The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-06-12
Senator Swanson In
Chair During Day
Fist Fight Between Senators
Narrowly Averted, When
Vardaman Misunderstands
Remark by Senator West.
Williams Drags Feud Into
Discussion. Delaying Bust,
ness Of Senate

Washington. June 1.-THE amend
ed bill repeating the tolls exemption
clause affecting ceastwise shipping OF
the United States In the Panama
canal act, passed the senate tonight
by a vote OF 90 TO IS. Eleven Demo
Gratis voted against the repeal but
this loss was more than offset by
thirteen Republicans who supported
the president. one Democrat Sem
a,or Walsh. was paired against the
bill, and TWO Repu blicans-~Lodge, o.
Massachusetts,, and Stephenson. o.
Wasconssn--were paired IN favor ol
the bill.
The following is the vote
Bankhead Bryan, Chiffon.
Clarke, Of Arkansas -.is s's-sts.
Fletcher. Gore. Hitchcock, Hug es'
James, Johnson. Kern. Lea Lee. Mar
tin. Myers oyerman. Owen, Pittman,
Pomerene.. salisbury. Shafroth. shep-
pard Shively. Simmons. Smith. or
Arizona. Smith, Of Georgia. Smith, OF
MARYLAND. Smith OF South Carolina,
Stone, Swanson. Thompson, Thorn
ton, West. White and Williams, Demo
Gratis 81. Brandegee. Burton. Colt,
Crawford. Gronna. Kenyon. McCum-
Der. Mclean, Nelson. Norris Root.
Ia Total ayes 50,
Soes-Ashurst. Chamberlain. Lane.
MARITIME. Newlands, O'Gorfnan. Rams
dell, Reed, Shielda Thomas and
vardaman, Democrats, LIS Borah.
Bristow. Burleigh. catron. Clamp.
Clark OF Wyoming; Cummins. Dill
insham. Dupont Goff. Jones, La
Toilette. Lippitt. Page. Perkins, Smith.
OF Michigan; Smoot- sutherland.
Townsend. Warren. Weeks ana
WORKS Republicans. %, Poindexter.
. Progressive. |. Total noes, 35.
The closing hours OF the debate to-
night were sgnaiized by a near en-
counter between Senator's Nardarnan.
Of Mississippi, and West. of Georgia.
and also by sharp personal coiloduy
between Nar6aman and his colleague.
Senator John Sharp Williams West
and Vardaman confronted each other
in threatening attitude. and Senator
Ashurst jumped between them with
extended arms. as IL to prevent them
coming together, At the same time
the presiding officer. Senator swanson.
considered the situation so menacing
that he ordered the sergeant-at-arrns
to the scene To preserve order,
Trouble Starts,
The trouble arose while Senator
West was replying 10 Nardaman. The
Mississippi senator. who has opposed
! the repeal OF the tolls exemption law.
had Just concluded a speech in which
he bitterly arra.gned senators who
have followed the president for re-
real. and had changed the views ex-
pressed by them when the tolls
exemption hill was originally passed.
The edict has gone forth from
the White House." said Mir. Varda-
man, and he added that this alone had
saved the cause OF repeal.
Among other things Nardaman at
tackled the trans-contineutai railroads.
and the Carnegie peace foundation.
for spending money to bring about
repeal. Replying 20 this particular
charge. West. who was standing near
Mr.. vardaman's seat, as he spoke,
said:
'sThere has been much criticism in
iulged in on this side, have tried
to be indulgent and allowed the SEN
ators who occupied the opposite side
of this question TO view II as they
saw At There has been charged here
to the Carnegie foundation the expen-
iiture Of ss0.0e0. Who knows but
what the shipping interests have spent
800, 600 In order to secure the defeat
OF this bill?"
s.Haye YOU been offered any?" in
CURED Mr.. yardaman. slowly rising.
and addressing Dir. West
Don't YOU say that TO me, quickly
retorted the Georgia senator.
well, YOU are making an intir,a-
don that somebody else has been In
flnenced," retorted Vardaman. adj
vancinc with clenched fsts.
II did not say SO: said began
Mr.. West, who was promptly cut on
by vardaman.
senators win please come TO order.
The senators will please take their
seats" shouted the presiding officer
eI did not say In writing. or other
wise" Mr.. west was trying to ex-
plain.
s 'sThe senator's will please take their
seats commanded the president OF
the senate, motioning the sergeant-at-
\ arms to the scene.
s.s The senate was In great connection
Senator Ashurst was between Varda-
man and West. He IL one OF the most
powerful men physically In. the senate.
I and was exerting his strength to keep
the two Southerners apart.
sNe, am not going to sit down."
Senator West WAS saying to Eena-
(Conktnusd on Sixth FAgs.1