St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-01-09
Armed Militia Swarm in the
Capitol Of the State Of
Nebraska
Bloody Noses and Bad Eyes
Illum mate the Legisla-
tive Sc sSiOn.
Lieut.. Gov. Meiklejohn Re-
fused Admission to the
Senate.
Gov.-Elect Boyd Hurri edly
Takes the Oath Of Office
and Quiet Reigns.

LINCOLN. Neb., Jan. s.-All doors of
representative hall were closely guard
ed this morning, and none but mem bers
of the legislature, state officers and per-
sons having business inside were adj
mitted. When the Democrats and Re-
publicans attempted to leave the floor,
the Alliance Sergeant-at-armS closed
the doors and attempted to keep them in.
He got punched in the eye, and secured
bloody nose as the result and the
doors were speedily opened and they
escaped. Free fights occurred every
few minutes. Nat Brown, of Omaha,
had all alteration at the door of the
house with an Alliance man, which re-
suited in the Alliance man going to the
hospital for repairs. Elder called the
eighteen senators and fiRty-fiye
representatives of the Alliance
to order as "a joint association,
but Attorney General. Leese advised
them to submit to the orders of the
court. Nevertheless Elder was declared
presiding officer of the joint session,
and the Alliance men started to begin
work. Gov. Thayer tried to quiet the
crowd but to no effect. Militia have
cleared the state house grounds, but the
people crowded by th EN- every time
they could and
HOWIing MObs
surround the capitol. 1t now begins to
look as if Boyd will be seated by force
if the grangerS do not proceed accord
ing to law. Sheriff McCloy served the
writ on the speaker only after pitched
battle. He was guarded by a squad of
police. and Capt. Carder's clothes were
torn off, but after smashing hats and
heads with their clubs secured en-
trance and served the writ. Lieut..
Gov. Merkillohn then declared the ses-
sion adjourned, and Republicans and
Democrats filed out of the house. Elder
then called the Alliance members to
order, and directed the roll to be called.
When the militia was called out the
crowd hooted and yelled at them in such
manner that the ''tin soldiers became
frightened, and it was only when
squad of forty police arrived that any
kind of order prevailed. The crowd
outside the grounds kept up sullen
roar. while the frightened militiamen
patrol the borders. At l: 80 the lliance
men began coming out for dinner. They
were received with howls of deriSlon,
Kisses. cat calls and other uncompli-
mentary receptions. Merkiljohn finally
Gained the Mastery
and presided. He appointed a secre-
tary. The returns were received and
the speaker said they were all right,
,Ot I, Nil FOR mil hn
doors were opened and the crowd was
then let in. Then Gov. Boyd took the
oath of office before a notary public, as
did also all the Republican officers
elected. After Weiklejohn appeared
in the corridor at 2 p. m, and the door
keeper refused to admit him. The
Acknowledgements appealed to Coy.
Hayes and the governor ordered that
unless Meiklejohn was admitted the
militia would take him in at the point
of bayonet Meiklejohn was admitted,
and walking directly to the speakers
stand he demanded:
"Mr. Speaker do | understand that
my passes will not be honored?"
"That's all right replied the speaker.
"a want those passes hOnOred. as YOU
as man," declared Meiklejohn.
cpl see that it's done," replied the
speaker.
Meiklejohn's passes had been refused
at the door by the Alliance sergeant-at-
arms. At 2:14 Speaker Elder called the
joint session to order. The Republic
ans and Democrats were in their seats,
and answered their roll call. Meikle-
john held his position in front of the
speakers stand, which was crowded
with Alliance men. Chaplain Diffin-
bocher prayed that the Almighty would
give the Legislators there assembled
grace to control themselves and faith
fully perform their duty. Then Meikle-
john Immediately assumed control of
the joint assembly. This was scarcely
objected to by the Independents, most
of whom were becoming disgusted with
the
Acts of the Leaders.
A committee notified the secretary
that the joint session was ready to pro-
ceed to canvass. The returns were
taken in charge by Mr.. Meikleiohn, who
handed them over to Elder. Elder an
nounced that they had not been tam
pered with. Then Meiklejohn, after
announcing that the Alliance had re-
fnsed to admit him, ordered the stenog-
rapher. Reed, to keep record of the
proceedings. This was accomplished
amid great deal of confusion, the In
de )endentS reSorting to all sorts of diIa-
TO tactics. 1t was 4 o'clock when
S 'eaker Elder commenced at Meikle-
jJln's beheSt to read the returns. AS
slowly as ne could the speaker called
off thu vote of each county. In the
meantime the flibustering was contin-
ued. Chief Justice Cobb. of the su-
preme court. sent in word that the men
who had advised the Alliance to disre-
gard the mandamus of the court would
be dealt with severely. This had
soothing effect on the obstruction
lists in the lobby. At $50 the speaker
finished the canvass and declared
that James E. Boyd had been duly elect
ed governor. This declaration was also
made i'll reference to the Republican
state ticket below governor. Then an
Alliance member introduced a resolution
to the effect that the election was void,
officers as elected; also censuring the
supreme court. After much delay and
discussion, the resolution was adopted
by slight majority vote. The joint
session then adjourned. Within thirty
minutes after the official announcement
of the elections result by Speaker Elder
the oath of Office had been administered
to Gov. Boyd and the other officers
elect and their bonds approved by the
supreme court. The legislature will
assemble in regular session III the morn
ing.
At s o'clock this evening, Gov.-Elect
Boyd called on Gov. Thayer and was
Informed that the latter would not give
up the Office on the ground that Boyd
was not q nitizan of thn T1uitad Statps