The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-02-17
WAR IN KANSAS.
Street Collision Between Popu-
lists and Republicans.
Populist Clerk of the House Arrested
By Republicans.
The Populists Rush to His Assistance and
Rescue Him--The Republican Speaker
swears In 100 sergeants-at-Arms-
Serious Trouble Expected.

TOPEKA, Kas., Feb. 16-War IL on in
real earnest between the two houses of
the legislature, and blows have been
exchanged.
An attempt by deputy sergeant-at-
arms of the republican house to arrest
Ben c. Rich, clerk of the populist house,
on orders from the republicans, was the
cause of the conflict, during which two
republicans were knocked down and
several men on each side were badly
bruised by blows of fists The encoun-
ter occurred in the very center of the
city, and created the greatest excite
ment What will be the outcome of the
trouble no one now attempts to foretell,
but it is generally agreed that Wednes-
day will witness the most exciting
scenes known in Kansas for years.
The trouble arose out of the aggres-
sive attitude assumed by the republic
an house Tuesday morning. Il. w.
Hoch, from Marion, said the people
were tired of the legislative farce, and
demanded that the legislature get
down to business. He knew of two ways
of settling the queston-either to
knock down or go into the courts.
He preferred the latter, and in order
to bring the matter before the
courts, he proposed action set forth in
a resolution which he introduced
This resolution declared that Ben c.
Rich, clerk of the popuist house, had
unlawfully interrupted the proceedings
of the legally constituted lower house
of the legislature, and prevented the
transaction of public business and di-
rected the sergeant-at-arms to arrest
him and bring him before the bar of the
house to show cause why he should not
be punished for contempt
The republicans promptly adopted
the resolution, and the sergeant-at-
arms, with two assistantants, went in
search of Rich.
In the meantime the populists had
arranged to meet force with force, and
if the republican sergeant-at-arms had
appeared in the house with the populist
clerk there would have doubtless en-
sued a riot of big proportions. 1t so
happened that Rich could not be found,
and after waiting until 12 o'clock the
Republicans adjourned until Wednes-
day at 9 o'clock a. m. The popu-
lists jeered their opponents for weak
ening," and guyed them numerically
as they marched out of the hall
Meanwhile the sergeant-at-arms had
found Rich at the Dutton hotel, and
read the warrant to him, demanding
at the same time that he accompany
him. John w. Briedenthal, Fred
Bailey and others interfered in behalf
81 ;oI 81, Al,
great crowd of people in the hotel
After brief struggle the crowd moved
out upon the street. and with Rich in
custody of both republicans and popu-
lists the crowd moved up the avenue.
AT the corner of Ninth and Kansas
avenues the republicans tried to run
Rich over to the Copeland hotel and
warlile scene followed. In the struggle
Representative Ryan knocked down one
of the republican sergeant-at-arms and
Immediately got astride of him, while
John Breidenthal, chairman of the pop
ulists central committee, had to use
force to get rid of a republican who was
trying to pull him away from Rich.
Populist Reading Clerk Scott struck
Repu blican Assistant Sergeant-at-arms
eye Other blows were struck, but no
further damage was done.
In the end the populists got their man
away and took him to the governors
office, from where few minutes later
he was escorted INTO the hall of the
house of representatives., his wife hold
ing one arm and Representative Words
worth, of Atchison the other His APP
pearance in the hall was greeted with
cheers and clapping of hands.
Later the republicans swore out war
rants before Justice Chesney, charging
Representative Ryan and Reading Clerk
5. Nj. Scott with assault and battery. A
constable appeared in the hall to arrest
them, but they declined to accompany
him until they had received advice
Ryan consulted with his friends, and
announced that he would neither 90
with Che constable nor give bond for
his appearance. The constable lincer-
ed grim and determined, and announced
that he would make the arrest even if
he had to summon posse.
Speaker Douglass Tuesday night is
sued a call for volunteers to serve as
assistant sergeant-at-arms to aid the
sergeants-at-arms in effecting Richs ar
rest. At 10 o'clock $50 men had re-
sponded to the call, and had taken the
oath Of office. Populist Speaker Duns-
more swore in twenty assistant SER
geants Tuesday to act as body guards
for Chief Clerk Rich. The guards ac-
companied him to his home, and de-
tachment is now standing guard at
the door of his ROOM and will allow no
one to enter. The duty of this guard
Wednesday will be to protect Mr.. Rich
from arrest.
Jefferson Davis Body.
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