Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-02-24
EIGHT THE HOUSE.


FIGHT IN THE HOUSE.
Another bloodless battle was fought
on the floor of the House of Represent.
atiyes late yesterday. 1t came during q
somewhat heated debate on bill for
the leasing of coal lands in Alaska.
The lie was passed and as the short
and ugly word rang out Delegate
James Wickersham, OF Alaska, made
rush for Representative Frank W.
Moudell, of Wyoming, who was seated
at nearby desk. The big Alaskan 5
right arm shot out twice in the direc-
ton OF the gentleman from Wyoming,
but members who surrounded the
disputauts at the time say that both
blows fell Just short
The House was in an uproar in an
instant. Several members hurled
themselves en- Mr.. Wickersham; others
we're struggling with Mr. Mondell,
who had gained his feet and was
making for his assailant. Representa-
tive Foster, Of Vermont, had taken
! Mr.. Wickersham by the throat. This
added to the uncontrolled anger Of the
delegate and for 4 moment diverted
hts attack toward the wouid-be peace
maker. Representative Sisson, Of
Mississippi. was the first to reach Mr..
MondcII, who was endtayorng 10
raise The chair il which nc had been
sitting to hurl It at his antagonist.
Members rushed toward HE group
!rom every part nf the chamber an!
4oon there we're nearly a hundred men
ia The crowd about the sIiIl struggling
legislators.
| Meantime, Representative Olm-trl,
If Pennsylvania. who was acting as
speaker, was madly belaboring his
desk with the gaycl and calling upon
the sergaant-at arms 10 preserve order.
The historic mace Of the House. the
emblem OF authority, was lifted from
lis marble pedestal aud carried 10 The
floor hv the House officials. Mem
brrs. however, had taken the matter
~ hand and succeeded III bringing
both Nj. Wickersham and Mr. Mon
dell 10 d CESSATION Of hostlities.
When the House vas fairly quietz1,
Mr., WinEersham clamored for recogni-
| ton.
L want the Record IL show that 1
apologize to tie House, bit, his voice
rose to a shout, l want il to show thai
was called a liar"
Representative Tawney, OF Mime
sofa, demanded that the entire colloquy
he reported b. the stenographer from
the speaker 5 desk The stenographcr
stated that he overheard Mr.. MondelT,
who was seated at the time, say: He
is liar =
Mr. Wicker$ham also had heard.
If you say that you me a liar, he
had shouted. and in another instant
had rushed at Mr.. Nlondell. A chair
between the two members had obstruct-
cd their collision. Wickersham' 5 shout
Of liar" to Mondell vas the first the
House had heard Mr.. Mondell's NJ
terancc had been made in an under
tone
Representative Tawney called atten-
ton to the fact that the language used
by the disputants was clearly unparlia-
mentary and that there should be an
apology,
Il do apologizy," said Mr.. Wicker
sham. I lost my tempe. He sat
down.
4 think the apology should be
broader, INTERCEPTED Representative
Keller, Of Ohio.
4 make my apology as broad as
any gentleman in the House wants it, !"
sail Mr.. Wickersham: and that is all
have To say" Mr.. MondeIl then
arose.
II uttered 10 such statement rs has
been reported in debate, he said, i
turned to the gentleman from South
Dakota, who was standing at my desl;
and said, Then he must tie liar. /"
Mr.. Mondell SAID lis reference was
to the fact that nothing in the record
showed any coal claims in Alaska, out
side of The Cunningham group, to have
gone to final entry. Mr. Wickersham
had disputed this statement.
My remark vas not directed toward
the gentlemen from Alaska. = Mr..
Mondeil went on, and il was not
uttered in debate, but to 4 gentleman
who stood beside me. realize, how
ever, that | should not have used the
word here or anywhere, for that matter,
and | apologize to the House. =
During the applause which followed
Mr.. Mondell's statement Mr.. Tswney
moved that the House adjourn. On
standing vote the motion apparently
vas carried but The opponents Of the
Alaska leasing bill demanded roll,call,
Under this call the motion tc adjourn
gss lost: and the lhasipg bill vas then
defeated, 151 to 81,
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u*!l Sen'gnrtd Is i.t sh9i.