Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-12-20
WAS OVER COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT
Man From Missouri Said That the
Man From Mississippi Led and
Then tho Fight Beaan--It Was of
sfs'rt Duration, However AS
Friends of the combatanta Pulled
Them Apart.
tny Assoclnted prdss

Inc splrit/o rivalry that for nvo
years has alternately Smuldered and
blazed between John Sharp Williams
of Mississippi. leader of the minor
ity. and David A. DeArmond of Mis-.
souri, leader OF the minority opposi-
ton. resulted In ISL light today on
the Iioor OF the House.
The blows OF DeArmond caused
blood TO flow down the face of Mn.
Williams, and only the forcible in
convention of friends got the com
batnnta apart.
Mr.. DeArmond bore away scar-
reu nosc.
The immediate cause OF the fight
'waa tho passing OF the liesby Mr.. De
Almond to Mr. Williams. osrasuitanr
OF AZ complaint by the former that
tho minority leader had broken iaiti.
In burning" Representative Booher
G. Missouri, by recommending his as
signment BY Speaker Cannon 20 thsf
committee on coinage, weights and
measures.
According to the statements of the
friends, MIR. Williams defended his
action by declaring that ne had been
told by Mr. Booher's colleague Rem
resentatlve Lloyd of Missouri, thatthe
committee assignment would be sat
isfactory to Mr.. Booher.
Mr.. DeArmond bluntly questioned
the truth of the statement, and after
me failure of an effort on his part
to Transfer the scene of impending
battle, Mr. Williams struck MIR. Do
Almond in the face with his closed
fist.
The exciting incident will not be
set down in the official records OF
the Sixtieth Congress, for the House
mad been some minutes adjourned
when the first blow was struck. hut
there was no lack of witnesses. The
organization of the House had been
completed by the announcement of
the speakers assignments OF mem
bers of committees the Republican
committeeman having uecn selected
by the speaker and the Democrats
by Mr.. Williams.
Groups of Republicans were seat
tered over the floor discussing the an
pointments. the causes perhaps he
hind them, and the effects maybe to
follow. In the overlooking galleries
loitercd score or SO OF women ana
four times that many men, viewing
the aftermath of an interesting situa-
ton.
Mr.. Williams. relaxing from the long
strain of alloting preferment among
the l67 Democrats whose minority
strength he officially leads, was set
ut ease at the desk of Representative
Wallace of Arkansas in the center
OF the aisle on the Democratic side.
Hit DeArmond on the Nose.
Mr.. DeArmond approached and
greeted him. and then took the ad-
joining seat. At once they engaged
each other in earnest talk, but pitch
ed their voices so that afterward only
one or two members VIII were very
close to them could recall anything
they had said. They had thus been
in conversation no longer than a
few minutes when the men sprang
to their feet, showing their chairs
back. and the gentleman from Mis-
sissippi struck the gentleman from
Missouri blow on the nose.
Some of the Representatives. crie
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 forward and stop
ping 1t.
Meantime Mr.. Williams and Mr..
DeArmond, wadged in between two
rows OF desks. we're still exchanging
blows. Blood was flowing down the,
face OF the lader OF the minority