The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-12-24
TWO DEMOCRATS FIGHT.
Williams and DeArmord Exchange
Blows and Blood EloWs-Pass-
ing Of The Lie.

DlaZed between Joan Sharp Nllllams
Of Mississippi. leader Of the minor
itv. and David \. DeArmond Of Mis-
souri,, leader cf the minority opposl-
ton. eliminated in fist fight on
Thursday Oh the floor CT the house
of representatives. The blows of
Representative DeArmond caused
blood to flow down the face Of Rep
resentative Williams and only the
forcibie intervention Of friends cut
the combat short. Mr.. DeArmond
bore away scuffed nose.
The immediate cause Of the fight
was the passing Of the lie by Mr..
DeArmcnd to Mr.. Williams, result
ant of a complaint by the former
that the minority leader had broken
faith in "burying' Representative
Boomer Of Missouri by recommending
his assignment by Speaker Cannon to
the committee on coinage, weights
and measures. According to the
statements Of the principals Mr.. Will
iiams defended his action by declar
ing he had been told by Mr.. Boob
er's colleague, Representative Lloyd
of Missouri. that the committee as
signments would be satisfactory to
Mr.. Booher. Mr.. DeArmond bluntiy
questioned the truth of the state
ment and after the failure Of an eff
fort on his part to transfer the scene
Of impending battle Mr.. Williams
struck Mr.. DeArmoad in the face
with closed fist.
House Had Just Adjourned.
The exciting incident will not be
set down in the official record Of the
SiStieth 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 represen-
tatives 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 score or
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 minority strength be officially
leads. was seated at ease at the desk
of Representative Wallace of Arkan-
sas. on the centre aisle on tne De-
moeratic side Of the house. Mr.. De-
Almond approached, greeted him.
and took the adjoining seat. At once
thev engaged each other in earnesS
talk: but pitched their voices so low
that afterward only one or two men,
bers who were very close to them
could recall anything they had said.
They had been thus in conversation
no longer than a few minutes, when
both men sn.'anc to their feet, shov-
ino thei. chairs back, and the gen.
tleman from Mississippi struck the
gentleman from Missouri a glanelns
blow on the nose.
All Were Dazed at First. -.
Some representative cried out:
"Look! Look at the fight!' Every
bodv looked; but so startled were
they by what they saw that no one
seemed for the moment to think OF
rushing forward and stopping 1t.
Meantime 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 receiving and vigorously re-
!. turning blow for blow.
Then everybody awoke to the un-
saemliness of the scene and crowded
in and made an end of it. Mr.. De-
Almond was seized and his arms
pinioaed. Mr.. Williams was pushed
back against a desk and laced about
with deterrent arms. Thus restrained
he relaxed mis- aggressive attitude;
but his adversary struggled IN the
embrace of his friendly captors ano
d to lash out. Than Mr.. DEAR
,Aond interrogated Mr.. Williams as
l. lo+ bo u-ac :aycited about. MT