The Washington times., 1911-02-09
EVIDENCE HEARDN
MACON-FAHY CASE
Representative Stanley and Others Tesy-Further Oh
lection Made to Mr.. Macon's Phrase Depart
mental Pets"-More Witnesses Tomorrow.

At a hearing marked by some con-
fiicts in testimony. the House Commit
tee on Judiciary today began its in
vestigation of the encounter which oc'
CURED on the floor Of the House last
Saturday afternoon between Walter j.
Fahy, one Of the representatives of The
| Washington Times at the Capitol, and
Representative Robert Bruce Macon OF
Arkansas.
The trouble grew out of Macons s
| speech characteriZing an article written
by Fahy as lie.
That the House floor was not invaded
after adjournment by a "concourse OF
newspaper men who were hostile to the
Arkansas member" as charged in Mr..
| Macon's speech of Monday last, was the
| unequivocal statement of two other
members who saw the difficulty. These
members were Representative Norris
who attempted to act as peacemaker,
and Representative Stanley.
THE other correspondents-there were
just a few of them-seemed to be there
in the interest of peace. l did not see
them attempt to intimidate anyone
| said Representative Norris on the wit
ness stand.
Three Witnesses.
The committee heard only three WIZ
nesses today-Representativ Norris
Stanley and Mr.. Macon himself. Inc
hearing was continued until tomorrow
when the newspaper men who were
present will testify.
Representative Macon was at first
loath to appear before the committee
today. When first sent for he entered
the room, and, after remaining seated
a moment arose and said:
This Inquiry is not my affair, gen.
tIemen. I am even personally, and can
stay even when 1t comes to the personal
equasion.
personally, l am out of this and
think can look after myself SO far as
Bruce Macon is concerned" added the
Arkansan as he went out the door.
Afterward, kowever, Representative
Henry of Texas, a committee member,
moved that Mr.. Macon should be sent
for and asked to testify.
Macon Retells His Story.
Mr.. Macon again recounted his griev-
ances. He said that he had resented
the heading of an article in The Times
which read, Macon Denounced BY
Clerks Friends" He was asked why
he had stricken from the record the
colloquy between himself and Mr.
Stanley, upon which the article was
based. Mr.. Macon said that Mr.. Stan
ley had suggested 1t, inasmuch as
things are often said in the heat of the
debate which should go out.
The testimony of Mr.. Macon was di-
60 &lnN NF DnnrnGonta-
tive Norris as to how the several news
paper correspondents entered the House
chamber after adjournment. Macon IN
sisted that they accompanied Fahy, ana
that they were there TO take sides win
their colleague Mr.. Norris testified
that Fahy was upon the floor several
minutes before the half dozen other
correspondents entered, and that EVERY,
body present was attempting to act as
peacemakers ecept Fahy and Macon.
Says Macon Refused.
AT the request of Mr.. Fahy," tesi-
fed Mr.. Norris. Il went to Mr.. Macon
with the request that he cut from the
Record his speech in which he had
called the author of The Times story a
little ass, a liar, and other
things.
Mr.. Macon replied that he could not |
accede to the request. told him that |
Fahy's attitude was that If the ex-
change between himself and Mr.. Stan |
ley upon which the article was based, |
was stricken from the record that his |
charges against the newspaper corre- |
spondent also should be Withdrawn.
IN the other hand, ] told him that IL |
the Stanley and Macon speeches re- |
mained in the Record there was no OBJ |
lection to his Characterization of Fahy /!
in;
Fahy came up and said: 'I am the
man who wrote the story and the man |
you called a liar.
"I do not remember the language |
used after that, but know that each |
had some difficulty in keeping Fahy |
and Macon apart.
"Other newspaper correspondents |
came in later-they were not there |
One of them. l believe 1t was Mr.. Nor !
wood. told tn gentleman from Arkan-
sas that all of the correspondents |
who heard the speech agreed with |
Fahy that Macon had been denounced.
No Sign of Intimidation.
There was no indication that the !
other newspaper men came there to
engage In a controversy, and l do not |
think there is any foundation for the |
claim that they came there to make
trouble. Fah's motives, as he related
them to me, were to have the Record
remain intact or to have the attack
upon him go out with the rest of the
matter. All the newspaper correspond
ents except Fahy were In a most calm
frame of mind. Both Macon and Fahy
we're much excited"
Mr.. Macon when he went upon the
stand was asked about certain pencil
revisions of his attack upon Fahy,
which has never appeared since.
flA Of n a
Mr.. Macon, after the
trouble was over, finally agreed to
from the Record his remarks
bout Fahy.
II changed one word there" said Mr..
Macon. Instead of calling the corre-