Weekly journal-miner., 1917-04-04
By Associated Press.


 sonal encounter between Senator Lodge of Massachusetts and Alexan- der Bannwart, of Dorchester, Mass, in which the senator knocked his op- ponent down, occurred today in the corridors of the capitol.
 Bannwart, with the Rev. Paul Har- ris Drake of Christ church, Dorches- ter, and several other men and wom- en of pacifist delegations, called Sen ator Lodge to the door of his com mittee room and asked him to vote against a declaration of war with Ger many. Senator Lodge replied that if President Wilson asked for such a declaration he certainly would sup- port it.
 That is cowardice," retorted one of the group.
 National degeneracy is worse than cowardice," replied the Massachusetts senator
 You are coward" said Bannwart. "You are a liar" retorted Senator Lodge.
 ,Bannwart advanced and struck the senator, who then, despite his sixty odd years, launched a blow that sent Bannwart sprawling on the hard tiles of the corridors.
 Bannwart and several of his friends were taken in charge by the capitol police
 Bannwart told the capitol police he was not the aggressor and contcnded that Senator Lodge struck the first blow h other -espa.ts his story did not differ greatly from that told by employees in the senator's office After Senator Lodge finished with the paciist, David B. Herman of this city stepped in and, according to spectators. pummelled Bannwart, cut ting several gashes in his forehead and spreading blood over his face Bannwart was taken to police sta ton with directions that a charge of assault on Senator Lodge be prefer red against him. The others in the group with him were allowed to go.
 Senator Lodge appeared on the floor when the senate met and ap- parently was no worse for his en- counter. Scores of senators went over to the Massachusetts senator's desk and shook hands with him. IPacihsts' headquarters gave out a statement about the affair which in part was as follows: "A group of Massachusetts dele gates to the peace gathering were re- ceived by Senator Lodge. A plea for peace was presented and replied to by Senator Lodge On some further talk by Alexander Bannwart of Boston, an American, and said to be of Swiss decent, the senator suddenly called out, You're a damned liarr "Thc Massachusetts man replied: T must call you one,' or words to that effect. "On this Senator Lodge struck Bannwart in the face. The Boston man struck back, knocking the sen ator down Thereupon group of young men came out of the senator's office and began striking Bannwart, also, whether or not accidentally, young lady among the delegates.
 The version of the affair at the capitol was that ii was Bannwart who was knocked down and that Bann- wart was the aggressor.
 Senator Lodges formal statement follows: ''I was trying to get away from them. They were very violent I said: Well, we must agree to dis agree
 Then this man, whom I afterwards learned was Bannwart, said, You are a damn coward I said, You are a liar. He struck me and I struck him Then the whole party rushed at me and pushed me against the wall.
 "A young man from Arizona, who was in the corridor, my secretaries and Senator Stones messenger inter vened for my protection and drove them of"
 Senator Lodge declared that the statement of the affair as issued by the pacifsts was an absolute false hood"
 Senator Weeks issued a statement testifying that Senator Lodge was not