Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-15
Secretary of Lords Day ALI
ance and Glen Echo Mama
ger Join in Melee.
LATTER KNOCKED DOWN
IN COMMITTEE ROOM
Free-for-All Follows Alleged
Heckling of Rev. H. M. Lawson
by Texas Member.

on the Landlord Sunday closing bill
before the judiciary subcommittee of
the House District committee today.
The following Incidents were out
standing:
Representative Thomas l.. Blanton.
Democrat, of Texas, and Representa-
tive Sol Bloom. Democrat, of New
York. had a personal encounter. dur
ing which the latter was forced back
over the table by Mr.. Blanton.
Harry l.. BOwlby, secretary of the
Lords Day Alliance and an advocate
for the proposed legislation. took a
crack at the official stenographer. who
was the smallest man about the big
committee table, behind which the
row started. and knocked off his
glasses and his stenotype machine.
One Knocked Down.
l.. b. Schloss, manager of Glen
Echo, came up on the run to retail
late at Mr.. Blanton and was Knocked
on the floor, where, it is claimed by
onlookers. both Mr.. Bowlby and Mr..
BlantOn kicked at him.
A number of men in the audience
gathered about the combatants, en-
deavoring to restrain them, and while
the melee was in progress a woman
in the audience stSod with hand up
raised. crying for Divine intercession
to end the trouble.
She later gave her name as Miss Fl.
Pitts, Is Iowa Circle, a member of the
McKendree Methodist Church.
You notice that the fighting ceased
as soon as called upon God for aid
said Miss Pitts. While she was call
ing on Heaven there were demands
from the other side of the room. di-
rected at the combatants, TO sock
'em in the jaw
Rev II. NJ. Lawson, pastor of the
Maryland Avenue Baptist Church. was
speaking in opposition TO the bill when
the disturbance started. Members OF
the subcommittee. which was presided
over by Representative Clarence j.
Mcleod, Republican, of Michigan, had
venting him from making his state
ment. The principal offenders in this
regard were Representative Blanton
and Representative Frank r.. Reid.
of Illinois.
Bloom Offers Protest.
Representative Bloom who had been
taking no part in the hearing. but was
sitting at one side as an auditor, arose
in protest, declaring that as member
of Congress he wanted to protest
against such proceedings.
He and Blanton then began an argu-
ment. Mr.. Blanton stating that this
shows the opposition to the legislation
is from the New York moving picture
industry"
Mr.. Bloom replied that he was
speaking only in the interest of or.
derly procedure and during the quick
exchange between himself and Mr.
Blanton, Mr.. Bloom said THE gentle
man from Texas states what is not
true"
Mr.. Blanton rushed for Mr.. Bloom
and they became locked in each 9th
er's arms, with Mr. Blanton's forearm
across Mr.. Blooms throat. Mr.. Blan-
ton bent Mr.. Bloom backward over
the committee table, so that the upper
part of his body was lying on the
table. MIR. Bloom shouted! Give me
a chance to get my glasses Off" Mr..
Blanton was pulled away by G.. Melvin
Sharpe of the Washington Railway
and Electric Co. and others who
jumped to the rescue
Throughout the hubbub. chairs were
overturned. several other incipient
fights were checked and there were
general cries of Coward The official
lost his glasses and his
notes
against the way that the Baptist min.
lister was being heckled without max
ing any reference to the merits of
either side of the question lIIder con-
he was vigorously ap-
pla uded by the large gathering in the
caucus room.
Kicking by BlantOn Charged.
Manager Schloss of Glen Echo Park
was among several who endeayored TO
strike Mr.. Blanton in protest against
his physical attack on Mr.. Bloom. and
Mr.. Blanton retaliated by erdeavoying
to strike Mr.. Schloss. In the strug-
gle Mr.. SchloSS was thrown back
ward, falling on the floor, where a
number of close onlOokers declared ne
was kicked at by both Mr.. Bowlby and
Mr.. Blanton.
The melee was short lived, but
while it lasted the supplications of
Miss Pitts rang out above the hub
oub
At the opening of the hearing MIR.
Banton made a long statement I'm
-avOr of the Sunday observance bill.
saying that while he did not believe
religion and morality could be legis-
ated into people, yet he believed that
aw should require reasonable observ-
tnce of the Sabbath. He said that
the Lankford bill is too drastic and
,hded the subcommittee for wasting
is time on the hearings. advising thar .
t should meet in executive session to