The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1911-03-03
BLOODLESS BATTLE
WAGEO IN HOUSE
Wyoming Member And Delegate From
Alaska Mix When Lie is Passed
But Are Parted.

Washington, D. c. Feb 2S.-Another
bloodless battle was fought on the
floor of the house of representatives
late Thursday. 1t came during some
what heated debate on bill for the
leasing of coal lands in Alaska.
The lie was passed and Delegate
James Wickersham, of Alaska, made
rush for Representative Frank w.
Mondell of Wyoming, seated at near
by desk. The big Alaskan's arm shot
out twice in the direction of the gent
leman from Wyoming. but members
who surrounded the disputants 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 MondeIl, who had gain
ed his feet and was making for his as
sailant. Representative Foster of YER
mont had taken Wickersham by the
throat. This added to the uncontrolled
anger of the delegate and for the mo-
Iment diverted his attack towards the
would-be peacemaker. Representative
Sisson of Mississippi, was the first to
reach Mondell, who was endeavoring
to raise chair in which he had been
sitting to hurl it at his antagonist.
Members rushed toward the group
from either part of the chamber and
soon nearly hundred men were in the
crowd about the struggling legislators.
In the meantime Representative
Olmstead of Pennsylvania, acting
speaker, was belaboring the desk with
the gavel and calling upon the SER
lgeant-at-arms to preserve order. The
historic mace of the house, the EN-
blem of authority, was lifted from its
marble pedestal, and carried to the
floor by the house officials. The mem
bers, however, had taken the matter
in hand and had succeeded in bring
ling both Wickersham and Mondell to
a cessation of hostilities. When the
house was fairly quiet, Wickersham
clamored for recognition.
'I want the record to show that
apologize to the house, but (his voice
rose to shout want it also to show
that | was called a liar"
Representative Tawney called at
,tention to the fact that the language
: used by the disputants was clearly un
parliamentary and that there should
be an apology.
81 do apologize" Wickersham said
81 lost my temper"
He sat down and Mondell arose.
my remark was not directed to
ward the gentleman from Alaska,
; Mondell said, "and was not uttered il
] debate, but to the gentleman who
? stood beside me. / realize, however
I. that should not have used the wore
$ here, or anywhere, for that matter
:, and I apologize to the house"
g During the applause which followed
t Mondell's statement, Tawney moved
that the house adjourn. On stand
! ing vote the motion apparently carried
j but the opponents of the Alaska leas
: ing bill demanded a roll call. Unde
0 the call the motion to adjourn wa
L lostfi and the leasing bill was then de
7 feated, 151 to 32
e The bill had come up under sus
7 pension of the rules and would hav'
d required two-thirds vote for adop
5 ition.
S Madison of Kansas, and Oollie jane
+ of Kentucky, both members of the Bal
r linger-Pinehot investigation committe
led the attacks against the BILL Wick
) ersham had joined the forces wit
L them. Mondell occupied practicall
e all of the time in favor of the measure
L The bill provided for the leasing 0
{ coal lands not to exceed 1850 acre
n on a royalty basis of from to I
T cents per ton. The debate was SUI
II charged wits acrimony.