The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-24
Wickersham and Mon
dell Engage in Furious,
Bloodless Battle.
UPROAR REIGNS
DURING MELEE
Lie Passed by Wyoming Man,
and He Is Assaulted by Dele
gate From Alaska-H Hundred
Men Rush to Spot Where
Legislators Struggle.
Both Apologize.

Washington, ID. c., February 23.--
Another bIoodlcss bnttle was fought
on the floor of the House OF Represent
attrcs Int to-day. 1t came during
somewhat hcnted debatc ON "a biz 70,
the IensinE of conl lands In Alaska
The "1Ie'' yns pnsscd, mud ns the short
nnd "6iy word rang out, Delegate
james Wtckcrsham, of Alaska, made n
rush for Representative Frank w. Mon
dell, Of Wyoming, who was seated nj
nearby desk.
The big Alnskan's right arm shot out
twice In the direction Of the nun from
Wyoming, but members who surrounded
the disputnnts ut the time shy thnt
both blows fell jnst short
me House was in an uproar In an in
slant Several members hurled them
selves on Mr.. Wickersham; others were
struggling with Mr.. Mondell who had
gained his feet and was making for his
sssailant- Represent ative Foster, Of
vermont. had taken Mr.. Wlckersham
oy the throat. This added 10 the un-
controlled anger of the delegate. and
Cor a moment diverted his attack to-
*nrd the wou)d-be peacenaker. Rep
resentative Sisson. Of Mississippi, was
endeavoring to raise the chair In which
ne had been sitting to hurl IL at his
antagonist
Hundred Men in Crowd.
Nembers rushed toward the group
from every part OF the chamber, and
soon there We're nearly 100 men In the
crowd about the still struggling legis-
Iators.
Meantime, Representative Olmsted
OF Pennsylvania, who was acting as
Speaker. was n4tt.ly bella boring his
desk with the gavel and calling upon
the sergeant-at-arms to preserve order.
The historic mace Of the House, the
emblem OF authority. was lifted from
its marble pedestal and carried 20 the
floor by the House officials. Members,
however, had taken the matter In
hand and had succeeded in bringing
both Mr.. Wickersham and Mr.. Mondell
TO cessation OF hostilities.
When the House was fairly quiet Mr.
Wickersham clamored for recognition.
II want tho record to show that
apologize TO the House. but"-his voice
rose TO a shout also want it to show
that I was called liar"
Representative Tawney, of Minnesota.
demanded that the entire collouuy be
reported by the stenographer from thu
Speakers desk. The stenographer
stated that he overheard Mr.. Mondell.
VINO was seated at the time, say.
"He is a liar"
Mr.. Wickersham also had heard
eff you say that, you are a liar!" ne
had shouted, and In another instant
had rushed at Mr.. Alondell. a chair
between the two members had OBJ
structed their collision. Wickersham's
shout OF liar to Mondell was the first
the House had heard. Mr.. AIondelrs
utterance had been made in an under
tone.
Representative Tawney called at
tention to the fact that the language
used by the disputants was clearly I'M
parliamentary and that there should be
an apology.
Wic<ershnm Apologies.
II do apologize" said Mr.. Wicker
sham. II lost my temper" He sat
down.
II think the apology should he
broader" interjected Representative
Keller, OF Ohio
II make my apology as broad as any
gentleman in the House wants it," SAID
Mr.. Wickersham. and that is all I have
to say. #
Mr. MondelI then arose.
II uttered no such statement as has
been reported in debate" he said II
turned to the gentleman from South
Dakota. who was standing a my desk
and said: Then he must be liar"
Mr.. Mondell said his reference was
to the fact that nothing in tho record
showed any coal claims in Alaska, ont
side of the Cunningham group, to havo
gone TO final entry. Mr.. Wickersham
had disputed this statement.
"My remark was not directed toward
tho gentleman from Alaska" Mr.. Mon
dell went on. and 1T was not uttered
stood beside me. realize. however,
that 1 should not have used the word
here or anywhere. for that matter,
and apologize to the House"
During the applause which followed
Mr.. AIondcll's statement Mr.. Tawney
moved that the House adjourn. On a
standing vote the motion apparently
was carried. but the opponents Of the
call. Under this call the motion to
adjourn was lost. and the leasing bill
was then defeated 81 to 80. The bill
had been under a suspension of the
thirds vote for adoption.
Debate tx Warm.
The bill provided for the leasing Of
coal lands not 10 exceed 100000 acres
cents ton. The debate had been SUR
charged with acrimony Mr.. Madison
declared that rs a conservation meas
ure the bill was mOckery.
God save us from this sort Of CON
servation II this is the best the govern
ment can do" he cried. The Guggen-
helms. Mr.. Madison declared. had en-
tered into an agreement with the Gun
ningham claimants to pay them n roy
atty Of so cents a ton.
Mr.. Wickersham pleaded with mem
hers not to support the BILL He turned
on Mr. MonHnll who favored the meas
"If you should make a bill like this
to go home. II you made it apply to
(Continucd on Seycnfh pace -