The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-01-20
LIVELY TIME.
The House of Representatives Di-
vided Against Itself
Republicans and Populists Each Elect of
flcers and Then Cam Upon the Field
The senate Rccog aized the
Poputist House.

TOPEKA. Kan, Jan. lin anticipa-
tion of trouble at the organization of
the house, the sheriff of Shawnee coun-
ty this morning swore in forty deputies
for duty in preserving order.
The mem bers were slow in gathering
and at IL o'clock, the hour set for the
opening of work, many of the seats
were still vacant and all the absentees
were populists
At 1890 the republicans checked up
and found that every one of their sixty
three members were in the hall ready
for action.
At 1:25 o'clock Secretary of State Os-
borne appeared at the speakers stand
and announced that the Law provided
that he should lay before the house a
list of members as he found it in the
secretary of states Office
George l.. Douglass interrupted with
the statement that the secretary should
only lay the list before the house and
should not preside. He said that, for
one, he would not consent for Osborne
| to preside, and other members agreed
with him.
Mr.. Osborne said: 81 am here to per-
form the same duty in the house as
have to perform in the senate"
Mr.. Cubbisc,, said; 81 suppose the
other side will object to the reading of
! Campbcll's name"
Eyes, SIR" said Mr. Dunsmorc. THAT
is the idea"
81 am afraid" said Mr.. Cubbison,
Eh,k
carry us beyond discussion.
| Mr.. Cubbson then spoke at length on
! the law and custom in cases of this kind.
/ The law, he declared, had already made
list and no man outside of the roll,
| not even Mr.. Osborne. had n right to
! decide any point that would deprive
the house of its constitutional privilege
of deciding upon its mem mbership.
At this stage the secretary of the SEN
ate was announced with Il message
from the senate
wait" said Mr.. Douglass. This is
not an organized body"
"What does the secretary say?'
shouted Mr.. Dunsmore.
Gentlemen" said Mr. Osborne, 81
am only here to act in ministerial ca
pacity. When the house informs me
that it has presiding officer to receive
this roll. | will deliver it
With that Mr.. Osborne abruptly left
the desk and disappeared from the hall.
Mr.. Semper, of Franklin county,
populist, hurried to the desk and as
sumed the gavel and Mr.. Cubbison. Il
republican, quickly joined him and both
began beating the gavel.
The house was now in confusion, but
the republicans continued to nominate
officers, who were declared elected by
Mr.. Cubbison.
Then somebody moved that the house
proceed to call the roll.
The certified roll was missing. bav-
ing been carried away by Mr. Os-
borne, but roll of some kind was
found and Mr.. Remington held it up
saying that he had the roll as certified
by the secretary of state.
As the roll call proceeded the repub- !
licans responded as their names were
called, while the populists kept up a
roar of protest and shouted orders back /
and forth
Mr.. Dunsmore then got his forces to-
gether and they proceeded to elect Mr.. !
Ryan temporary speaker. Meanwhile !
Mr.. Cubbison called for the members !
to come forward and be sworn. The
republicans held up their hands and n
Topeka lawyer named Thomas III. Balm /
administered the oath. Then the re-
publican clerk called the roll again and
Mr. Douglass was declared elected |
speaker Judge Strong swore Mr.. |
Douglass in and he assumed the chair.
Mr.. DunsmOre kept his machine in or |
der and soon two houses were in full |
operation on the same floor. Douglass !
and Ryan were now side by side put
ting motions and every body was on his
feet shouting and yelling.
Mr.. Troutman, republican, moved |
that the sergeant-at-arms be instructed |
to clear the lobby This was carried,
and on motion Mr.. Douglas appoint
ed a committee of five to notify the sem
ate that the house was organized.
BY this time the populists had pro-
gressed so far in the organization rs to |!
elect Dunsmore speaker and he soon
had full set of officers chosen and
committees appointed to notify the SEN
ate and governor that the house was Or
ganized and ready for business.
Secretary Brown, of the senate. now
and, recognizing Speaker
Dunsmore, announced that the senate
had organized
There was no adjournment of either
lower house legislative body. The !
leaders on both sides were afraid that
By an adjournment some advantage
might be lost. Thers was no attempt
at business after o'clock and the
members prepared to make themselves
comfortable for the night Small boys
were admitted with buns and sand
wiches- An cnterprising populist
brought cigars and the accommodating
house porters brought TASKS of whisky
Speaker pro tenn Hoch held down the
speakers chair, and pro tenn.
Speaker Semple dozed in the populist
chair. Here and there over the house
members were curled up on the fiOor. At
midnight there was absolute quiet, but
the conservative men who attempted to
bring about the compromise recognized
that nothing could be accomplished
Revolver, Drawn.
TOPEKA, Kan, Jan. lin an alter
cation between George Higgins, the re-
publican sergeant-at-arms, and one of
the populist doorlleepers revolvers were
drawn and general row was only pre-
vented by the interference of a few
l9vel-headed men.
The populist doorkeeper had in his
possession all keys to the hall except
those leading from the postoffice to the
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