The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-18
HOUSE IN UPROAR
 AS TEXAS MEMBERS
 ABUSE EACH OTHER
Salary Grab Charges of Blan- ton, Printed In Texas News papers, Which Sumner
 Declares False
By Associated Press

l
 "liar," were shouted on the
 floor of the House today in the
 stormiest session in years. The
 uproar started when Represen-
 tative Sumner of Texas, having
 left a sick bed, appeared in the
 House and, supported by most
 members of his own state dele gation, launched an attack on
 his colleague, Representative
 Blanton.
 1 Rumors had been circulating about
 the House for days that the Texans
 were preparing to make the attack
 on their follow member, but 1t was
 held off until MT. Sumner was physi- eally able to direct it. When he ! stepped forward, with faded news
 paper clipping in his nand. nearly ev- cry member was on the floor. CHARGES TREASURY RAID Read by the clerk of the House, the clipping revealed that MT. Blanton, III a letter to Texas newspapers had | charged members with 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 the alleged salary grab. There wns tense moment in the chamber as the reading was concluded, md Mir. Simmer step vxx. x.u< rIH. .Sx.~. was seated. shook his fist in the l iatter's face and dramatically shouted; And when you sent that statement to Texas you knew ii was false ns heilw The House broke into n wild shout, half the
 membership rising, Blnnton, tomp- ing to his feet and trying to make himself heard nbove the din, de-
 manded the right to speak. BLANTON HOWLED DOWN He was howIed down, the chair sus- taining the point of order that he could not be heard at that time on a ques- ton of personal privelege. Mir. Sumner, walking back and forth, con- tinued the attack. mfr. Blantons eyes following every step. The speech was
 constantly interrupted with shouting at the conclusion of almost every sert- l tence of denunciation
 1 Mr. Sumner declared the record showed that no effort had been rads sto slip tlrough | salary increase bl3s 1, and that Mir. Blantons claim that lie | was forced to remain constantly on the | floor to block 1t was utterly absurd and untrue. The question had come ID i twice in the present Congress, Mir Sumner said, and it was knocked out on points of order once by Repre- tsentative Burns, democrat. Tennessee, and once by Representative Wood. re- [ I~1 low xfxx< l4 serted, was not even "in on the wake.' The demonstration reached re- markable proportions when . tap of the gnvel marked the close of the time allotted for the speech. Democrats, first on their feet in body, were joined at the same i'm stant by every republican. There wns n rush to the front, as mem- bers struggled to grasp Mv. Sum- ner by the hand.
 Above the tumult Blanton strovA vainly to make himself heard. As MT. Sumner turned toward his seat. an- other group Of members started toward him to offer congratulations. MT. Biar- ton again attempted to gain hearing, his voice still pitched high. Again he was how1ed down, as dozen repub- IicanS insisted on enforcement of the rule that he take his seat. CAUSES NEW ROW 1 After the hubdub had kept up for several minutes Chairman S1emp of the subcommittee in charge of the fortifi- cations bill, which was before the House, gave the Texan three minutes to reply, but nobody could hear half he said. Right at the start MT, Blanton caused row by charging that Repre- sentative Campbell. democrat, Pennsyi- vania had asked him to keep away when the salary bill was called up. Pale with anger, MT. Campbell
 jumped to his feet nnd shouted m
 indignant denial. declaring there was not . word of truth in the statement.
 Apparently unruffled, Mir. Blan-
 ton turned toward the repubIfcan
 side and charged that Repreeenta-
 tive Strong of Kansas had requests
 cd him not to demand roll call on
 the measure.
 Also angry. MT. Strong walked
 toward Mir. BIanton and told the
 House the statement was false.
 In the last minute of his time Mr.i Blanton declared that MT. Sumner wanted to run for the Senate from Texas and that this desire was tho basis of the attack on him.
 At this the whole House again rose, and mighty shouts echoed the state- ment. Old members said later 1t was $ the most remarkable spectacle they ever had seen. Finally, when some sem blance of order was restored. Blan- ton declared that he. too. had been men, tioned by Texas papers for the Senate Nothing could be heard after that. Tor the uproar got beyond all bounds.
 The attack today on Mir. Blanton waa the continuation of many made hereto fore by members who charged that he was continually blocking legislation by points of order.