The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-02-24

WASHINGTON. Feb. 24.-~Delegate
wiokersham of Alaska, shouting.
"You ere the liar IL you say that. "
rushed upon Representative MondeiL
of Wyoming. seated across the aisle,
and clutched him by the throat, dur
ing the waning hours OF yesterdays
session OF the house The members
who closed in upon the struggling men
declared that no blows were struck.
From the galleries, however, II WAS
plain that this was not due to any dis
inclination on the part OF either or
the belligerents.
Mr.. W1ekersham, his fingers around
MIR. Mondeils neck. was seized In
similar fashion by Representative
Foster. of Vermont, And all the time
the wyoming preventative was wrig-
Cling to get himself free, and making
futile efforts to use the chair from
which he had risen to Use IL as a
weapon against his assatant-
The crowd around the two men
grew Representative Longworth, of
Ohio, and other members. who had
been sitting close 10 Mr.. Moudeil. at
tempted t. pun him from the tena-
cious grasp of the Infatuated dele
gate MIR Wiekersham. IN spite of
The grap which Mr. Foster had secured
on his throat. was still able to OK
press his sentiments in vigorous, Ii
not parliamentary language. MIR,
Poster as peacemaker. seemed To be
the :~-get for his Characterization,
rather than the man he had started
after Mr.. MondelI.
Mr.. Dwight to the Rescue.
Finally, the Republican whip. Rep
resentative Dwight. of New York. who
NFffgfS R-aiph in a ht TtJRztHn IA
about ESQ pounds interposed mis- bulk
between Mr.. WickershRrn and MIR.
Monden. and the delegate was forced
TO release his hold on his opponent
throat.
The rougb-and- tumble fight occur
red during debate on the admins
tration bill. providing for the leasing
81 Alaskan coal lands Oh royalties.
The ALASKA delegate was vigorously
opposing n measure. In the course
of his argument he read T. letter from
Secretary RafNnger describing the OPP
*~ratfoTTs tf ffaf ceft1fcStes IN lard
cases lie declared that the final
receipt As issued in every case and
that is equivalent. under the .deci-
sion of the Supreme Court. to a pat
emit for title
At this yuncture Mr.. Mondell turned
10 Representative Burke. of South
which carried easily across the aisle
to the desk before which MIR. Wicker
sham was standing: Tile Is n liar
That is all there is to it,"
This was the signal for Mr.. Wick
aFshaB4.s onslaught. lie hurled him.
self down the aisle and was upon Mr.
MondeN tefcre the members knew
what was happening
Representst tive Olmsted of Penn
sSlvania. who was in the speakers
chair. was making about as much dis
turbance with his gavel as the con-
feStonts "a the hoor. At his order,
the sergeah--a t-arms took down from
it's resting Race the mace of the
House. surmounted with its silver
eagle. and s.rP erly holding IL at arms
length, n1-e down on the congested
crowd Of hcstiles and mediators. But,
whether he walked as fast as he could
or whether his progress was delayed
h% his Sense of the dignity Of his mis-
sion, by he time he reached the COM
bstants aad their friends the actual
trouble was ever
Beiligerents Resume Seats.
Mr.. Wickersham. still painting and
feeling his collar. which had been
pulled somewhat awry by the enthus-
iastic efforts of the pacific Mr. Foster,
was back in his place. and Mr. Mon
deli his throat relieved from the
Afaskans grip. vas again seated ana
drawing in grateful bFeaths
Mr.. Wickersharn was the first to
take advantage Of the calm which had
been restored by such strenuous