The Cairo bulletin., 1911-02-24
HOUSE MEMBERS
AVERT F|ST|CUFF
DELEGATE JAMES WlCkERSHAM
STRUCK AT REPRESENTA-
WET McNGELL.
THE LIE WAS PASSED
In Eetate on Alaskan Coal Land
Lease EiI!-- 2@th r;en Apollo
glzed to House AfterwarE
Bill Defeated.

Washington, Feb. 23.--AnothcI
Lloodless battle as fought on TIC
floor Of the house late today. 1t cane
/ during a somewhat heated debate or
4 bin for the leasing 0: coal lands X
ALASKA. The lie was passed and al
the short and ugly word rang on
Delegate James Wickersham, of Alas
ka, made rush for Representative
| Frank w. Mondell, of Wyoming, who
was seated at nearoy desk.
The big Alaskan's right fist shot
out twice in the direction Of the
gentleman from Wyoming, but men
bers who surrounded the men at the
time say both blows fell shcrt. Tl7
house was in an uprcar In an III.
stant.
Several members hurled them
eelves on Mr. Wickersham. Others
were struggling with ;ir. sfandell,
who had gained his feet and was
making for his assailant. Represen-
tattye Foster of Vermont, had taken
Mr. Wickersham by the throat. This
added to the uncontrolled anger or
the delegate and for a moment dive e
ed lis attack towards the would be
peace maker. Representative 5isscn.
of Mississippi who was endeayorins
to raise the chair in which he had
been sitting to harl ii at his antag.
onist.
Members rushed toward the group
from every parLol the chamber
soon there was a hundred men In the
crowd about the still struggling les
.slators,
Historic M ce is Used.
Meantime, Representa- i've Olmsted
of Pennsylvania, who was acting as
speaker, was belaboring his desk
with the gavel and called in the sir-
geant-at.arms to preserve order. RE
historic mace OF the nouse, the en-.
hlem of authority, was lifted from
lis marble pedestal and carried to
the floor by the houae officials. Mem.
bers, however, had taken the mattaf
in hand and succeeded IN bringing
10th Mr., Wickersham and Mr., MOE.
del to cessation OF hostilities.
When the house was fairly quiet
Mr.. Wickersham clamored for reccg
riticn.
Il want the record TO show that
I apologize to the horse, but (his
voice rose to a shouD Il also want
it to show that was called liar!"
Representative Tawney called al
tention TO the fact that tine language
rsed was clearly unparliamentary and
that there should be an apology.
Il do apologize" Mr.. Wickersham
said, 81 lest my temper"
SIC sat down and Mr.. Mondell arose.
my remark was nor directed to
war dthe gentleman from Alaska,
Mr. Mondell said "anG it was not
uttered in~debate, but 70 gentleman
who stood beside me. realize, how.
ever that should not have used the
word here, or anywhere for that m9t
tep and | apologize TO the house."
Bill is Debated.
During the applause which followed
Mr. Mordell's statement Mr.. Tawney
moved that the house adjourn. Or
a stansing vote the motion apparen.
ly was carried. but the opponents Of
the Alaskan leasing bill demanded a
roll call. Under this call the motion
to adjourn was lest and the leasing
bill was then defeated, Isl to 81,
The bill had been called UP under a
suspension of the rules and woI!1
have required two-thrds vote fo,'
adoption Representatives Madison,
al Kansas. and Ollie james. of Ken.
tucky, both members of the Balm
ger-Pinchot investigating committee,
led the attack against the bill Mr.
Wickersham had joined forces vita
them.
Mr.. Mondel occupied practically
all of the time in favor or the meas.
pre.
The bill provided ,or the leasing
Of tho coal lands NOT to exceed 2,oto
acres on a royalty basis OF frem TO
10 cents ton. The cshate had been
eurcharged with acrimony.