Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-11-30
FIST FIGHT HAL IS
COMMONS SESSION
Major Nelson and Joseph DevIin
Come to Blows.
IRESULT OF IRISH QUESTION
Nationalist Member Loses His Coat in
! Battle, but Peace Is Restored
, When Unionist Apologies for
| Show of Temper.

& Show of Temper.
London, Nov. 23.-Two members of
the house of commons came to blows
sduring the question period with the
Irish situation under discussion.
They were Joseph Devlin, national
list, and Maj. John Nelson, coalition
unionist.
The sitting was temporarily suspend
ed. Peace was made after Major Mol
son had ap0logized. Mr.. Devlin accept
ing the apology.
/ The beginning of the trouble came
while Sir Hamar Greenwood, chief sec
tretary for Ireland, was reading the de-
tails of Sundays assassinations in
Dublin to the house. There was silence
Except for occasional shocked muir
lmurs, and when he had finished appre-
lciable time elapsed before a single
member arose to ask question.
Brings Cries of "Sit Down."
/ The speaker, in fact had called Sir
civilian Henry Davidson, who had
igiven notice of an emergency question,
when Mr.. Devlin arose and was heard
to say, MAY ask-?"
There Immediately came chorus of
iangry cries of No! Sit down."
Mr.. Devlin did resume his seat but
apparently. under a misapprehension,
las directly on Sir William rising to put
his question the nationalist member
ialso arose. He was received With re-
Inewed cries of ''sit down. and was the
lObject of hostile demonstration. Mr..
tDevlin ignored the speakers request
to resume his seat, although he was as
Esured he would have another oppor-
ttunity of speaking, as another ques-
ton on Ireland was among the APP
lproved question papers.
+! The speaker called on Sir William
again, and the member asked as his
iquestiOn whether the premier was
aware that the house was prepared at
"a single sitting to give him whatever
EpoWer was necessary to stamp out "the
atrocious murder campaign in Ire
land" and whether he would Introduce
the necessary legislation to enable
ipersons found in possession of arms and
ammunition, without permit, in any
lOf the disturbed areas of Ireland, to be
;shOt
Mr.. Lloyd George, rising, said he
sshared with the last speaker the hor-
,ror all felt at the cold-blooded murder
Eof unarmed British officers.
Government Determined.
The government, continued Mr..
Lloyd George, had resolved to sup
ipress murder and conspiracy in Ire
land. 1t was realized by all that to
suppress such carefully organized,
highly subsidized plots would take
time, but the government was con-
WINGED that, despite the recent hap
openings, the Irish authorities were sue
Iceeding in breaking up the gangs of
laSSaSsins."
The premier said, however, that
'should experience show that the pow
iers possessed by the Irish government
had proved insufficient for that purpose
the government would have no hesita-
itiOn in asking the parliament for such
further authority as might be neces-
Isary to achieve that end.
Mr.. Devlin arose and asked why it
Twas that when Sir Hamar Greenwood,
the chief secretary for Ireland, was
asked a question he recited the hor-
Irible occurrences which had happened
land yet said nothing about the appear
il Of h. no N
match.
He was interrupted with loud cries
of "Sit down -
Mr.. Devlin retorted: Il shan't sit
down. and continued: why has the
house not been made acquainted with
"a recital of these events, of the entry
lof the military into the football field,
land the indiscriminate shooting of ten
ipeople?"
There were loud cries of, "Oh ~
from the house at this.
Sir Hamar replied emphaticaIly that
he had been asked nothing about that
question. but that he was prepared to
answer.
Mr.. Devlin again arose, amid angry
lcries of "Sit down. and was endeav-
loring to speak when Major Nelson en-
ldeavored to pull him down. Mr. Dew
slin Hinged forward fiercely in an effort
to shake off the hold and the latter
rose to his feet and the two closed with
leach other.
Devin Loses His Coat.
"Other members came forward to
separate the pair, but Notwithstanding
these efforts the two men struggled
forward Mr. Devlin, losing his coat
lin the crush, but still holding his own,
Icried:
"Ths is English courage and English
Ichivalry, to attack one man in 600"
After a minute or two The pair were
forced into seats by friends. and the
speaker suspended the sitting.