Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-03-19
BLOWS STRUCK
ON HOUSE FLOOR
MIR. Holt Resents
Insult From Mr..
Hudspeth
CREATED A SENSATION
But Combatants Were Quick
ly Separated---Q Question of
Courage the Cause.

The House floor yesterday after
noon, was the scene OF an exciting
event when in reply to a personal in
suit, Mr.. Holt struck Mr.. Hudspeth,
Democratic member from Lincoln
County. Mr. Hudspeth tried to reply
with blows, but Mr.. Studley. member
from Colfax County, and an old foot
ball player, rushed between the two.
At the same time several others
who sat behind Mir. Holt on the floor
Of the House, seized that gentleman
while the sergeant of arms forced Mr..
Hudspeth to remain out of fighting
lapge.
The affair was the result of num-
her of personal or semi-personal re-
marks from Mr.. Hudspeth directed at
Mr.. Holt. The member from Dona
Ana was worn out by committee work
night after night and by hard work
on the floor of the House each day,
in his capacity of leader of the Re-
publican majority. The insult offered
by Mr.. Hudspeth was too much for
him and he resented in a 'man to
nan" fashion, which despite the
breach of parliamentary conduct did
anything but lessen him in the es.
TEEN of his fellow members.
While unfortunate, the affair may
in the end have a good effect by
showing the minority members that
mud Singing" as carried on after
the fashion of the albuquerque Fakir
Journal will be met if necessary by
force.
Hudspeth Provoked Attack.
The flstic encounter took place
when Mr., Holt in moving the adop.
tlon of the report of the Special Com
mittee on Investigation, relative to
the illegal turning over of Territorial
deeds for certain public lands by Gov
ernor Hagerman to the Pennsylvania
Development Company, and called for
the previous question which prohibits
debate. Mr.. HMspeth in some myste-
sio,a way, knc, that upon the Speak.
er's desk. was message from the
Governor relative to the report of the
committee. He asked that it be read
before the report was adopted. Mr..
! Holt insisted upon his previous ques-
| ton, which was certainly in order and
he chair so decided. Mr.. Hudspeth
lthen started to speak, his opening re-.
marks stating that he appealed to the
gentleman from Dona Ana not to play
the part of coward.
Mr.. Holt lost his temper, though
net without reason.
Don't you call me a coward" he
shouted as he sprang to his feet.
''Retract those words!"
Were Quickly Separated
Mr.. Hudspeth faced Mr.. Holt, rails
| ing his fists and Mr.. Holt struck him
! a glancing blow. Mr.. Hudspeth struck
back. It was then that Mr.. Studley,
at some personal risk, ran between
the two members and tried to force
them back He would never have sue
ceeded had not several others and
the ergeant-at-arms come to the res
! cue.
| The affray on the floor of the House,
caused all the members to leave their
seats on the east side of the hall and
rush towards the combatants, fearing
further trouble. The Speakers chair
was being temporarily filled by Mr.
Abbott, of Santa Fe and that gentle
man raped for order until he almost
broke the gavel, without being able
to make himself heard.
Order, however, was quickly re.
stored and within a few minutes the
! House was proceeding as before.
| Mr.. Holt asked permission to speak
which was granted him He then
made the following apology to the
House of Representatives, but need
less to say, did not include. Mr.. Huds-
peth, except as a member of the
House, the courtesies of which he had
abused.
Holt Made Apology.
Mr.. Speaker, wish to make an
apology to this. body for the unseemly
display Of temper on my part. I wish
especially to apologize, Mr.. Speaker,
.
to this honorable House as such a
body and as such only, but | have
been indicted by the gentleman from
Lincoln SO often that forbearance has
ceased to be virtue. was informed
/ the other day, when the gentleman
from Otero was in the chair the gen
tleman from Lincoln made a state
men under his breath that statement
| had made was not the truth. Mr..
Speaker, I do not know whether these
words of the gentleman from Lincoln
We're uttered, because did not over
/ hear them. Mr.. Speaker, | am very
sorry forgot myself; |, wish the for
giveness Of yourself and the gentle
men OF this House for participating
in the confusion of few minutes
ago"
Who Was Mysterious Woman?
In connection with the fistic en-
counter, there is something Of mys,
terry 1t Is the identity of middle
aged woman dressed in black and
wearing a mourning veil, who ran onto
the floor of the House, seized Mi.
Hudspeth BY the coat sleeve and be-
sOught him to sit down and caacn anv