Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-20
BAR. WIllIlams, Statement.

MIR. Williams Statement.
Presently Mr.. Williams was led
away in lie direction and NJ Dear.
mond in an opposite one. and both
were released
When Mr.. Williams was recessed
he went into the Democratic cloak
room In the rear of the chamber.
and while removing the stains of the
combat. made the following state
ment:
The disagreement arose over Il
committee assignment. Mr.. DEAR
mond called me to book for recon-
nendlng his colleague, MIR Dooher.
to more prominent committee than
Gu ch"rke, weights aud measures,
| replied that | Lad been given to
understand by Congressman Lloyd
of Missouri, that Mr.. Booher would
be well satisfied with that assign
ment. Mr. DeArmond answered to
the effect that | could have gained
such an idea only by the operation
OF my imagination, or by deliberate
wish to misunderstood. suggested
to him that the floor of the House was
10 place for quarrel or scene ana
asked him to desist. Ills answer was
that he had never had any such I'M
derstanding with me about Mr.. boo
her MS had declared. and he added
that my subsequent action was the
result Of either error .r of ln'rutn-
fulness again suggested that the
MIA
sonal difference OF opinion. He re-
torted thnt 1t was not a matter OF
opinion, but of veraclty and said that
he did not believe had merely made
mistake. | then struck him and
we exchanged blows 1t is most re.
grettable that the floor. should be
selected for so unpleasant an al
fair"
Diamonds Side Of Il.
Mr.. DeArmond remained In the
li"hse for some little time after The
encounter and then left the chamber.
but he subsequently returned and
then made n statement OF the circum-
stances leading up to the affair from
his point of view. According TO Nj.
Diamonds version the episode
arose over the Qtestion of the cor
rectncss of conversation between
himself ana Mr. Williams about to-
days ago, regarding the committee
assignments OF some Missouri men,
bers. and particularly OF Mr., Booher
Mr.. DeArmond said he had spoken
highly of Mr.. Booher and the other
members as being competent to sit
ON any committee. but thai ne had
not specified to Mr. Williams any
special committee on which he woula
Ike to have Mr. Booher or any other
member placed. This. Mr.. Dear
mond said, Mr.. Williams today de-
MED. saying 1t was a mater OF recol-
lection between them. Upon Mr.. De
Almonds insisting that he had not
specified any committee or commit
tees TO which he desired to have his
colleague assigned. Mr.. Williams he
said, brusluely repeated that it was
simply a matter of recollection be-
tween the two
He said this" said MIR. DeArmond
in such a way as to leave no other
inference than Tie one / suggested.
and told him that believed him TO
BIO a liar He thereupon struck me.
and | gave him as good as he sent
The next thing some one caught my
arm and we were separated"
Williams Hit fHs; BLOW.
Mr.. Williams blow was the first
sign of belllgerancy, ana while he
frankly confessed That he was the
physical aggressor. there Is testi-
mony that he forbore Mr.. DeArmond's
words % 4 length and sougl, nrst 10
drop the disagreement and then to
carry the dispute to some Tess public
place; t..St he made no hostile move
until his veracity had been fatty
questioned.
While Mr.. Williams has for the
last five years held the place of min
GRITTY leader, a considerable element
among Democratic members has ia
vored Mr.. DeArmond for that posi-
ton Recently there has been more
or less rivalry between them, bur
the signs of 1t have been more mark.
ed among their folIoNings than In
the men themselves. Their personal
relations have been generally friend
ly, at least to outward appearance.
The fact that Mr.. Williams recenI
election 10 the Senate to succeed
Mr.. Money in 1909, will make this
the Mississippian's last term In the
House, has encouraged friends of the
Missouri representative to believe
that he would succeed to the Demo.