Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-08
Capital SideIights
BIZ Will P. Kennedy.

The fist fight in the House the other
evening between Representatives Martin
L. Sweeney of Ohio and Beverly M. Vim
cent OF Kentucky was reminder that
while turbulent scenes were frequent
in the first half century of Congress,
practice. of 1.-The manly art in settling
arguments in the legislative chamber
has gone into disuse in more recent
years. One historic clash recorded IN
Poore's "reminiscences preceded the cleo
ton of Representative Robert c. VIM
throp of Massachusetts, as Speaker in
the 30th Congress in 1S47, when slavery
was the absorbing issue. Representatives
Bob" Toombs, Georgia; William Duer,
New York; Thomas H. Bayly and r. K.
Mead, Virginia, engaged in acrimonious
debate Duer denounced Mead as dis
unionist" and the short and ugly word"
was exchanged. Sergeant-at-Arm Ma
than Sergeant OF Vermont seized the
mace and quelled the tumult. Just three
score years ago, Speaker Samuel j. Ran
dali of Pennsylvania ordered Sergeant
at-Arms John G. Thompson of Ohio to
proceed with the mace when Represent
atives William A. ]. Sparks of Illinois
and J. B. Weaver, Iowa, menaced each
other. The popular Speaker John G..
Carlisle of Kentucky was defied by
Representative John D. White from his
own State whom he had ordered to take
his seat after using abusive language, on
February II, 1885, but when the mace was
held in front of him his buster wilted.
In the 53rd Congress the sergeant at
arms. Samuel S. Yoder, Ohio, with
mace in hand, brought Representatives
John A Heard. Missouri, and w. C. P.
Breckenridge, Kentucky, before the bar
of the House. after a brief scuffle They
apologized to the House and to each
other. Representative Charles L. Bart
lett, a fiery but able member from
Georgia, caused scenes in both the 55th
and 60h Congresses. In the first instance
he hurled a book at Representative
James M. Brumm, Pennsylvania; in his
second outbreak Mr.. Bartlett rushed at
Representative George Southwick. New
York, brandishing a knife. He in
terpreted as directed at himself a caustic
remark by Mr.. Southwick, who was
angered because an increase in compen-
sation had not been allowed a House
employe. During the famous War
Congress, Representative Tom Heflin of
Alabama was principal in two riotous
scenes. First there was an exchange of
ugly words with Representative Patrick
D. Norton, North Dakota; second, Mr..
Hefiin, ardent advocate of war, cast
aspersions on the patriotism of fellow
members. Representative John L. Bur-
nett of his own home State asked why
his colleague did not go to war himself.
In both instances the mace was required
to restore order. The most recent occa-
sion on which a Speaker directed that
the mace be taken from its pedestal at
the right of the Speakers rostrum was
during a roll call in the 73rd Congress,
but in the hubbub his voice was not
heard by Sergeant at-Arms Kenneth
Romney and order was restored without
the mace being presented. Henry T.
Rainey of Illinois was Speaker, and it
was Representatives Elise, California,
and Deem, Georgia, who had the en-
counter.
Thus, through the years-during a
century and half-the mace has never
failed II, quoting truculent members.
Aside from the flag, the mace is the
only visible symbol of Federal Govern
ment authority. A timely booklet on
the mace has just been printed by the
House for distribution to schools and
libraries throughout the country. The
present sergeant-at-arms, Kenneth ROM
ney, 25th occupant of that important
office, has made thorough revision of
previous publications He explains that
the mace has no counterpart in the
Senate or Supreme Court. 1t was pro-
vided for by resolution adopted in the
First Congress, in 1889. The first mace
was destroyed BY fire when the British
Army set fire to the Capitol in 1914. A
painted wooden substitute was used until
1841 when the present mace was made
in exact reproduction of the original
mace. There are two ether historic
maces in this country, which ante-date
the Federal Government. THE older and
more ornate was presented to the cor
poration Of Norfolk, Va, IN 1853.