Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-24
BLOW IN THE HOUSE
Delegate Wickersham Strikes
at Mr.. MOndeII.
MEMBERS QUELL THE ROW
Word Liar" Starts Trouble, But
Both Parties Apologize and
Peace Is Restored.

There was fight on the floor os the
House yesterday afternoon just before
adjournment between James Wickersham.
the Alaskan delegate, and Representative
Frank Mondell OF Wyoming While no
blows were actually landed this was not
the fault OF the belligerent members. II
was necessary to put them under the
mace before order could be restored
The whole row grew out of a misundcr-
standing. The administration bill to
provide for the leasing of coal lands I'm
Alaska, which is bitterly opposed by ali
those who took the Pinchot end of Il e
Ballinger-P inchot controversy but viii, h
has been marked for passage ou the
Presidents program, was before the
House. Consideration of it had proceeded
quietly enough. except for the attacks OF
democrats and republican insurgents
the ground that the measure would per
init Guggenheim coal monopoly ia
Alaska, until Mr.. Wickersham took the
floor. He read letter from Secretary
or the Interior Ballinger with reference
to location and final certificates In land
cases. and remarked that the final re-
ceipt Is issued in every case. and that IS
equivalent, under the decision of the SG-
preme Court. to a patent for the title.
lie is liar, that's ALL remarked
Representative Mondell to Represent
alive Burke Of South Dakota, who was
sitting behind him, and with whom
he had been chatting.
You are the liar. IL you say that a
cried Mr.. Wickersham, who evidently
thought that the liar applied to him.
And the row was on.
Swears at Peacemaker.
Mr.. Wickersham made a rush for Mr.
Mondell, who was only a few seats
away. and tried to strike him in tho
face. His blow was short. and he con-
tinued his rush, clutchinG at Mondelrs
throat. Then Representative Foster
of Vermont, the foreign affairs chair
man, who is tall, broad and husky,
grabbed Mr.. Wickersham from be-
hind. The delegate. wild with rage,
struggled to escape and roundly cursed
the peacemaker. Meanwhile Repre-
sentative Longworth of Ohio had grab
bed Mr.. Mondell, who was trying to
rise from his chair. and sat on him.
Representative Dwight of New York.
who is about Jim Jeffries size. put an
end to hostilities by getting between
the two men.
Representative Olmstead of Pennsyl-
yania, who was in the chair had not
been idle either. Between bangs OF
the gavel he mad called for the SER
geant- ARMS. and that functionary
advanced toward the combatants. bear
ing the sacred mace. 1t is a pretty
serious proposition to be arrested by
the sergeant alarms under these cir
and there was no further
effort to continue the row.
'Mr. Speaker. cried Delegate Wick
ersham. 81 want the record to show
that / apologize to the House. was
called liar"
Representative Tawney OF Minnesota
that both men should make
apologies to the House.
Apologies Are Made.
That is what want to do. apologize
to the House. Mr.. Wickersham declared.
adjusting his cuffs and smoothing his
rumpled hair. Il lost my temper"
Representative Keifer of Ohio arose
long enough to insist that the apology
go further than the words used and
cover the 'unseemly incident that fol-
lowed"
Well. I want my apology to be as
broad as any gentleman DESIRES said
Mr.. Wickersham. amid loud applause
from the democratic side.
Then Mr.. Mondell took the floor. de-
claring that he had not said he - q
liar In debate, but in q casual way of
reference. He did not deny using the
language. Of course. but insisted that his
statement had not been directed against
Delegate Wickersham.
But I realize should not have used
the word liar at ALL" said Mr.. Mondell,
and l apologize I used 1t as q chance
word. l regret that anything I have
said here has caused this disturbance
and led to this unfortunate incident"
Mr.. Foster. who had been handed some
'ude language by Wickersham, sat un-
In his seat while this was 60
ng on He relaxed. however, when Mr..
Nickersham approached him, extended
ais hand and asked forgiveness.
The war being over, the opponents OF
he administrations pet conservation
Measure Joined hands and defeated II on
oil call, by 4 vote Of 151 to 81. Less
han a fifth OF the members present
,oted for the measure, whereas, under
suspension Of the rules. two-thirds vote
vas necessary to pass It