The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-12-25
FIGHT IN CONGRESS.
WILLIAMS AND DeARMOND MAKE
BLOOD FLOW.

Passing of the Lie Cause Of EncOunt-
er-COmmlttee Appointment Was
Beginning or Trouble.
Washington, Dec. 19.-The spirit of
rivalry that for five years has alter
nately smouldered and blazed be-
tween John Sharp Williams OF Mis-
sissippi leader Of the minority, and
David AZ DeArmond Of Missouri, lead
er of the minority opposition, culmin-
ated in fist fight today on the floor
OF the house Of representatives. The
blows Of Representative DeArmond
caused blood to flow down the face
of Representative Williams and only
the forcible Intervention Of friends
cut the combat short. Mr.. DeArmond
bore away a scuffcd nose.
The immediate cause Of the fight
was the passing of the lie~by Mr.. De-
Almond to Mr. Williams, resultant Of
a complaint by the former that the
minority leader had broken faith in
"burying" Representative Booher of
Missouri by recommending his assign
ment by Speaker Cannon to the COM
mittee on Coinage, weights and meas
ures. According to the statements 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
commitSOe assignments would be sat-
isfactory to Mr.. Boomer. Mr.. De-
Almond bluntly questioned tho truth
OF the statement and after the failure
OF an effort on his part to transfer the
scene of impending battle Mr.. Will
liams struck Mr. DeArmond in the
face with closed fist.
The exciting incident will not be
set down in the official record of the
sixtieth. congress. For the house had
been some minutes adjourned when
the first blow was struck. But there
was no lack of witnesses.
The organization of the house had
been completed by the announcement
OF the speakers assignments of mem
'bers to committees, the Republican
committeeman having been selected
by the speaker and the Democrats by
Mr. Williams. Groups Of representa-
tives Were scattered over the floor,
discussing the appointments, the
causes perhaps behind them, and the
effects maybe TO follow. In the over.
looking galleries loitered a score O,
so Of women and four times that
many men, viewing the aftermath of
an interesting session,
Mr.. Williams, relaxed from the long
strain Of allotting preferment among
the 167 fellow Democrats, whose mi
nority strength he officially leads,
was seated at ease at the desk of Rep
resentative Wallace of Arkansas. on
the centre aisle on the Democratic
eide Of the house. Mr.. DeArmonG
approached, greeted him. and took
the adjoining seat. At once they en-
gagged each other in earnest talk; but
pitched their voices so low that after
ward only one or two members who
were very close to them could recall
anything they had said. They had
been thus in conversation no longer
than few minutes, when both men
sprang to their feet Showing their
chairs back, and the gentleman from
Mississippi struck the gentleman from
Missouri a giancing blow on the nose.
Some representative cried out:
Look! Look at the fight" EVERYBODY
looked: but SO startled were they by
what they saw that no one seemed for
the moment to think of rushing for
ward and stopping 1t. N ,antime Mr..
Williams and Mr.. DeArmond wedged
between two rows Of desks, were still
exchanging blows. Blood was flowing
down the face of the leader Of the mi
nority, while Mr.. DeArmond was en-
"eaNorihs 10 grasp MS opponent by
the throat at the same time receiving
and vigorously returning blow for
blow.
Then everybody awoke to the un-
seemliness Of the scene and crowded
In and made an end Of it. Mr.. De-
Almond was seized and his arms pin
ioned. Mr.. Williams was pushed back
against a desk and laced about with
deterrent arms. Thus restrained he
relaxed his aggressive attitude: but
MS adversary struggled in the en-
prace of his friendly captors and
trled to lash out. When Mr.. Dear
mond interrogated Mr.. Williams as to
what he was excited about. Mr..
Williams Smilinulv