Evening star., 1924-05-08
D. C. Committeeman
NEAR BLOWS IN ROW
Blanton and Hammer Separated
After Picturesque Exchange
of Personalities.
BOTH APOLOGIZE FOR ACTIONS
Texan Charges He Was Not Mott
fed of Meeting.

Representative Thomas L. Blanton
Democrat, of Texas, and Representa-
tive William C. Hammer, Democrat
of North Carolina, induIged in per-
sonalities, and were prevented from
physical encounter by Acting Chair
man Zihlman and several witnesses
in the House District committee room
today, when hearings were scheduled
to start on the Great Falls hydro
electric development legislation.
The tension between Representative
Hammer and Representative Blanton
has been marked in the committees
regular sessions, and even during the
period of hearing witnesses.
The trouble arose today because
Representative Blanton claimed To
have not been informed, or to have
overlooked the fact. that hearings
were to start and had made other en-
gasements He protested that he
wished to be present during all the
hearings
Verbiage P7cturcsque.
Within a few minutes Representa-
tives Blanton and Hammer were com
menting in picturesque language
about each others behavior at Dis
trict committee meetings Repre-
sentative Blanton repeated a state
he considered Representative Ham
mer "a garulous old grandmother. /"
Representative Hammer retorted
that Representative Blanton had re
spect of neither man nor woman, nor
the confidence OF any Of his COL
leagues"
A number of other unparliament-
ary expressions were used.
After few minutes the two repre-
sentatives endeavored to show each
other that they were not towards, -
as they had charged, and they were
ready to settle it in a man-to-man
fashion.
Blanton Shouts @Liar..
At one stage of the PROCEEDINGS,
endeavor1ng to push Representative
Hammer in one direction, while other
witnesses were pushing Representa-
tive Blanton in the opposite direc-
ton, Representative Blanton vigor-
ously used the word 'rliar'' several
times. At that, Representative Ham
mer reached for one of the folding
chairs provided for witnesses. and
endeavored to swing it over the head
OF several witnesses to hit Represent
otiNS bldulOu-
After they had been once ouieted
down the two members got excited
again and tried to get at each other
across the table. This time Repre-
sentative Hammer reached for a
heavy folder containing the bill
awaiting consideration before the
committee, but again the two repre-
sentatives were restrained.
Meeting Deferred.
Eventually. on motion of Repre-
sentative Hammer and out of courtesy
to the wish Of Representative Blanton.
the committee decided to postpone the
meeting until tomorrow morning.
In the meantime efforts were made
TO reach an agreement to start the
hearings this afternoon or tonight,
but Representative Oscar E. Keller of
Minnesota could not agree to that
proposal on account of previous en-
gagements.
Before they left the committee
room Representative Blanton and
Representative Hammer shook hands
frankly admitting that they had lost
their heads, and promising each other
that the incident was closed. Repre-
sentative Hammer apologized to the
committee and witnesses for having
acted 80 foolishly." He said he was
ashamed" Of his conduct.