The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-02-18
BATTERED DOWN THE DOORS
Republicans Smash the Portals
Of the Kansas House.
eopulists and Republicans Have Another
Fracis, in Which the Independents
Are Worsted..Ti,e Governor
Calls Out the Militia.

Topeka, Kas., Feb. 16.-A bloodless
but exciting battle took place between:
the republican and populist houses at
the entrance to representative hall this
morning. The populists, who have had
possession of the hall in the afternoons,
adjourned yesterday morning until this
afternoon, and as has been the Gus
tom, the republicans expected to
hold their regular morning session
today, but last night the populists
swore in large number of assistant
sergeants-at-arms, who were stationed
on guard, and the doors and entrances
to the hall were blocked this morning.
No one was admitted to the hall ex-
cepting populists and members of the
press, and they were required to show
pass and run the gauntlet of dozen
guards. The republicans were informed
of all these preparations to exclude
them from the hall and last night 100
men We're sworn in as officers of the re-
publicans.
At the members of the republican
house with their officers started from
headquarters for the state house. The
march through the long corridors
leading to representative hall was un--
impeded The little column forced its
way through the guards stationed
at the foot of the stairs
in the west wing and started up
the stairs On the first landing there
was crowd of populist public officials,
under command of Adjutant-Generai,
Art2. They We're armed and the adj
vancing republican crowd was met
with the muzzles of revolvers and
Winchesters. The adjutant-gencral
commanded them to halt, but
no stop was made and the
advance guard pushed into the
crowd of populists. Three or four of
them succeeded in passing the door
keepers after brief struggle and get
ting into the hall, but the populists
succeeded in closing the doors and
barring them. The republicans on
the outside demanded admit
tance and when 1T was denied
them Speaker Douglass swung
large sfedge hammer and began to
batter the heavy doors leading from
the cloak room. 1t took many blows
to beat passageway through, but the
doors finally gave way and the republi-
can legislators surgcd in with loud
shout. The populists promptly re-
treated and now the republicans are in
1 full possession of the hall
Ever since the opening of the session
the populists have had the committee
rooms, sergeant-at-arms' and chief
clerks rooms. These were all locked
and guarded from the inside, but utter
the house had been called to order TIE
republicans hammered down the doors
and took possession of. them withent
encounterinE any resistance.
AT 10 o'clock there We're few popu-
lists in representative hall and the re-
publican house had settled down to the
regular order of business as
If nothing unusual had happened.
The assistant sergeapts-at-arms,
each wearing a bright red
ribbon, are promenatling the aisles
and lobbies. The republicans and pop
ulists are both swearing in officers as
fast as possible to be in readiness for
any emergency.
With the republicans in possession OF
i representative hall, the interest of the
populists centered about the governors
/ office.
| The Militia Called Out.
| A guard was placed at his door and
only faithful populists were permitted
to enter. He issued call for three
companies of militia Immediately after
the rush in the representative hall,
and will, when the force arrives, order
them to storm the hall and take posses.
sion of it.
Many of the militia men openly dc
! ,,la Il
stances respond to the call of the gov.
ernor and that they will not be a part,
to5an assault on the republican house
sheriff to swear in deputies and assis'
him in preserving the peace, but tn,
sheriff declined. saying that he did mo-
4 propose to be a Judge as to which of tn,
claimants was the legal house of repre-
4 sentatives.
/ In Il letter To the governor he sale
that If the governor proposed to pro
tect the Dunsmore house that house 1t
self had full authority to enlist all tn,
! officers that it required to protect itsel
without any assistance from him.
i The captain of one OF the militia com
i panics stated to the United Press rep
resentaiiye this morning that il hi
comma; d came out at all i
would no to defend tho repub
lican house Of representatives II,
said he would. not obey any of the gov
ernor's orders, which were in violation
OF law and order.
| At.l1 o'clock the governor sent al
order by telegraph to Captain Willis o
the light artillery, at Wichita
commanding him to bring his conpan,
/ with gatling guns to Topekn by frs
train. assemble 1t the state house ans
await further orders. Is