Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-11

| should be present
| ROBERT s. ROBERTSON. and refuse 10 per-
form the duty when called upon by the
| judge selected by the Democrats to admins
ter the oath of Office TO the newly elected
| senator's.
When Col Robertson arrived he elbowed
his way through the crowd directly to the
door. David + Bulger, who laid violent
bands upon the colonel during the last ses-
sion of the senate, was outside guard at the
entrance, and stopped him with gesture
II wish to go ill.," said the colonel
"Have you ticketl' asked Bulger.
| 81 have not, but am the president Of the
| senate and demand admission
"You can't have it," replied the redoubta-
BILE Bulger. ~ have instructions not to ad-
| NIT any one to the chamber unless he is a
| member of the senate or is II state officer or
| representative of the press Please stand
back and make room for the gentlemen with
tickets"
Robertson stepped TO one side, and wrote a
note to Senator johnson as follows:
have the honor TO inform YOU that I am at the
door OF the senate ready 70 fulfill the duties of
lieutenant governor as presiding officer. but am
refused admission TO the senate chamber re.
quest that you call the attention of the senate To
the fact. and inform it that am present and able
to attend at the session of the senate
The note was signed Lieutenant Governor
of Indiana and was delivered to johnson
by one OF the assistant doorkeepers At this
moment the galleries were thrown open and
an excited crowd pushed and struggled to
secure entrance, and in a twinkling the en-
tire spaceIwas taken.
At 10 o'clock Judge Mitchell, of the SUI
preme court, raped for order and said: sIf
State Auditor Carr is present, | will request
that he come forward and organize the sen
ate' Carr advanced from tue rear OF the
chamber and said:
II understand that Lieutenant Governor
Robertson is at the door to perform the duty
expected of me, but is prevented by the re-
fusal of the doorkeeper to admit him to the
chamber The law provides that shall call
the senate to order only in the absence of the
lieutenant governor, and, as he is present,
do not regard myself as warranted by the
law in exercising such function there
fore decline to organize this body"
Judge Mitchell then proceeded to call the
senate to order, but he had scarcely uttered
a word when Senator johnson rose and pro-
tested against his action a usurpation OF
the functions OF the lieutenant governors
office. The judge proceeded, and johnson
read resolution declaring that Robertson
was legally elected lieutenant governor. that
he was then barred from the senate cham
Der, and that the proceedings were revolu.
tionary and in violation OF the plain letter OF
the law and the constitution.
A dozen Democrats were on fIri- feet in
an instant, and this brought forward an
equal number of Republicans. and perfect
bedlam of sounds was the result Everybody
was talking and nobody listening. and only
those who possessed stentorian voices could
be heard above the din "Fraudi" "Out-
rageP "Cowardr 81 call the senator to
orderr "The people will hold you to a re.
sponsibilityi' "Sit DOWN. "Oh, rent him a
hall and let him speakI' "Ratsi" "Give the
old man a chancer and kindred expressions
were heard throughout the chamber
Judge Mitchell essayed a dozen times to
secure order, and finally called upon the
doorkeeper To seat the senator from Wayne
The new official advanced toward the excited
senator, and, taking him by the arm, tried
TO induce him to be seated. johnson paid
no attention to the officer, but continued to
protest against the organization as an out
rage, and continued it until the Temporary
officers were selected and sworn in. A luIl
In the chamber gave the interchangeable sena-
tor another opportunity, and he moved that
his resolution DO adopted, and, ignoring the
presiding officer he put the question himself,
and was answered by a chorus of "ayesn from
the Republicans and of "noes" from the
Democrats, both parties voting at the same
time. Every vote taken on the permanent
organization was met by similar protest
and numerous speeches.
The officers were finally elected, the Repub-
licans not presenting any candidates and
refusing to answer the roll
As soon the permanent officers were
Sanatnr raioa CT, IL
introducing a resolution declaring that
1there is a vacancy in the office OF lieutenant
governor" and naming Senator Cox for
president pro tenn Every Republican re-
fused to vote in the election of the presiding
officer and each rose and protested. Sena-
tors Barrett and Grose, the latter Repub.
lican, were appointed to escort Cox to the
chair, but Grose declined, and Barrett had
the honor all to himself
As Cox took up the gavel, Senator John |
son shouted: IL denounce this as a farce. |
That man has no more right to
preside over this senate than q |
4year-old child" Formal notice |
was then given that the Repu blicans would |
recognize the validity Of the organization |
only in order to protest az ainst it; but they |
afterward voted on several propositions, and |
when the body adjourned at noon they APP |
peared to have acquiesced in the situation. |
Whether there will be any new scheme ad- |
vancsd is doubtful. 1t is pretty well settled |
that Robertson will make no ATTEMPT to |
force his way into the chamber at any of |
the sittings. When seen Immediately after |
adjournment he said that he had no COM
ments TO make on the scenes of the morning,
and that he had performed his duty in the |
promises by offering to preside.
There IL much gossip over the senatorial |
and both parties profess to be salts
fed with the situation, the Republicans say.
ing that they are willing that tho matter
should go to the people on Its merits, and the
Democrats feeling that they have been con-
sstent in their course throughout. The con-
however, will not end till the lieu.
tenant governor-elect is indicted into office
on Monday, and the Republicans will doubt
less pun sue an obstruction policy TIL that
time The recognized leader of the minori-
ty Is Senator johnson, who did most of the
talking yesterday, and there are few of
the senators who care to get into debate
with him. He is hot-headed and recog
nized fighter il an opportunity offers, and
even the doorkeeper yesterday was
averse to attempting any force in putting
MIN IN his ssat at the command Of the pre-
siding officer. Last session johnson had a
personal encounter with Senator Mcdonald,
OF Whitley county, and the latter was
Knocked over chair by we'll directed
blow from the fist of his adversary John
son Ia also the hero of shooting affair or
two, and no one wants to provoke him to a
fight. Senator Barrett will lead the Demo.
cratic column.
The session of the house was uneventful'