Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1909 — SENATOR BAILEY CHOKES A SCRIBE [ARTICLE]

SENATOR BAILEY CHOKES A SCRIBE

Writer Strikes Statesman With Umbrella. CLAPP STOPS THE EMBROIL Trouble Brought About by Texan’s An raignment of Author of Article In New York Times During Which the journalist Was Called a Liar and Characterized as a “Miserable Creature Unfit to Associate With Honest Men." Washington, May 28. Senator Bailey of Texas and W. S. Manning, representative of the New York Times In the senate press gallery, exchanged blows as a result of a conversation they had in reference to an article printed by the New York newspaper questioning the sincerity of the senator in his course on the income tax. j Neither of the participants was injured, as they were separated by Senator Clapp, Porto Commissioner Larranaga, a number of senate employes and several newspaper correspondents.

Short and Ugly Word Used. An attack upon the author of an article charging that Bailey had played into the hands of Senator Aldrich in demanding an immediate vote on the income tax amendment and had thus caused a split of the forces supporting such an amendment was made by Bailey on the floor of the senate. Manning accosted Bailey to inform him that he was inaccurate in suggesting Republican senators as a possible source of Inspiration for the article. According to both Manning and Bailey, Manning disclaimed authorship of the story, and at the same time stated that the inspiration for it had been Bailey's demands for immediate vote and his “haslng" of Republican senators who favored the income tax proposition, but who did not support him in his demands for a vote at the present time. | \ Bailey declared the man who had written the article was a "liar.'' Manning responded that he “had not had the honor to write the story." Bailey says that the word “honor” was emphasised In a manner intended to be offensive. Several persons heard the word “liar” proclaimed in a loud voice and then saw Bailey and Manning clinch. Manning claims Bailey hit him first. Iti_ the mlx-up. Manning atrutf

tne senator with his umbrella knocEflng off the senator’s hat, and the senator grabbed Manning by the throat. Peacemakers Arrive on Scene. At this juncture Senator Clapp and Larranaga Clapp threw his arms around Bailey, who at that time seemed to be in a position to do serious injury to the newspaper correspondent, a young man of very slight build. The Texas sen'ator struggled desperately to break from this restraint, but Clapp tightened his hold and newspaper correspondents pushed Manning away. Manning was escorted from the corridor. Bailey in his speech not only asserted that the writer of the article was "an infamous liar,” but that he was “a miserable creature unfit to associate with honest men.” By the decisive vote of 50 to 33 the senate decided to postpone until June 10 the further consideration of the income tax question.