The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-14
FROM PLOW TO CAPITOL.
TaE GRANGER LEGISLATURE OF
KANSAS CONVENES.

The House Elects the officers Decided
on by the Alliancemea in Caucus.
The Chairman Ratified, But Full of
Promises TIE Members a Good
Looking Lot.
TOPEKA, KAN, Jan. ia caucus Of tie
farmers alliance was held last night under
the rules of the farmers alliance. which re-
quires giving & password ana grip and
forbids making public any Of the proceed
ing OF Fthe meeting except that portion
which may be authorized by the committee
appointed for that purpose. The details Of
the discussion relative 70 the selection Of a
senatorial candidate are kept secret.
A LIST OF OFFICERS.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Jan. ia special
to the Star from ToBeka says: "After a
continuous session Of twelve hours, the al
lance caucus completed at 3 o'clock this
morning list Of the officers for the lower
house. il has been the general opinion
that the alliance members would do very lit
tie caucus work. It is now evident that they
will do great deal Of it. P. P. Elier of
Franklin county was agreed upon for
speaker and Benjamin Rich for chief clerk.
THE LEGISLATURE MEETS.
promptly at IL O'Clock to-day the or
ganization OF the legislature began. Every
available space for spectators was crowded
10 Its full capacity. In the Senate, after
prayer by the chaplain, the senators-elect
were sworn in ana an adjournment until z
o'clock tonight was taken.
I'm the House. Immediately after the
body was called to order and after prayer,
the members we're sworn In.
NO HAYsEED IN THEIR HAIR.
"The appearance Of the granger legis-
lators was a surprise to all. They are a
most responsible looking set of men, with
much intelligence expressed In their faces.
Ninety per cent. of them wear rundown
collars, with plain black ties. Three-fourths
of the senators wear silk hats, but
the closest search would not dis
cover one in the lower house. The
process Of organization was very tedious.
j. b. Coons # Miami county was elected
temporary chat man. The temporary or
ganlZation was in accordance with the alli-
ance caucus. The chairma labored under
great embarrassment and was ratified at
every motion. He said: we are from the
rural districts, gentlemen, and will make a
few mistakes at first, but we will come out
all right by and by.' The House then ad-
journed until o'clock.
OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE.
The lower bouse reconvened at o'clock
and proceeded Immediately to effect per-
manent organization. The candidates
agreed upon last night in the farmers al
lance caucus were elected without oppo-
sition. The principal officers are: P. P. Elder,
speaker; Benjamin Rich, chief clerk;
s. w. Chase, sergeant-at-arms; Ja-
cob Campbell, doorkeeper. The
election of Benjamin Rich as
chief clerk was q surprise, inasmuch as 8.
W. Chase, who had made vigorous can
vaSs for the Office, was supposed to have
landed 1t safely. 1t is supposed that
the publication of the noted Turner
letter, which he accomplished,
had good deal to do with his defeat, the
executive committee of the farmers alli-
anoe having decided that President Nc
Grath was blameless in the matter. Presi-
dent McGrath made vigorous canvass In
Mr.. Rich's favor and against Mr. Chase.
THE CITIZENS ALLIANCE.
Delegates from 300 towns, villages and
cities met here to-day in secre6 session t.
form permanent organization of the citi-
zens' alliance. The new organization will
bear the same relations to the towns and
cities as the farmers alliance bears to the
country. A joint executive committee will
decide upon mat era IN which both organi-
zations will take action. Tho proceedings
Of the convention to-day were strictly
secret.
POOR CHANCE FOR INGALLS,
The unanimity which prevailed in the
farmers alliance caucus yesterday Is par
ticularly significant when considered in re-
lation to Senator Ingalls, campaign in the
race for the United States Senate.
The caucus adopted a series Of reso~
lutions to the effect that the
representatives OF the peoples party should
settle all matters among themselves before
bringing them into the legislature, and es-
pecial emphasis was laid upon the necessity
of agreeing in caucus on a candidate for
senator. II this policy is carried out it re-
moves the last prop FROM Senator ingalls, as
senatorial possibility aud renders his
defeat certain.