The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-02-18
STORMIEST SESSION IN YEARS
ENACTED ON FLOOR OF House
Uproar Started BY Summers
When He Bitterly De-
nOunces BlantOn.
BOTH SIDES GIVE SUPPORT
House Breaks in Wild Shout as
Summers Completes De-
nunciation of BiantOn.
(5y Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON. Feb 17.-Hoots, cat
calls and the word liar" were shouted
on the floor of the house today in the
stormiest session in years. The uproar
started when Representative Summers, OF
Texas, having left a sick bed. appeared
in the house. and supported by most
members of his own state delegation,
launched an attack on his colleague, Rep
resentative Blanton.
Rumors had been circulating about the
house for days that the Texans We're
preparing to make the attack on their
fellow member, but it was held off un-
til Mr.. Summers was physically able to
direct it. When he stepped forward with
faded newspaper clipping in his hand.
nearly every member was on the
floor.
Read by the clerk of the house. the
clipping revealed that Mr.. Blanton, in
a letter to Texas newspapers. had
charged members with a concerted
plan to raid the treasury and obtain
salary Increases, which he alone had
prevented heretofore. The press was
asked to help and many papers to which
appeal was made responded with bitter
assaults upon those charged with back
ing the alleged salary grab.
There was tense moment in the
chamber as the reading was concluded
and Mr.. Summers, stepping close to
"AASAC vi IotaiIIOH was seated, SnpNk
his fist in the latter's face and dra-
matically shouted:
And when you sent that statement
to Texas you knew it was as false as
he'll"
The house broke into wild shout,
half the membership rising. Bianton,
jumping TO his feet, and trying to
make himself heard above the din. de-
manded the right to speak He was
howled down, the chair sustaining a
point OF order that he could not be
heard at that time on a question of
personal privilege.
Mr.. Summers, walking back and forth.
continued the attack, Mr.. Blanton's
eyes following every step. The speech
was constantly interrupted with shout
ing at the conclusion of almost every
sentence of denunciation Mr.. summers
declared the record showed that no ef-
fort had been made to slip through a
salary increase BILL and that Mr.. Blan-
tons claim that he was forced to
remain constantly on the floor to block
1t was utterly absurd and untrue The
question had come up twice in the pres
ent congress, Mr.. Summers said, and il
was knocked out on points of order. Mr..
Blanton, he asserted was not even in
on the wake"
The demonstration reached remark
able proportions when a tap OF the gayeI
marked the close of the time allotted for
the speech. Democrats. first on their
feet in body We're joined at the same
instant by every republican. There was
a rush to the front, as members strue
gled to grasp Mr.. Summers by the
hand.
Above the tumult Blanton strove
Nainly TO make himself heard. As MIR.
Summers turned toward his seat an
other group of members started toward
him to offer congratulations Mr.. Blan-
ton again attempted to gain a hearing.
Again he was ''howled down as a dozen
republicans insisted on enforcement or
the rule that he take his seat
After the house hubbub had kept
up for several minutes, Chairman
Slempt of the subcommittee in charge
of the fortifcations bill, which was be-
fore the house. gave the. Texan three
minutes to reply, but nobody could hear
half he said. Right at the start Mr..
Blanton caused a row by charging that
Representative Campbell. democrat.
Pennsylvania, had asked him to keep
away when the salary bill was called up.
Pale with anger Mr.. Campbell jumped
to his feet and shouted an indignant de-
nial declaring there was not a word of
truth in the statement. Apparently un-
ruffled Mr. Blanton turned toward the
republican side and charged that Rep.
resentative Strong, of Kansas. had re-
quested him not to demand roll call
on the measure.
Also angry. Mr.. Strong walked toward
Mr.. Blanton and told the house the
statement was false
In the last minute of his time. Mr.
Blanton declared that Mr.. Summers
wanted to run for the senate from Texas
and that this desire was the basis for
the attack on him.