Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-03-06
HOT TIMES in THE House
Governor BleaSe DenOunCes Alleged
Misrepresentation.
fist fights NARROWLY AVERTED

FIST fights NARROWLY AVERTED
Feeling Outraged at the colunbis
Records Report Of the Speeches Of
Messrs. Stevenson and Barnwell, the
Governor Goes on the Floor of the
House to Answer in Person and the
Outcome Grows Exciting.
News and Courier, Thursday.
Columbia, March 4.-Perhaps the
most remarkable scene ever enacted on
the floor Of the house of representa-
tives of South Carolina was witnessed
tonight. The governor of the state
was literally pulled out Of the house
with his coat off ready for the ARRAY.
He was mad through and through and
made freqnent use Of the lie and
whatever occurred to him. &
There came near being two real
fights. The main attack-and 1t was
red-hot until it sizzled-was directed
against Mr. w. F. Stevenson, who
stood his ground and made 1t plain
that he did not apologize for anything
he had really said in the debate on the
asylum issue. After the sizzling mes
sage delivered from the speakers
stand by the governor in person, and
when he was retiring from the hail.
Mr.. Stevenson wanted to meet him
and tell him that he wished to make
1t plain that he had not apologized, fol-
he had nothing for which to apologize
Friends thought there was to be a
fight, for the challenge had been made
and the governor pulled off his coat
and friends pulled at him and Mr.. Ste
venson. and the governor was literally
carried out of the house and down to
the executive chamber, while Mr.. Ste
venson was. held. He said he had nc
idea Of picking fight, but that he
could take care Of himself.
Jumps On" BarnweIl.
Besides Mr.. Stevenson the governor
harbored protest against Mr.. N. B
Barnwell, of the Charleston delega-
tion, who had also been quoted in con-
nection with the debate on the resolu-
ton relative to the asylum investiga-
tion. At one time he said he would
attend to Mr.. Barnwell later on, and
referred to him as a ''Haskellite."
After the Stevenson issue Mr.. Barn
we'll arose and asked for ruling as to
whether the speech of the governor
was really a message, aS he under
stood from the Constitution that q
message should be either upon the
Estate or conditions Of the state or up
on expedient Legislation" and that the
speech was neither.
Thereupon the governor said: Cow
ards always hide behind technicaii-
ties"
Mr.. Barnwell, who had been stand
ing at his. desk, Immediately started
for the governor and said: well, we
will settle this right now"
The governor seemed willing and
Mr.. Barnwell was fast getting towards
the speakers stand; in fact, he was on
the steps when he was tugged back by
his friends. and soon fifty members
were around trying to quiet things
Mr.. Barnwell returned to his seat up
on the persuasion Of his friends and
both he and the governor agreed that
they would be willing to meet each
other at any time and handle it."
How Il All Came About.
The fur flying incident was some
thing like this: '
Several days ago Mr.. Kirby Of Spar
tanburg, a stanch supporter Of the gov
rnor, offered resolution asking the
present investigating committee tc
make a specific report as to whether
or not the charges made In the TILL
man letter about the asylum were
true or not, and stating that the COM
mittee had not made a full and frank
report. II the committee did not make
this supplementary report then a new
report was asked on these specific
questions.
Mr.. Nicholson offered substitute
for the Kirby resolution, that the COM
rhittee be heartily thanked for its re.
port and the spirit Of its findings and
be dismissed from further service. This
substitute was today adopted after
long argument. Mr.. Stevenson made
the main argument in defence of the
original report, and it was in this
speech that he said the things about
which the contention arose.
The local afternoon paper published
a skeleton Of the speech, and 1t seems
that certain parts Of the speech quoted
Mr.. Stevenson incorrectly or without
explaining that what he said was from
the record Of the testimony and not
his direct statement.
Some time after the house met the
governor appeared on the floor and
the sergeant-at- announced: "A
message from the governor" The for
NAL announcements were made and
Speaker Smith presented the govern
or, who. with the newspaper in hand,
mounted the rostrum and lit right into
things.
Tells Governor, "Sit Down."
Some one said "sit down." and half
a dozen members made dive for the
man who had cried "sit down" to the
governor, and the visitor was hustled
out.
Then Mr.. Pringle Youmans wanted
TO know If such things were really
messages" and he and the governor
had a set-to, but the governor finally
apologiZed to Youmans, saying that he
had misunderstood his purpose in
making the point Of order, and in this
the governor said to Mr.. Youmans:
"Why can't 1 deliver a personal mes
sage to the house as your cousin,
Woodrow Wilson, does?" Mr.. You
mans insisted that he was not related
to President Wilson.
But the Youmans incident passed of
altogether pleasantly, but with the
governors temperature about 1O6,
judging from his language.
The whole thing was so unexpected
that no special preparation was made
for a stenographic report Of the extra
ordinary message, but the very best
obtainable stenographic report Is CIV
en-. 1t Is not altogether full, but was
made by q disinterested stenographer
on the speakers stand and gives a
pretty good idea Of the text Of the
lurid events.
Governor Starts In.
Now, Mr.. Speaker" said the gov
ernor, Il read from the Columbia Rec
ord the speech Of the gentleman-no.
l won't say gentleman, / can't say
that, will say from the member from
Chesterfield. I hope that will soak in.
I mean it. and l am responsible for
II as Cole L. Blease, in this place and
anywhere else. He stood here and he
stated things false as the hinges that