New-York tribune., 1907-01-11
GAINES NEAR A FIGHT.
FIVE MEN RESTRAIN HIM.
Trouble IN House When Mahon At
tacks T'ennesseedn peracaty.
rFrcrn The Tribune Eureau. 7

Washington, Jan. I0-Represeutative John
Wesley Gaines, Of Tennessee. who has been con-
tinuay rousing the ire of other members OF the
House during the present session by advocating
the enforcement of the law docking the pay OF
absentees. to-day got into dispute with Repre-
sentative Mahon. Of Pennsylvania. which nearly
terminated in knockdown encounter TO MT
Gaines's statement that Mr. Mahon had ao-
sented himself from the House e5 per cent or
the time. Mr.. Mahon replied that the staternene
was absolute falsehood
Pandemonium followed. Members rushed In
from the cloak rooms the galleries became hast
ily filed and Mr.. Mann. of Illinois, who occu-
pied the chair. pounded the Speakers desk so
hard that the top of the gavel flew OF, leading
one of the members to calf the Chair to order
Waving his arms like the wings Of windmill
and livid with rage. Mr.. Gaines rushed down the
aisle on the Democratic side and across the ros-
trum toward Mr.. Mahon. who stood at his desk
without moving to defend himself. But as the
Tennesseean got within n few feet OF Mt Mahon
he was abruptly stopped by Ollie NJ. James. of
Kentucky one OF the giants of the House. VINO
grabbed him by the shoulders. Others sur
rounded him and he subsidized. Finally, both he
and Mahon apoogized and gave an affectionats
exhibition of making up, each claspinE the other
in his arms
Mr.. Gaines had contended that Mr.. Mahon
had received a letter from Speaker Crisp in the
54th Congress stating that members would bs
docked if absent.
MR.. MAHoNs RETORT.
Mr.. Mahon was not slow In retorting to this.
The trouble with my friend from Tennessee
Is this" said he; he Is magnificent looking
fellow: IN fact, the hapdsonest man In the
House. However God makes his mistakes In
human beings here earth The gentleman
from Tennessee reminds OF an old windmill
that we used TO have IN our barn. When We
put IN the screen TO separate the ohaH from the
wheat the chaf always went one way and the
wheat another. The trouble with my friend is
that God Almighty forgot to put IN the screen
when he made him."
Mr.. Mahon had remained silent throughout
Mr. Gaines's speech. with the exception Of In
terjeotng a remark or two at the beginning.
When Mr.. Gaines had finished MI Nahon
arose He explained how in the Sad and bs.h
Congresses he had $1,000 due him. and that the
Speaker. Mr.. Crisp. had given him an order on
the sergeant -at-arms for the amount, which
was paid Then coming to the orux Of Mr..
Gainess charge. Mr. Mahon Numbered:
ANY man who charges me with being away
from this house s5 per cent of the time tells an
untruth."
Mr.. Gaines started down the aisls from his
seat NO man tell me lie." he exclaimed
Than Mr.. Mann, of Illinois. who was in the
CHdl&p toOR u HdiIu TIC QiSputc. oOAu Ilou
were ordered TO their seats. Mr.. Mahon obeyed
the command while Mr. Gaines stood two seats
away from the centre Of the chamber, shaking
both fist and head at the PennSylvanian-
When order had been restored MT. Mahon
again arose. Having been cautioned by the
chair that II was against the rules TO address a
member in the second person. he measured his
words. saying he would speak in the fourth
person" He then said:
The charge Of the gentleman from Tennes-
see that am away from this house s5 per cent
Of my time is deliberate falsehood."
With a rush Mr.. Gaines reached the centre
OF the chamber. making directly toward Mr.:
Mahon. insisting as he went that no man could
call him liar without personal chastisemsnt
FIVE MEN HOLD MR.. GAINES
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 This rush
OF Mr.. Gaines brought a dozen members before
the Speakers desk. After Mr.. James. Mes.rs
Taylor of Alabama; Bell. OF Georgia: Williams
of Mississippi. the minority leader. and Stafford
OF Wisconsin. grabbed Mr.. Gaines. who. resist
ing. was borne back to his seat. Mr.. Mahon.
standing in the first aisle on the Republican
side. seemed 70 wait for the impact which never
With Mr. Gaines back in his seat the Penn
sylysnian continued his speech of explanation
10 how he came 20 be connected with the
invoking OF an old statute compelling members
10 forfeit pay for the time absent from the
House. He said that the charge that he was
away from the House 81 per cent of the time
lie on Its face. and that he was there %
per cent OF the time every member who
cared 10 inquire could ascertain.
During the next few speeches the friends OF
Messrs. Gaines and Mahon were enga ged in an
effort 10 bring about reconciliation, and finally
Mr.. Mahon rose 10 a question of personal priv
iege. He stated that he did not desire 70 i'm
pugn the motive which prompted Mr.. Gaines to
utter what untruth about his absence
from the House. but he desired to say that his
informant incorrect He had desire to
offend the gentleman from Tennessee, whom he
classed among his friends. but he wanted Mr..
Gaines 10 understand that the person from
whom he obtained his informa ton rnisrepresent-
ed the facts.
Not to be outdone in chivalry. Mr. Gaines TN
medistelv arose and, showing deep feeling, eaid
that the gentleman from Pennsylvania had al
ways been his friend. but that he had been
goaded beyond endurance not only to-day. but
former occasion. He regretted extremely
the turn affairs had taken.
Are YOU satisfied with thet?' he asked.
pointing To Mr.. Mahon.
For answer Mr.. Mahon rushed across the
chamber and the two men embraced. amid loud
applause.