The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-23

biymen In favor of three Popuiists and one
democrat. The court threw out all these
cases, and with good reason, unless excep-
ton be made in the case Of the Democrat,
Rosenthai, who had equity if not the law
on bis side. The other cases were based
on alleged technicaIities, and had neither
law nor equity in their favor
The Republican house gave in equity
the Democrat Rosenthal his seat. since
the court had decided il could not inter-
fere in his behalf. Whensthe legislature
met the official returns Of the state board
OF canvassers showed that sixty-four Re-
pubiicans, ffty-eight Populists and two
Democrats had certificates of election and
were entitled 70 participate in the organ
iza.ion Of the house. The subsequent
seating Of Rosenthal By the Republicans
decreased the Republican total TO sixty
three and made the Democratic total three.
Thus the Republicans had a majority Of
two, and could organize the house, choose
the speaker and various officers, and gain
control of the various committees.
The Populists began their lswless resist
ance by absurdIy claiming that members
elect whose seats were contested could not
participate in the organization OF the
house. AS their contests largely exceeded
those of the Republicans. the concession
Of such claim would have given them
control.
On the face of il this claim was absurd,
and the Republicans refused to listen to
1t. When the Populist secretary Of state
refused, finally, to read the lis: of men,
bers-elect according to official returns Of
the state board Of canvassers, the Repub-
lican members. being in a majority, at
once effected an organization which the
Populist members would not recognize.
They effected second or Popuiist organi-
cation, and thus there came into being two
rival houses occupying the same hall with
their respective speakers welding gavels
at the same desk. The senate and gov
ernor, being Populist, recognized the Pop
ulist house. but the three Democratic
members Of the lower branch soon decided
70 recognize the Republican organization.
The right Of this controversy is clearly
with the Republicans, as their organiza-
ton OF the house was beyond question le-
gal, and the Populist house was the law
less creation of q mob. A clear majority
OF all the members elected, including one
Independent and one Democrat, with a
quorum of Republicans alone organized
the house in strict conformity with law.
The POpulists. with confessedy less than
quorum of the whole number, pretended
to elect speaker, and then this minority,
calling itself the house. proceeded to vote
out of their seats without any inquiry or
hearing enough OF the duly elected Repub-
licans, and to vote into seats enough Pop.
ulists who had not been elected to make
up pretended quorum.
The Populist governor, in utter defiance
OF law, refused recognition to the duly Or
ganized majority of members and recog-
nized the mob minority Legislature" as
if Its lawIess proceedings made it the legal
house. The Democratic members declare
that the majority organization is legal and
valid, vote with it and denounce the
revolutionary proceedings of the Populis,s
in strong terms. The Populists, after ad-
hitting to their organization three men,
bers who were defeated by large majorities,
are in q minority; even if the Democrats
joined and voted with them they would
not have a quorum and would still lack
four votes of a majority. And vet these
mobocrats took upon themselves to organ
ize a minority house and claimed to be the
legal lower branch of the legislature
Their whole case is based upon the pre-
tense that three Republicans who were
elected were disqualified because they
were postmasters at the time Of their eiec-
| ton.
These lawless proceeding were under
taken with full knowledge that they were
| lawless defiance Of the right Of the rna-
| jority to rule. On the evening of inau-
| guration day Jerry. Simpson made
| speech, in which he said: "You must or
| ganize the legislature in this hall tomor-
row." he said. land | wouldn't let the
| technicalities of the law stand in the way
| Call this revolution if you will. / do not
| favor revolution in this case but only as a
| last resort, but see to it that you organize
| the legislature here tomorrow.
| The Topeka AdpocGte (Populist) said:
| Il may be true that the Populists OF Kansas
ore following IN the footsteps of the French
revolutionists. II il 10. II is because they are
| being subjected to precisely the same condi-
| tons to which the French revolutionists were
| subjected.
The Topeka P0p,ifist said:
The men who have been robbing their neigh
| bors for years here IN Topeka, and think they
| now own their stealings. should be careful how
| they urge civil The first sound OF
| strife Will give q long-wishsd. for opportunity
| 10 many desperate men of getting even" with
the fellows who robbed them. II every man
| who has been robbed by John ID. Knox should
| put an ounce of lead inside his skin, there
would be no space left for bones. Better be
/ careful about raising a row. you Il 70 bugs, the
| fellows you have robbed haven't forgotten it.
These rawlings and the lawless proceed
| incs of Populists have had the effect to
| summon the sober and decent public
| opinion of Kansas 10 the front, and the
| controversy has been referred to the courts
| for settlement. In the meantime a party
| that talks about the footsteps of the
| French revoIu;ionists." "ciyiI war;" first
/ sound OF strife" and ''ouuce OF lead" will
soon be laughed out of existence II the
| Populists have any wrongs 10 be righ,ed
| they can settle them under the American
| constitution and the laws; if they do not
| deem this constitution and laws adequate