next
thing some one caught my arm, and
we were separated.
No Disirtcrcsted statement.
The statements OF the two men i'm
mediately concerned constitute the sole
account of the discussion preliminary
to the encounter. as only fragments
OF IL were overheard by one or two
members nearby at the time. MI. Will
liams's blow was the first sign OF bel
,Ieercncy. and while he frankly con-
fessed that he was the physical ag-
gressor, there is testimony that he
forebore Mr.. Dehrmonds words to Il
length, and sought first to drop the
disagreement and then TO carry the
dispute to some less public place. aud
that he made no hostile move until his
reracity had been fatty questioned
While Mr.. Williams has for the last
hve years held the place OF minority
leader. considerable element among
Democratic members has favored Mr.
DeArmond for that position.
strong Rivalry Between Them.
Resultantly, there has been more or
less rivalry between them. but the
signs of 1t have been more marked
among their foiiowings than III the
men Themselves. In their personal re-
lations they have been generally friend
~ at least to outward appearance. The
fact that Mr.. Williamss recent eIection
to the Senate. to succeed MI. Money
In 1909 will make this tho MISSISSIPPI
plans last term in the House. has en-
coura ged friends of the Missouri Rep
resentative to believe that he would
succeed TO the Democratic leadership
in that body. The position generally
goes with the first Democratic assign
ment to the Ways and Means Commit:
tee, and Mr.. DeArmonds friends find
some cause for criticizns the course
n Nr Williams retiring from that
committee on the eve of leaving, the
House. and putting in the place va
Gated Mr.. Champ Clark, of Missouri,
Mr.. DeArmond's colleague.