Evening star., 1917-09-30
FIGHTS IN congress
DATE BACK YEARS
Mr.. Heflin's Attack Upon Mr..
Norton Recalls Some In
the Old Days.
NONE ENDED SERIOUSLY

Representative Hehins attack upon
Representative Norton in the House
Friday resulting disastrously for Rep
resentative Heflin. is the first tight
on the floor of the House since Repre-
sentative Mondell OF Wyoming and
Delegate wickersham of Alaska inter-
rupted debate with fsticuffs dozen
years ago. House and Senate records.
kept by the sporting editors of those
two bodies q. e.. pages and doorkeepers
who carefully treasure newspaper clip
pings of legislative ring battles) havo
compiled the facts of fights under the
dome for a period running back as far
as the day when Senator Benton OF
Missouri barred his breast and dared
a defenseless man."
This latter impressive and heroic
scene, worthy of a screen melodrama.
occurred in 1850. at the conclusion OF
day of incrimination by Senator Foote
against the motives of northern SEN
ators Senator Benton had taken an
aggressive course Of opposition TO
Foote, and while Foote was taking
Benton rushed at him. The Mississip-
pian retreated. drawing flve-champer
revolver from his pocket. which Ben
ton evidently did not see senator
Dodge of wisconsin stopped Bentons
advance, begging him: For COO SAKE,
do nothing to compromise yourseit Win
the Senate"
Dares Foote to Shoot.
Benton started to return to his desk.
and then caught sight of the pistol IN
FOOTE'S hand. He then broke away
from the hold which Dodge had upon
HIS arm, turned around and tore open
- a. nd
Standing thus dramatically oeIore
Foote. who had cooked his pistol Ben
ton cried out:
assassin fire"
Foote, thoroughly frightened by the
giant Benton. seemed to COVER, not,
-Withstanding his weapon. He was led
away from the Presidents desk. against
which he stood, and sank down into
his own chair. Senator Dickinson OF
New York took away his revolver, and
the Senate took its own course about
censuring the two men. 1t adopted
resolution condemning the carrying OF
spistols or other arms in the Senate.
Nearly Fought Duel.
i In 1860 Representative Roger A.
pryor of Virginia and Representative
zJohn F. Potter of Wisconsin nearly
Fought a duel. Owen Lovejoy made
sspeech denouncing slavery. and in
sdiscussion following Representative
Potter knocked of the wig of Repre-
SENTATIVE Barksdale of Mississippi.
pryor jumped into the row and later
zchallenged the Wisconsin man to duel.
zand the challenged party, accepting the
sEauntlet, chose bowie knives. This sort
Eof weapon scared the Virginia man. and
zhis seconds backed out on the ground
kthat their man should not use any such
scarving implement on the field of honor.
This occurrence was not long after
Representative Preston S. Brooks as
ssaulted Senator Charles Sumner OF Mas
zsachusetts with a cane after the Senate
shad adjourned
Sumner had made a speech. ''The Crime
against Kansas" and Brooks assaulted
him from behind with a cane. Several
Southern members of Congress with
sdrawn revolvers stood by and prevent
ed Interference. Barksdale of Missis-
eippi was one of them The House did
mot expe1 Brooks, much to the surprise
of the north. A resolution to expel him
REQUIRED a two-thirds vote, and the roll
scall showed only 121 to 95. Brooks was