The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-17
WAR CLOUDS PASS.
Talk Now of Peace in
Kansas.
PLENTY OF MEN WITH GUNS.
But There Seems to Be General Dis
inclination Among Them to
Shoot Each Other.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

TOPEKA. Feb. 16.-The only thing needed
to make war in Kansas is fighting. The
other conditions of war are all present.
There are opposed bodies of armed men,
there is something to fight about and the
disposition to fight is evident, but the war
does not open.
Bellicose preparations were carried on
brisky by both sides all day, but the Gov
ernor, by Offering to compromise the diff
cultieS and keeping the two houses apart,
tapered the crisis off into very tame
armed truce. The proposition for a COM
promise was offered to the Republican
House. They. finally amended it TO suit
their own ideas and returned it to the Gov
ernOr, who announced that he would reply
tomorrow. and in the meantime the armed
truce subsists. This is the situation late
tonight,
The whole city of Topeka appeared dur
ing the day TO be under martial law.
Troops were marching and countermarch-
ing through the broad avenues of the city
men wearing the badges bearing the in
scriptiOn, deputy Sheriff." were hurrying
TO and fro, aud cannon were being dragged
through the streets. Hundreds of civilians
arrived during the day from all over the
State. Many carried guns in cases. few
carried them under their overcoats. but
more marched boldly from the station to
hotels with rifles or shOtguns flung noncha-
lantly from their shoulders.
The real sensation of the day was the
disloyalty of the State troops to their
communicating chief the Governor. He
twice ordered Colonel Hughes. the COM
mandant OF the forces, to attack the Re-
publican stronghold. and the colonel de-
clned to obey and was relieved. Then
the Governor took personal COM
mand and ordered that no provisoa S
be allowed to pass the lines. The
order was disregarded. Then Lieutenant
Colonel Barker of the Third Regiment
was given command OF the troops, but still
the Governors orders were disobeyed.
Finally Brigadier- General Hettiger arrived
from Wichita and took command. He let 1t
be understood that the Republicans had
nothing to fear from him. This caused the
Governor great uneasiness. and after a
council with The POpulist leaders the COM
promise proposition was offered to the Re-
publican House.
The Republicans hit upon a plan this
morning 20 strengthen their position, by
bringing to their aid the authority of the
Sheriff, backed by posse. The Sheriff is
sued proclamation and by noon nearly
1000 men were sworn in. Not caring to
take the risk of arming these recruits with
firearms, the Sheriff decided TO arm them
with clubs. All sorts Of clubs were pressed
into use, from broomsticks to baseball
bats, and the Sheriff announced that he
would make no move until a breach Of the
peace actually occurred. He also explained
that he would regard an attempt to eject
the Republicans. the legally constituted
House as he regards ii. as disturbance Of
the peace. and would interfere to maintain
order
This action by the Sheriff, taken in con-
nection with the attitude assumed by the
militia. deprives the Popuists of all their
fighting support excepting that afforded by
three provisional companies OF militia and
fifty assistant tsergeants-at-arms.
In the meantime Populsts began to ar
rive, and tonight they are strongly re-
enforced. The Governor may organize
these into provisional troops, who can be
depended upon TO obey orders. but 1t is not
believed that he will take such extra
ordinary action.
The prospects for tomorrow are that the
PopuIists will decline to accept the prOpo-
Republicans. The general feeling tonight
is therefore one of renewed uneasiness,
and predictions are freely made that to-
morrow may see the long-an ticira war
inauguraled.