Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1919-12-21
FRANK BLOOM
PUMME:LS CITY
BUREAU AGENT
son of Chamber Secretary
y Severely Handles J. J.
= McKenna
NO ARRESTS; NEITHER
MAKES STATEMENT
Charge That American City Blu
reau was Putting Out Ticket
Was the Cause of Scrap
at Chamber

tarv E. B. Bloom of the Chamber
If Commerce, yesterday Afternoon
severely pummeled j. J. McKenna
representative of the American
City bureau in charge of the re
organization of the chamber here
following an argument between
McKenna and E. B. Bloom.
The fight occurred at the Cham
Der of Commerce about 4 O'Clock,
and was witnessed by E. B. Bloom,
John Bloom, DR.. O. W. Clark, c.
Buford, McKenna's assistant.
and Mrs. Lucy Critz, county home
demonstration agent, who has an
office in the Chamber of Com
merce assembly room, where the
American City bureau representa-
tives also have their headquarters.
After the affair, McKenna went
to his room at GIG West Fourth
avenue, and received treatment for
his hurts. Neither of the prin-
cipals had been arrested last
night, and neither would make Il
statement.
None of the witnesses to the at
fair, except DR.. Clark, would give
newspaper men a statement re-
garding the details.
W. W. Taylor, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, last night
gave out a statement, based on in
formation he had gathered, to the
effect that Frank Bloom attacked
McKenna as the latter was lean
ing against a desk, knocked him
down several times and brought
blood in profusion. The fight, ac-
.cording to Mr.. Taylor's statement,
was the outgrowth of the hot
political fight that is being waged
for directorate of the chamber,
and the result of charges made to
him (Taylor) by E. B. Bloom that
1be American bureau was sending
edt tickets" urging chamber mem
bers to vote for a board that would
elect an out-of-town man as sec
rotary of the organization, and
that in doing so cacy were using
Chamber of Commerce stamps.
Wanted Retraction.
Mr.. Taylor says he interrogated
McKenna and made an investiga-
ton, and reached the conclusion
that the charge was unfounded.
He said McKenna went to E. g..
Blooms office yesterday afternoon
and demanded a retraction of the
charge. Some witnesses said
last night that Mr.. Bloom told
Mr.. McKenna he had made no such
charge, while others said Mr.
Bloom had declined to discuss the
matter with the American City
bureau representative.
McKenna, according to Mr..
Taylor's information, after seeing
3. B. Bloom went out into the
chamber assembly room and was
leaning against a desk, when, ac-
cording to witnesses, Frank Bloom,
Frank Bloom, Taylor said
told McKenna that he Crank
'Bloom) had made the statement
attributed to E. B. Bloom, and
wanted to know if McKenna want
ed retraction. McKenna said he
did. At almost the same instant
Frank Bloom struck McKenna and
knocked him down. AS McKenna
arose he was again knocked down.
and this continued until the others
present interviewed. McKenna's
right eye was almost closed and
his face was severely bruised by
other blows Frank Bloom deliver
ed.
Taylor said that he was unable
70 ascertain whether McKenna
phturned Blooms attack, but other
nltnesses last night declared he
did and succeeding in landing one
or two blows. McKenna, Taylor
stated, probably was groggy from
the first blow, and did not remen-
Der how he replied.
DIR. Clark said he was in Secre-
tary Blooms private office when
Inere was a knock at the door.
ne said Mr.. Bloom went to the
door. and told some one: "I'm busy
WIGHT now, I'll see you in a few
minutes" The door was then
forced open, DR.. Clark said, and
'@e two American City bureau
zen entered. Mr.. McKenna accused
VMr. Bloom of making the charge
Investigated by Mr.. Taylor, and
SPOKE 13 harshly. DIR. Clark said. Mr..
bloom said he had not made the
cnsa.rge, and the two men left the
o1Ilce. DR.. Clark said that antici-
upa7tlng both men would attack Mr.:
Lpioom, he had started to pull off
MS ms coat to prevent such an occur
n Several Kn0ckd0wns.
/ ~, U. Clark and Mr.. Bloom re-
s sa.ned their conversation, the doc
] 40, sad, and shortly John Bloom
ualae IN, followed in few min
~ aSes oy Frank Bloom. They learn
th IL u the visit of Mr.. McKenna
through a remark made by DR..
Wontinued on Page S.