Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-23
Fist Fights in Congress Give
Editors Subject for Debate

! Belligerency among members of
Congress which developed into per-
sonal encounters has furnished q fruit.
full subject of light debate among the
editors. One explanation Of the unac-
customed physical conflicts is that the
coming OF Spring has had its effect
| upon the temperaments OF the national
! legislators. The strain of a busy ses-
| sion and the approach of adjournment
are also mentioned while substitute
| for long -drawn-out forensic. contests is
| believed by some to have been sought.
"'Spring Is strong and virtuous,
| the poet Emerson sang" recalls the
| Newark Evening News, (which brings
| to mind another quotation as familiar.
acclaiming The merry cuckow, mes
senger of Spring Reports from
| roundabout are promising of early
| balminess. Fancy of the little birds
now lightly turns to thoughts of mat
! ing and that of members of Congress
! to combat. Manifestly the veTnal
| influence lies along the Potomac. In
| the open spaces tops are spinning and
kites are flying; in the halls of legisla-
| ton are spinning inkwells and flying
/ fists. Representative Blanton of
| Texas, champion of a chaste and de-
corous observance OF Sunday in the
| District Of Columbia, at grapples with
Representative Bloom of New York;
Rev. Bowlby of East Orange. secre-
tary Of the Lord $ Day Alliance. VIC
| lently. though without damage. join
| ing in the fray-Spring would indeed
seem strong and virtuous in its mani
festations Still, could 1t not have
been that the merry cuckow' was
somewhere about?"
With more prosaic point of view,
the Minneapolis Tribune suggests that
some of the Senator'S and Representa-
tives seem to be getting into a frame
OF mind that is synonymous with
state of nerves." and that paper adj
vises that "it may be just as well. in
the interests OF peace, order and whole
skins. that this session of Congress
should come to an end on March g."
1t is of the opinion that resort to
muscles in lieu of mere words snacks
too much of the old code duello days
when honor was a sensitive thing
and differences We're adjusted with a
killing or a sword prick, as the case
might be. There is some advantage.
however, in a scrap as substitute
for debate in Congress. The princi-
pals arrive at given point more
quickly, and something is saved on
Congressional Record printing. Some
satisfaction derives, too, from the fact
that all these recent rows were intra-
party affairs. in which Democrat chal-
lenged Democrat and Republican chal-
lenged Republican"
= * X
Representative Blanton'S victory on
points over Representative Bloom" as
it appears to the Roanoke Times, ZEN
titles the Texan. to serious considera-
ton In case Tex Richard decides to
seek challenger in the ranks of Con-
gress. Reports say that Blanton not
only had the New York man down
across table. but found time to
punch a couple of bystanders for good
measure when they thought the thing
had gone far enough. As lawmaker
Mr. Blanton never has impressed the
country as a heavyweight, but as
pugilist he seems to have decided pos
sibilties. Meanwhile, Sol Bloom, hay
ing been eliminated in the first round
OF the tournament, can give his undi-
vided attention to lawmaking. That
may not be such a had thing. after
AL, come to think - ~ AaxlaeMs -