Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1911-02-24
BL0ODLESS ROW
between SObONS
DEBATE ON ALASKAN BILL IN
HOUSE ENDS IN FIST CUTTING,
House is IN AN UPROAR
Alaska Dclcgatc Re-cnt- Being Cnllcd
Liar aud Attacks Representative
MOndrll.

/ bF Associated Press.
Washington, Feb. 93.--Auother
hioodlcss battle was fought on the
1 floor of the House Of Representatives
late today II came during some-
what heated debate on a bin for the
leasing n coal lands I'm Alaska,
The lie was passed and Delegate
James Wickorsham. of Alaska, made
a rush for Representative Frank W.
Mondcll OF Wyoming, seated at a
nearby desk. The big Aluskaus arm
shot out twice in the direction of the
gentleman from Wyoming, but mem-
bers who surrounded the dispumuts
at the time say that both blows fell
short.
The house was in an uproar IN an
Instant Several members hurled
themselves at Wickersham. others
struggled with Mondell, who had gain
ed his feet and was making for his as
sailnnt Representative Foster of Yer
mont had taken Wickersham by the
throat, This added 60 the unconroll-
ed anger of the delegate and for the
moment diverted his attack towards
the would-be peacemakcr. Represent
auvo Sission of Mississippi was the
first 70 reach Mondcll, who was en-
oeaNorlug 10 raise chair I'm which he
had been sitting 10 hurl Il at his an
tagunist Members rushed toward the
group from either part of the cham
Der and soon nearly a hundred men
were IN the crowd about the strug-
Cling legislators,
In the meantime Representative
Olmstead of PENNSYLVANIA acting
speaker, was belaboring the desk with
the gayol ara calling upon the SER
geant-at-arms to preserve order The
historic mace of the house, the em-
blem of authority was lifted from IT,.
marble PEDESTAL and carried To the
floor by the house officials. The
members, however, had taken the mat.
ter In hlnd and had succeeded In
bringing both Wlckersham ana Mon
dell to cessation OF hostilltles. When
tho house was fairly quiet, wicker
sham clamored for recognition.
Il want the record TO show that l
apologize 10 the house. but (his voice
rose TO shout 1 want It also to
show that I was called liar"
Representative Tuwney called at
tention to the fact that the language
used by the disputants was clearly un-
parliamentary and that there should
be an apology.
Il do apologize" Wlckersham said,
Il lost my temper"
He sat down and Mondel arose
My remark was not directed to-
ward the gentleman from Alaska.
Mondell said, and was not uttered in
debate, but to the gentleman who
stood beside me. realize however,
that / should not have used the word
here. or anywhere. for that matter.
and ! apologize 70 the house"
During the applause which followed
Mpndelps statement Tawney moved
that the House adjourn. on stand
Ing vote the motion apparently car
rled but the opponents of the Alaska
leasing bin demanded a roll call. TN
der the call the motion to adjourn was
lost and the leasing bin was then de-
feated, 15l TO 80.
The bill had come up under sus-
pension of he rules and would have
required a two-thirds vote for adop-
ton.
Madison Of Kansas ana Ollie james
of Kentucky, both member of the Bal
linger-Pinchot investigation commit
tee led the attacks against the bill
Wickersham had Joined the forces
with them. Mondell occupied prlctic-
ally all of the time in favor Of the
measue.
The bin provided FOR the leasing
OF coal lands not to exceed $3.50 acres
on royalty basis Of from TO 1O|
conts per ton. The debate was sur
charged with acrimony