The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-27
CLASH THAT ALMOST LEADS TO
BLOWS OCCURS BETWEEN
HOUSE MEMBERS.
.OEBATERS GROW EXCITED
Fordney Of Michigan and Byrd Of Mis-
sissippi Become Demonstrative and
Friends Interfere to Prevent Scuffle
On Floor Of Lower House-Hum-
phreys Makes Speech.

washington, March 26.-Ihe mon
otony of the tariff debate in the house
was relieved for time today by a
clash between Messrs. Fordney of
Michigan and Byrd of Mississippi,
which came near ending in blows.
Mr. Forney had been discussing the
lumber schedule when he was inter-
rupted by the Mississippian, who in
sisted that the lumber manufacturers,
of whom Mr.. Forney was one. were
in trust. Mr.. Fordney peremptorily
denied the statement and said that
Mr.. Byrd did not know a damn thing
about it."
Mr.. Byrd made move toward Mr..
Fordney and was in the act of re-
moving his coat when some of his
democratic colleague interfered. Later
it developed that the incident grew
out OF a misunderstanding, and both
alen made mutual explanations and
apologized.
Mr.. Fordney in his speech pleaded
for better protection on that product
in the rough. Opposed to him was
Mr.. Rowland, of Ohio, who wanted
the product placed on the free list.
Others who spoke were: Messrs. Pou
of North Carolina, and Macon Of ar
kansas, both of whom arraigned the
Payne bill for not accomplishing what
it was claimed it would do, while Mr..
Humphreys OF Washington advocated
a tariff on shingles and lumber high
enough TO enable the lumber and
shingle manufacturers of his state to
compete with those of British Colum-
bia employing cheap oriental labor.
Warns Republicans.
Mr.. Humphreys in pleading for an
Increased duty on shingles, warned the
re publicans that they could not es-
cape their responsibility insofar as
the problem of oriental labor was con-
cerneG.
Now" he said, I'VE have an oppor-
tunity to see whether or not we are
going hack on what we have said
about protecting the labor of this
country from the ruinous competition
of foreign countries
While the Payne bill, he said, has
protected the industries of New Eng
land, Pennsylvania and New York,
and they were in operation, out in
Washington the conditions were ex-
actly reverse.
Our mills are closing" he said,
''and men are being thrown out Of en-
ployment."
He recounted the benefits derived
under the Dingley bill and inquired
how, he as a republican and pro-
tectionist, could go back to his constit-
uents and say that the Payne bill
was better than the Dihgley bill.
No Hesitation.
On the authority of Mr.. Fordrey,
of Michigan, the Washington member
said that the witnesses before the
committee on ways and means, who
wanted lumber put on the free list.
were men interested in Canadian tim
ber, while those who asked for the
retention of the Dingley duty, were
men interested in timber in the United
States.
1--WE ought not to hesitate long
when the question Is presented he
said, for whom we shall legislate
MI Byrd asked Mr.. Fordney If it
were not true that combination ex-
listed among the retail dealers Of Mis-
sissippi, to which Mr. Fordney's firm,
which is operating in that state, was
a party.
Mr.. Byrd added that he knew
whereof he spoke when he charged
the existence of such a combina-
tion.
"The gentleman does rot know
damned thing about it," shouted MI.
Fordney
Incident Closed.
Immediately Mr.. Byrd made his
way toward Mr. Fordney, but several
democratic members stopped him. Mr.
Fordney apologized to the house. He
added, however, that Mr.. Byrd could
not say, that his firm was a member
of the lumber trust.
Mr. Byrd then explained that it was
not his intention to make such a
charge and the incident was closed
Mr.. Fordney declared there hac
been a marked downward tendency
in the price of lumber during the last
two years, and that IL the duty on
lumber should be taken Off his lum-
ber manufacturing company would
close, throwing his employees out of
work.
All Timber Cut.
He said in response to question
from Mr.. Ransdell, of Louisiana, that
much Of the complaint Of the present
duty on lumber came from regions
where all of the timber had been cut
and which had been largely benefited
by the Dingley law.
Mr. Fordney admitted that most of
the large timber tracts were owned
by men of means, who, he said, could
afford to hold on until prices suited
them.
The rext member to command the
attention of the house was Mr.. Pou
of North Carolina, one of the minor
ity members of the committee on ways
and means