The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-11
LIE GIVEN; FIST
FIGHT AVERTED

/ would speak in the fourth person" III,
then said
"Thc charge of tho gentleman from
Tennessee that / am away from this
house % per cent OF the time Is delib-
crate falsehood
With a rush Mr. Gaines reached the
centre OF the chamber making directly
toward the gentleman from Pennsylvania
insisting as he went that no man could
call him liar without personal chastise-
ment.
The house was in an uproar by this
time, the chair adding TO the noise, II not
TO the confusion. by pounding the desk
with his gavel. His efforts finally caused
the head OF the gavel TO ny of, and IL
bounded into the body of the house, all
most striking one OF the members
The rush of Mr. Gaines upon his adver-
sary brought a dozen members before the
speakers desk Messrs. ollie James OF
Kentucky Taylor OF Alabama. Bell OF
Georgia. Williams of Mississippi. the
minority leader. and Stafford OF Wiscon-
sin grabbed Mr.. Gaines, who. resisting.
was borne back 20 his seat. Mr.. Mahon,
standing I'm the first aisle on the Republi-
can side, seemed 20 wait for the impact
which never came.
With Mr.. Gaines I'm his seat the Penn
sylvanian continued his speech OF expla
with the Invoking Of an old statute COM
pelling members 10 forfeit pay for the
time absent from tho house. lie said
that the charge that he was away from
the house % per cent. of the time was q
lie on it's face. and that he was there rs
per cent Of the time. as every member
who cared 60 inquire could ascertain.
Mr., Lacey OF Iowa had read the statute
relating 10 the docking OF members pay,
and be was followed by MIR Grosvenor 81
ONO. who explained the reasons for the
statute.
Mr. he Almond ~ Missouri asked that
the minority views OF the judiciary com
mittee on the statute be printed
While this colloquy was In progress the
friends OF Messrs Gaines and Mahon
were engaged In an effort 20 bring about
a reconciliation. in which they were sue
cessful, and at its conclusion Mr. Mahon
rose 20 a question Of personal privilege,
lie stated that he aid not desire 10 i'm
pugn the motive which prompted Mr..
Gaines 20 utter what was an untruth
about his absence from the house but he
desired 10 say that his informant was in
correct lie had no desire 10 offend the
gentleman from Tennessee. whom he
classed among his friends. but he want
ed MI Gaines 10 understand that the per
son from whom he obtained his informa
ton mlsrepresented the facts.
Not 20 he outdone in Chlvalry Mr.
Gaines Immediately arose and. showing
deep feeling said that the gentleman from
Pennsylvania had always been ais friend
but mat ne had been goadcd beyond en-
duraucc not only today. but on n
former occasion lie regretted extremely
tho turn affairs had taken
Are you satisfied with thatg" he asked.
pointing 90 Mr. Mahon
For answer Mr.. Mahon rushed across
the chamber The two men Clasped hands
amid loud applause
Mr. Smith of lova facetiously remark
% that as war had boon the subject ~
/ The whole days proceeding. resulting in
almost personal encountnr" ne Thought
/ tho house was In no temper 20 proceed
/ further with Tho fortih-atlons hill and
he scco-dingiy moved that the committee
/ risa