Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-09-20
aslistrllaneuus 8eadins.
SCRAPS IN THE HOUSE.
Times Whom Representatives Lost
Their Tempers and Came to Blows.


What l Know About Pugilism, by
Asher. C. Kinds, LID, might nave
been its title. but it isn't. Instead 1T is
simply Chapter LII of Kinds Prece-
dents of the House of Representatives
an eight-yolume work of more than
1000 pages upon which Speaker Can
non depends in his numerous occa-
sions for properly Interpreting the
rules for the house. Chapter LII is
cautioned punishment of Members
for Contempt" Under this chapter
Mr.. Kinds in his sepulchrally stald
way recounts the story of some Oh the
most stirring scenes that have ever
transpired in the national legislature
The house of representatives TO-DAY Is
on n business basis. Under the can
non-Fitzgerald rules the house is Kept
so close TO business that there is small
chance for a real fight on the floor.
The speeches are short unless the
orator has a brief tale to relate ne
has rardly time to get rid OF the
husiness portion of his talk-there Is
little room for the insertion OF the
fighting words. Order today In the
house is the rule 1t used to be the
exception.
No more does the festive inkWell
hurtle across the chamber with some
members devoted head its target. NO
longer are chairs and cuspidors forci-
bly wrenched from their proper moor
ings and flung at the opposition with
disdainful comment following in their
wake. The house of representatives
TODAY is a different proposition. 1t Is
q business body.
As Far Back as 1898.
According to DR.. Hinds on F1su-
cuffs in the house Of representatives
the first instance of a real personal
encounter on the floor took place Ill
1898. Representative Roger Griswold
of Connecticut had cast some asper-
sions upon the military record or KEEP
resentative Matthew Lyon of Vermont
The statement of Mr.. Griswold was
made while the members of the mouse
were gathered in little groups await
ing the announcement of vote whlch'
under the old system, had been taken
bv ballot. The speaker, Representa-
tive Jonathan Dayton of New Jersey
had left the chair for relaxation ana
exercise. Mr.. Griswold made his i'm
polite remark and Mr.. Lyon promptly
spat in his face.
The attention of the house was call
ed to the unpleasant occurrence as
soon as the speaker had resumed his
seat and while the performance was
still under consideration by the house
before an adjudication had been eff
fected. Mr.. Griswold walked into the
house some two weeks later just after
the chaplain had called down the dl-
vine blessing on the proceedings ana
walloped Mr.. Lyon over the head with
a heavy walking stick. Mr.. Lyon was
wcaponlcss. He jumped from his desk
to the fireplace and seized huge pair
of tongs. With this cumbersome wea-
pon he rushed back to the fray. DR..
Kinds states that the disorder was
uuelled with much difficulty, but that
the motion to eXpel both members fall
ed to pass.
Wise of Virginia a Scrapper.
Henry A. Wise of Virginia, grand
father of the present United States at
torney for New York, was one of the
scrappiest men who ever occupied
seat in congress. In 1S41 he had
fight on the floor with Representative
Stanley of North Carolina. Their
70 oh o.
ter. but Mr.. Stanley chose a session of
the house in committee of the whole
on the state of the union as the place.
While the committee was busy with
the consideration of an important bill
Mr.. Stanley walked up to the peppery
Virginian and started a discussion.
Don't you speak to me again,
bawled Mr.. Wise. Il will not discuss
the matter further
Mr.. Stanley persisted. Don't you
speak to me again." exclaimed Mr..
Wise, "or I'll scale you on the floor of
this house
The high words mounted higher un
til Mr.. Wise applied an indecent epi-
thet.
You're a lar," shrieked Mr.. Stan
ley. They were separated by the men,
bers close to them, but not until
blows had been exchanged.
The tariff act of 1914 furnished an
excuse for Representatives George
Rathbun of New York and John White
of Kentucky to get together. DR..
Kinds failed to reproduce the details
of the mix-up. which is called in the
language of the House Journal of that
day a recOntre. The fight started as
have most of the personal engage
ments on the floor. while the house
was in committee of the whole. AT
such times the mace of authority
the bird as our latter day and dis
respectful legislators are prone to term
the silver effigy Of the bird of freedom,
which stands for the authority of the
United States-had been removed
from it's pedestal Into the chamber
rushed the speaker, John w. Jones of
Virginia. He tried to call the house to
order. The sergeant-at-a arms lugged
in the bird" and finally. after there
were several bloody noses and at least
one black eye, order was restored.
The Finest Bout of All.
Representatives Albert G. Brown and
John A. Wilson engaged in the fin
cS1 one-round bouts ever pulled off on
the floor of congress. Both congress-
men came from Mississippi. They dis
agreed over SO simple a matter as
discussion of the bill appr1priatjng
money for the improvement of the
Capitol. The alteration arose with
all the suddenness of a mid-June
thunder gust. Before the speaker
could resume his desk Mr.. Brown had
rained blows over the head and neck
of Mr.. Wilcox. who in turn had left
several marks on the perSOn OF his an