The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-01-09
Stationed i'm the Basement Is
the Legislature of Ne
braska Called to Order.
A Great Struggle Being Put Forth for
Supremacy--Some Exciting
Scenes
The Dakota Combination That Elected
the Speaker Naming All
the Officers.

LIsCoLA, Jan. T.--The war mas actually
begun and the great struggle over the sue
cesslon occurred to-day. In the house the
joint rules which provides that the presi-
dent of the senate should preside In joint
session were amended and an attempt To do
80 was made I'm the senate, but Lieut.. Gov.
Meiklejohn refused TO entertain the motion
and refused To entertain an appeal from
ais ruling. somehow the alliance members
did not arise to the occasion and the sen
ate went over 20 the house to Wit
ness the opening and publishing OF the
returns. On arriving there Meikletohn as
serted his right TO preside over the Joint
body and the dignihed spectacle Of the
house and the lieutenant-governor both at
tempting at the same time TO direct the pro-
eeedings OF the joint session was seen.
Meiklejohn has the better voice and II n
mnch more skillful parlia amentarian ard he
finally succeeded In downing Speaker Elder.
The alliance members, however, did not
relish this, and we're continually arising
and addressing the speaker instead OF the
president. GOV. Meiklejohn ordered the
sergeant-at-arms 10 seat members who
persisted Ia talking without having
addressed him aud these OH
cials refused 10 recognize Gov.
MeikleJohn's authority and the alliance
members proceeded. When Gov. MeIkle-
john had reached that point I'm the proceed
tnEs he read from the constitution the du-
ties OF the speaker In opening. canvassing
and publishing the returns, and ordersd the
speaker to perform that duty. Speaker
Elder refused, and gave as his reason that
he had been served with notice of contest
and would not open the returns nor declare
the result until the contest matters were dis
posed OF. After this number OF alliance
members spoke excitedly of the cxarllke
rulings OF the elieutenant-governor and APP
pealed to the speaker and their partisans TO
know II they were TO be deprived OF their
rights and the results OF their victory by
the autocratfc rulings OF one man. Follow
Ing this an alliance member addressed the
speaker and moved that the returns OF the
election and the contest papers DO referred
20 q committee OF fifteen, with power To send
for persons and papers, administer oaths
and report to the joint session. Speaker
Elder put this motion, while Lieut.. Gov.
vigorously and declared it car
Eied. he then appointed the commit
tee, with stevens. Of North Platte, as chair
man. The wrangle confined nntil o'clock,
when recess was taken until 10 TO-
morrow.
During che aftsrnooa I've companies Of
the state milisia were stationed In the base
ment. with Col. I'd X. sixer, Of Gov. Thay-
er's staff in command, ready for service at
a moments notice. The alliance members
talked of using force In deposing Meikel-
john. but better counsel prevailed. II Is
rumored that an application viii be made
Ia the morning to the supreme court for q
mandamus to compel the speaker TO canvass
the returns
LINCOLN. Jan. s.---An the doors OF repre-
sentative hall were closed and guarded this
morning and none but members and others
having business inside were admitted. The
members found great difficulty In pushing
their way through the crowds that Giled the
corridors and besieged the capital at all
points. The alliance members had taken
possession of the house at O'Clock In the
morning. They placed their speaker In the
chair aud put Il Gordon Of assis-
tant sergeants-at-ar around him
When Lleut.-Gov. Meiklejohn ap-
peared he was not allowed to
take his seat, but stood la front OF the
speaker ready TO call the Joint session 90 Or
der at o'clock. The speaker OF the house
Issued an order for the arrest OF the lieutan-
ant-governor on the charge Of Misconduct
ln nfiice and breach of the peace. Tk&
lieutenant governor deflsd the officer and
Was not taken into custody. Both sides had
a fierce OF -sefE6nuts~ at arms within call,
and any attempt on either side 10 proceed
with canvass OF the vote would have pre-
cipitatad a row. To avoid this q committee
from each party was sent with a statement
of the case 60 the supreme court 10 ascer-
tain which oficer has the constitutional
right to preside.