Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-25
Situation Over Legislative I'm
broglio Complicated by
Speakers Statement.
CLASH is FEARED OVER
QUESTION OF AUTHORITY
Fusion Leaders to Urge Call for State
Troops if City Police At
tempt to Act.

NASHVILLE. Tenn. September 25.-
Varied rumors Of impending sensational
developments In the Tennessee legisla-
tive imbroglio were current In the state
house corridors when the house Of rep
resentatives reconvened today. Speaker
Stanton's statement last night that his
precipitate adjournment of yesterdays
session was due to the presence OF armed
men to intimidate voting members was
considered today as further complicatins
situation already grown acute.
Among the possible developments to-
day was a clash between city and state
authorities over the question of keeping
order at the capitol. 1t seemed certain
that IL city police ATTEMPTED to exc else
what fusion leaders considered undue au-
thority Gov. Hooper would be urged TO
call upon the state guard.
1t was said early today that no at
tempt would be made by fusion leaders
to prevent Speaker Stanton from resunn-
ing his duties today unless his rulings
appeared arbitrary and partisan.
Order Prevails in the House.
When the house OF representatives met
today factional lines were tensly drawn
but order prevailed. So-called gunner
were not In evidence. Speaker william
Stanton assumed the chair without oppo-
sition from the supporters of the law en-
forcement bills. There were no signs OF
the storm which broke late yesterday fol-
lowing the abrupt adjournment OF the
house.
A resolution was promptly adopted to
clear the galleries and floor OF the hall Of
all but members OF the house, newspaper
reporters. state officials with business
there and ladies. Members of the senate
were excluded.
The extra session is due to expire Sat
urday.
Speech Prevents Clash.
A conciliatory speech by Representative
A. L. Todd, after Speaker Stanton arbi-
trartly had declared the lower house or
the Tennessee legislature adjourned late
yesterday afternoon, Is credited with hav
ing averted what threatened to be a
serious disturbance. An uproar followed
the ruling, physical clashes were immi-
nent and. 1t is declared, guns, even. were
drawn.
During the day regular democratic
members had spoken. apparently to ain
delay, against so-called law enforcement
measures, supported by the fusion-sts
and designed to make prohibition effective
in Tennessee. 1t was nearly O'Clock
when Representative McDade presented
a written motion to make the measure
under consideration a special order at
8 o'clock. Representative Wilson moved
adjournment. Speaker Stanton called for
yeas and nays and declared the Iiouss
adjourned without waiting for responses.
Advances on Speaker. I
Representative McDade advanced to-
ward the speaker menacingly- Senator
Fisher. who was present, stepped between
them and the speaker left the chamber.
Mr.. McDade assumed the gavel and OBJ
tanned attention. Mr.. Todd being heard.
An appeal from the speaker as to adj
journment could not be had because Of a
lack of a quorum.
Senator Fisher. who was greeted by
shouts Of Throw him out.' when he
stepped between the speaker and Repre-
sentative McDade, was escorted from the
hall by the sergeant-at-arms. So also
was Representative Bejach, not in SYM
pathy with the others, when he dared
them to put him out.
Speaker Stanton Explains.
In q statement issued late last night
Speaker Stanton Of the house Of repre-
sentatives. referring to the adjourning of
the house In the afternoon, said:
Il knew. or had reason to know, that
members on the floor of the house were
armed. The house was in the widest
throes Of turmoil and disorder. In the
gallery to the right were all OF the peni-
Tertiary guards, in a most threatening
attitude. while near them. with guns
drawn, were John Yeainan and a man
named Garrett. These two men were
near pillars, ready to pick me or some one
else off. Feeling that the lives of men
were In danger. / did adjourn. as any
presiding officer would and should have
done"
Governors Message.
Gov. Hooper sent a special message to
the house at noon relative to Tuesdays
exciting session. He declared any init
nation that he was responsible directly
or indirectly for the presence Of gun
men, about the legislative halls was
false. He added:
THE efforts that are being made by
armed DULLES, city detectives and deputy
sheriffs TO intimidate the advocates OF
law enforcement In the legislature are
most reprehensible.'
At the session Tuesday afternoon
Speaker Stanton started a turmoil by de-
claring that friends OF the governor had
sent two suit cases filled with revolvers
to the Office OF the superintendent Of the
capitol. He also declared that gunner
were in the building for the purpose of
intimidating him to gain his support Of
the law enforcement bills. designed to
make effective the statewide prohibition
law.