Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-12
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

about the wide and woolly, gun-toting,
two-flsted fighting days in Congress
when he-men dealt with each
other. ." This is q sample Of fan
mail received during the past week.
To comply:
hum had blasphemous set-to in the
terized language used by Callun as Elm
famously false" Callun1, who sat about
Is feet from Churchwell, sprang from
his seat with both fists appraised and
exclaimed d D. you, you D.
rascail" He tried to "get at" him.
Callum said Churchwell drew q pistol"
on him. The Speaker pounded. The
sergeant-at-armed, and held UP the
mace (the supreme symbol Of House au-
thority). But calm succeeded, as 1t
always does, after a time.
Who recalls the time when the great
Charles Sumner, Senator from Massa-
the Senate chamber from Representa-
tive Preston 8. Brooks, a member Of
the House from South Carolina? 1t
was on May %, 1856, that Brooks
rushed into the Senate and knocked
down and beat Senator Sumner before
the latter could rise from his chair.
That this attack was intended was
known to Edmundson Of Virginia and
Keitt Of South Carolina, who were
both present when 1t took place. The
memory and influence Of this encounter
lived for many years and are still kept
alive by occasional citation. Brooks
afterward challenged Senator Henry
Wilson, who was opposed to "the CODE"
He also challenged Burlingame, who
accepted and named the Canada side
at Niagara Falls, and proceeded to
the designated field of Honor" Brooks
declined to meet Burlingame at that
place, alleging that the location had
been selected because 1t would be i'm
possible for him to be present.
And the "War of Wafers"-a historic
event in 1856, in which one Of the an
tagonists was Representative John Sher-
man of Ohio, who later was elected to
the Senate as successor to the famous
Salmon p. Chase. and then after
period of 20 years again elected Sen
ator to succeed James A. Garfield when
the latter became President. Sherman
was twice q cabinet ofdcer-Secretary
Of the Treasury under Hayes and Sec
rotary of the Treasury under Mckinley.
Sherman in his younger days in the
House tried to throw . handful of
waters In the face Of Representative
Wright Of Tennessee. Wright responded
with well directed thrust of his fist
to Sherman's nose. After considerable
confusion the hot blood cooled down,
but the war Of Waters" was for long
by-word in congressional Longing
rooms.
A regular rough and tumble row took
place in the House on February S, 1858,
during discussion Of the Lecompton
constitution. A wild, excited and inco-
herent debate was interrupted by Rep
resentative Keitt of South Carolina
striking Grow Of Pennsylvania, with
something like battle royal resulting
After they were hauled apart, they
again clashed. Keitt again struck Grow
and Grow promptly felled him with
return swing.
The combat thickened and deepened
The respective friends of the belliger-
ents rushed to the fray. Blows fell
thick and fast. Washburn of Illinois
and Potter of Wisconsin, towering
among the milling throng, tried inef-
fectually to quell the riot by their own
physical proves. At this critical stu
alton Covode Of Pennsylvania seized a
spittoon, balanced 1t for a moment in
the air. with the objective point the head
Of Barksdale Of Mississippi, who was
approaching IN 'menacing attitude"
Barksdale's wig fell OF, Covode lowered
his inelegant missile. Meanwhile the
sergsa ant at arms was running here and
there, like the pee-wit." exhibiting his
face. which nobody seemed able to see
The conversation which led to this
undignifled melee, and awakened the
sleeping members was this wise: Grow
was on the side of the House occupied
by the Southern members and objected
to Quitman's making any remarks.
Keitt impatiently challenged him, III
you are going to object. return to your
own side of the House" Grow bristled
every man has right to be where he
pleases." Keitt then came nearer to
Grow and said, IT want to know what
you mean by such an answer as that"
Grow replied by repeating his former
declaration. Keitt grabbed Grow by the
throat. and spit out, II will let you
know that you are a ID black Re-
publican puppy" Grow knocked up
the hand at his throat. fuming back,
Il shall occupy just such place in this
hall as / please, and no Negro-driver
shall crack his whip over me-" Keitt
again grasped Grow by the throat and
Keitt came at him, Grow squarely
knocked him down. It was near 2
o'clock in the morning when these
proceeding" took place.
4
Charges of forgery of the record of
the proceedings of the House in 1860
led to bitter quarrel which eliminated
in Representative Pryor challenging
Representative Potter. The latter, as
was customary, named the weapons
Pryor declined to meet him in mortal
combat with bowie knives.