Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-12-20
FIGHT In THE HOUSE
KesSrs. Williams and 4 e Ond
Quarrel Over Issue Of y ~
SEVERAL BLOWS ARE ExCR
Floor Leader is Bleeding in =
When They Are Separated. z
LIE PASSED BY MsSoURIAN
Mississippi Man is Accused Of Jug
Cling with Facts.
ROW Is OVER COMMITTEE WORK
Appointments of Colleague OF Mr.. De
Almond Not Satisfactory and
Breach of Faith a.
Alleged.
Floor Leader is Bleeding in
When They Are Separated.
LIE PASSED BY M1SsOUR1AN
Mississippi Man is Accused Of Jug
Cling with Facts.
ROW Is OVER COMMITTEE woR,

WARRINGTON, Dec. 19.-John sharp
williams OF Mississippi leader Of the mi
nority, and Representative David A De
Almond Of Missouri engaged in fist night
over the passing Of the lie on the floor Of
he house this afternoon Immediately after
adjournment at 2:10 2. m. Mr.. Williams
struck the first blow and Mr.. De Almond
retailatsd vigorously with clenched fists.
When the cOmbatants were separated blood
was flowing down Mr.. Williams face from
a small cash In the left cheek and his
forehead was red and abraised. Mr. De
Armond bore no mark of the fray.
The encounter was witnessed by more
than a hundred members OF the house and
by as many more persons in the galleries,
among them a number OF women
The house having Just broken up groups
OF representatives were standing or sit
ting about discussing the committee ap-
pointments that had been announced by
the speaker.
Among them were Mr.. Williams, seated
at Representative wallaces desk on the
center aisle Of the democratic side and
Mr.. De Almond, who occupied Representa-
tive Bartletts desk adjoining. They were
engaged in very earnest talk, but their
voices were low and they attracted no es-
pecial attention. Suddenly both men sprang
TO their feet and began striking each other.
So startled and so astounded We're the
members OF the house and the officials
that for a moment no one offered TO in
terfere and the leader of the minority ard
the member from Missouri lunged back
and forth between the desks, both sway
ing wildly and each in apparent danger
Of going down. Blood was flowing from
a cash in Mr. Williams cheek when As
sistant sergeant-at-Arms Sinnot sprang
TNr -
and held him back while representatives
and attendants following suit effected q
separation.
Statement by Mr.. williams.
When Mr.. williams was released hs
went Immediately into the cloak room al
the rear of the chamber and while remov-
ing the stains of the combat made the
following statement OF the trouble:
~riis disagreement arose over a lom-
mittee assignment Mr.. De Armond
called me 20 book for recommending his
colleague. Mr. Booher. to no more promi-
nent committee than that on coinage
weights and measures. 1 replied that
had heon given to understand by him thai
Mr. Booher would be well satisfied with
that assignement
AR De Armond answered to the effec
that I have gained such an idea by m!
misunderstand. l suggested TO him tina
the floor of the house was no place fo
a quarrel or a scene and asked him L
desist His answer was that he had neve
had any such understanding with M
about Mr.. Booher as 1 had declared m,
he added that my subsequent action wa
the action either Of error or untruthful
ness. again suggested that the hous
was no place TO settle a personal differ
ence of opinion. He retorted that IL wa
not matter Of opinion. but of veracit
and said that he did not believe I hal
merely made mistake. I then strnc
him and we exchanged blows. 1t is mos
regrettable that the floor should be Sc
lected for such an affair"
De ArmOnd's Version of ARair.
According 20 Mr.. De Almond the epi
sode arose over the correctness of a on
versation between himself and Mr. VII
liams about ten days regarding the com
mittee assignments OF some MISSOURI
members and particularly Mr.. Boohel
Mr.. De Almond said he had spoken higal
OF Mr.. Booher and the other member
as being competent TO sit on any com
mittee, but that he had not specified I
Mr.. Williams any special committee @
which he would like TO have MT Boone
or any other member placed. This. NJ
DE Arm . d said. Mr.. Williams today d,
MED, saying II was a matter OF recolle,
tion between them. Upon Mr.. DE Al
mond's insisting that he had not specific
any committee TO which he desired
have his colleagues assigned, Mr. Wi
Hams he said. brusquely repeated this
4 was simply q matter OF recoTlectio
between the two.
He said this" said Mr. De Armon
'in such way as to leave no oth'
inference than the one l suggested, az
] told him I believed him 20 be a liza
He thereupon struck me and think
gave him as good as he gave. The ne1
thing we were separated"