The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1941-03-27
SOLON SWINGS
FIST AT FOE AT
JOINT HEARING
Friends Blow, Backed By Shout
of Damned LIAR" Misses
Member OF GubernatOrial
Commission, Annapolis

A wild Senatorial punch that failed
to land, but backed up by shout of
damned liar" last Thursday after
noon brought to a close a hearing
before a joint House and Senate COM
mittee on the administration uni
fed conservation plan, according to an
article in the Baltimore Sun of Fri
day morning, the no-hit set-to oc-
Cured in a committee room at the
State Capitol.
The puncher was Senator Clifford
Friend (Rep., Garrett).
The intended punchee was H. Lee
Hoffman, who was a member of the
gubernatorial commission that evolved
the unified program sponsored by the
administration. Mr.. Hoffman appeared
as proponent of the legislation.
Hopes For Privilege
Although no blows actually were
struck, and the impending melee was
avoided, Senator Friend later reiter-
ated what he had shouted at Mr.. Hoff-
man, namely, that he "is a damned
liar" and said he hoped to have the
privilege of knocking his damned
teeth down his throat"
The Senate reconvened a few min
utes after the alteration, which was
caused by lantern slide shown by
Mr.. Hoffman, and Senator Friend on
a point of personal privilege had in
serted in the journal of proceedings
remarks in which he termed the slide
"a BLACKBOARD and insult against every
citizen of Garrett county"
Taken At Random, He Says
The slide in question showed, ac-
cording to witnesses, a group of be-
draggled, sickly persons standing be-
fore howell, which Mr.. Hoffman told
the assemblage was a scene in Garrett
county.
Senator Friend did not see the slide,
but was told what it depicted and
demanded to know of Mr.. Hoffman
whether he had not searched out this
pG2sicular group,
1t was, Senator Friend said, when
Mr.. Hoffman insisted that the picture
had been taken at random that the
Senator swung at him and called him
"a damned liar"
Did Not See Picture
"Mr President" said Senator
Friend when the Senate convened, 81
rise to a point of personal privilege.
81 have just learned, sir, that some
person using a moving picture ma
chine flashed on the canvas a scene
allegedly taken in Garrett county,
which was supposed to represent con-
ditions prevailing there.
"Mr. President, l did not see the
picture personally. l am told that it
consisted of dozen persons stand
ing in front of dilapidated shack, all
with ragged clothes and dirty faces
and large necks, and that the exhibitor
stated to the congregation in this
chamber that this is representative of
a condition which they are seeking to
overcome in Garrett county.
Would Take Him There
"Sir, l wish I could take you to
Garrett county. l can show you hun
dreds of orderly, clean, well-kept
farmhouses. l can show you thous-
ands of acres of beautiful forests pri-
vately owned and maintained.
Il can show you dozens of small
towns and villages with their schools
and churches with their spires and
their domes pointing toward the skies.
II can show you thousands of hard
working, self-respecting, honest citi-
zens of Maryland who take pride ir
/ their native hills.
"The picture shown, Mr.. President
y, constitutes BLACKBOARD and an insult
/ against every citizen of Garrett coun
= ty and that, sir, is why | rise to my
feet to a point of personal privilege
), to resent this unwarranted assault OF
). the good name of our county.
DO Not Know Purpose"
81 do not know the purpose Of this
picture-I understand there was ;
hearing going ont must have beer