The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-24

Washington, d. c., December l9-
The spirit OF rivalry that for five years
has alternately smoldered and blazed
between John Sharp Williams, OF
Mississippi. leader OF the minority,
and David A. DeArmOnd, of MissOu-
ri, leader Of the minority opposition,
eliminated in a fist fight today on the
floor Of the house OF representatives
IAe blows Of Representat:-r2 DEAR
mOnd caused blood to flow from the
face of Representative Williams and
only the foreible intervention Of
friends cut the combat short. MI.
DeArmOnd bore away a scuffed nose.
The Immediate cause of the light
was the passing Of the lie by Mr.. De-
Almond to Mr.. Williams, resultant Of
a complaint by the former that the
minority leader hod broken faith in
"burying' Representative Booher, Of
Missouri, by recommending his assign
m6nt by Speaker Cannon to the copJ-
mittee ON coinage, weights and meas
ures According to the statements ni
the principals, Mr.. Williams defend
his action by declaring he had Leet
told by MIR. Booher's colleague, Repre-
sentative Lloyd of Missouri that the
committee assignments would be sat
isfactory to Mr. Booher.
Mr.. DeArmond bluntly questioned
the truth OF the statement, and after
the failure Of an effort on his part to
transfer the scene OF the impending
battle Mr.. Williams struck Mr.. Dear
mond in the face with closed fist.
The exciting incident will not be set
down in the official records 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 or
ganiZation of the house had been
completed by the announcement Of the
speakers assignments Of members 20
committees, the republican commit
aeemen having been selected by the
speaker and the democratic by Mr.
Williams. Groups of representatives
were scattered over the floor, discuss
ing the appointments, the causes per-
haps behind them and the effects to
follow. In the overlooking galleries
loitered a score Or SO of women and
four times that many men vieWing z
of an interesting session.
Mr Williams, relieved from the long
strain Of allotting preferment among
the 167 acknowledgements whose min
ority strength he officially leads, was
seated at ease at the desk of Represen-
tative Wallace, of Arkansas, on the
centre aisle on the democratic side
of the house. Mr.. DeArmond ap-
preached, greeted him and took the
adjoining seat. At once they engaged
each other in earnest talk; but pitch
ed their voices so low that afterward
only one or two members wha were
very close to them could recall any
thing they had said. They had been
thus in conversation no longer than a
few minutes when both men sprang
TO their feet, showing their chairs
back, and the gentleman from Missis-
sippi struck the gentleman from Mis-
souri, glancing blow on the nose
Some representative cried out Look
Lcok at the fightt''
Everybody looked, but so startled
were tey at what they saw no one
seemed for the moment to think of
rushing forward and stopping it.
Meanwhile, Mr.. Williams and Mr.. De-
Almond wedged between two rows OF
desks. were still exchanging blows
Blood was flowing down the face of
the leader OF the minority while Mr.
DeArmond was endeavoring to grasp
his opponent by the throat, at the
same time and vigorously returning
blow after blow.
Then everybody awoke to the un-
seem1iness 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 laced about with diff
ferent arms Thus restrained he re-
1axed his aggressive attitude; but his
adversary struggled in the embrace
Of his friendly captors and tried to
lash out. Then Mr.. DeArmond inter-
rcgated Mr. Williams as to what he
was excited about, Mr. Williams,
similingly, though tears Of mortif1ca-
ton stood in his eyes, denied that he
was excited and took out handker-
chief to staunch the flow of blood from
a cut in his cheek. Presently Mr.. VIII
Iiams was led away in one direction
and Mr. DeArmond in an opposite di-
rection, and both were released.
When Mr.. Williams was released he
went Immediately into the democratic