Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-08-05
LEGISLATORS DISCUSSING
SLATON HART FI5TICUFF

VI lAAN AAOuSS anu SSAAISN HAS sun NA2
cussing, almost to the exclusion OF
al other topics, the attack by Repre-
sentative VIM, of Hart county, on for
ner Governor John NJ Slaton for enter
ing the house of representatives yes
terday.
Representative VIM is the man who
opposed and filibustered against the
resolution at the outset of the session
indorsing President Wilson's stand
against the German empire. He was
severely criticised in that connection
but the criticisms uttered against him
for his attack on former Governor Sla-
ten are tenfold more severe. A dozen
members of the house have been heard
to declare that while they held no
brief for former Governor Slaton, they
would have demanded Representative
WINS immediate expulsion from the
house, if there was any procedure they
could follow.
The rules of the house extend the
rules of the house, among others, to
former governors of the state. When
former Governor Slaton entered the
house on yesterday, Representative
VIM demanded the reading and en-
forcement of Rule III. This is the rule
prohibiting unauthorized persons from
coming into the hall. Spectators fire.
ouently get through the doors and a
member demands the enforcement OF
Rule III. This is the rule prohibiting
unauthorized persons coming into the
hall. Spectators frequently get
through the doors and a member de-
mands the enforcement of the rule, The
fact that an ex-governor is privileged
to come on the floor was apparently
we'll known to everybody except Rep
resentatiye VIM, so no attention was
laid to the reading of the rule so far
as former Governor Slaton was con-
cerned.
After thirty minutes or such a mat
ter, former Governor Slaton left the
hall. AS he was leaving, Representa-
tive VIM rose to question of per
sonal privilege and declared that he
desired to resent on behalf of every
man and woman in Georgia the insult
offered by certain individual, who
Lad just taken advantage of his privil-
eye to desecrate the house by his con-
temptible presence. Before he could
proceed further, Speaker Holders ga
vel fell with a crash, and he ruled Rep
resentatiye VIM out of order. Rep
resentative Atkinson, of Fulton, OBJ
tanned recognition and moved amid
general uproar to expunge the remarks
of the gentleman from Hart from the
record. The motion was unanimously
and vociferously adopted.
Just before the house adjourned,
Representative Conger, of Decatur, in
trCduced a resolution severely rebuk-
ing Representative Hart for the I'm
suit to the intelligence and decency of
the house Of which he has been guilty
by his yenomous and ill-advised re-
marks and conduct"
Representative VIM undertook to
defend himself Speaker Holder stop
Ped him with the statement that his
remarks were out of order because
former governor has as much ri2ht on
the floor as a member of the house, and
that if he had known what Representa-
tive VIM was going to say he would
not have recognized him, and that his
remarks tresspassed the rules and
tresspassed the courtesy due his fell
low members. Representative VIM
then declared that he was sorry it he
had tresspassed the courtesy due his
fellow members. Representative John"
son, of Barlow, interrupted him with
the proposal that his apology be ac-
copied, and the Conger resolution be
withdrawn. Instantly there were loud
shouts Of mol" throughout the hall.
Continuing Representative Winn de-
clared that to the extent of his tress-
pass upon courtesy, he regretted his
remarks, but nevertheless they were
a deliberate expression of the feeling
in his heart and for so expressing him
self he had no apology to make.
The Conger resolution was then put
to a vote and was unanimously and
vociferously adopted.
Former Governor Slaton and Repre-
sentative VIM engaged in fist fight
at the Kimball House yesterday after
noon. Slaton was the ag2ressor, VIM
pointed out, and roundly slapped his
face Many legislators commended the
former governors act.