The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-17
NEAR BLOWS IN SENATE,
HOT WORDS EXCHANGED BY
SENATOR'S IN TOLLS DEBATE.
James, Vardaman, Williams and
West Engage I'm Lively Controversy,
While Republicans Look OH i'm
AmaZcmcnt.

Washington, June 11.-Bitterness
among Democratic senators over the
repeal bill appeared again tonight,
and before oil was poured on the
troubled waters Senator Vardaman
of Mississippi and Senator West of
Georgia came near blows. Apparent
| ly only the interference Of Senator
Ashurst and the presence of the ser
geant at arms prevented Il physical
encounter. 1t all lasted loss than a
minute, but in that time the senate
livened up and displayed an interest
in things such as has not been evil
dent for weeks.
The trouble started after a bitter
exchange between Senator Vardaman
and Senator James, who had vigor-
ously criticised the Mississippi sena-
tor and in turn had been told that
he was not stating the truth.
When Senator Vardaman sat down,
Senator West took the floor and also
entered protest against the recent
charge OF Senator Vardaman that
those who voted for the repeal bill
were guilty Of treachery to the Demo
cratic party. He referred to the
charge that the Carnegie foundation
had expended $4,000 to boost the re-
peal bill.
who knows" added the Georgia
senator. "but what the shipping in
terests have spent 100000 to defeat
this bill?"
Have you been offered any?" ask
ed Senator Vardaman. AS he spoke
he rose to his feet and started to-
ward the Georgia senator, who was
) only few feet away.
Don't you say that to me-" said
Senator West. shaking his head and
lifting his arms.
WELL" said Senator Vardaman
still advancing with his arms hall
raised, you are making an intimt
ton that somebody else had been in
fluenced.'
: BY this time the two senators wer,
only a few feet apart, but Senator
Ashurst, one Of the biggest men il
, the seante, had stepped between
them. He laid his left arm across
Senator Vardaman's chest and extend
ed his right toward the Georgian an(
tried to pacily them. but they KEEP
; talking
3 In the meantime, members in tn,
cloak room tried to tumble out o.
the doors all at once and the gal
, leries were half filled with peOpl,
leaning forward with expectation O
seeing a real fight.
Senators will please come to or
der" shouted Senator Swanson, pre-
siding. THE senators will please
take their seats and the sergeant a
, arms"
Here he was interrupted, but Ser
} geant at Arms Higgins had heart
enough and he walked out to where
7 the two senator's glaled at each Other
) ator Ashurst, and stood ready for the
official command to stop whatever
might be started. Mr.. West insisted
on explaining.
II did not say in writing or other.
wise" he started to explain.
"The senators will please take their
Seats" urged the presiding officer
L. while the gallery and the Republican
: side of the senate in particular looked
on as if at a play.
: mo. l am not going to sit down,
continued Mr.. West and Senator
James tried to explain that the Gcor-
, gia senator was trying to make n,
: charges. Finally all resumed theil
, seats without q blow on either side
! Both Senators West and Vardaman
explained that they meant no rehec-
} tion on any one in what they had
said:
Later Senator Williams made q
short speech criticising Senator Ward
aman:
Il decline to answer any questions
the senior senator from Mississippi
asks OF me-" announced Senator
Vardaman. "Of course it is well
understood that the senior senator
from Mississippi never approves of
anything do. l care absolutely moth
ing whether l please him or dis
please him. My conduct is con-
trolled by myself without regard to
his opinion Of what | do"