The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-11
Though in the Minority in the Lower House
They Elected officers. with Jerry Simp-
son as Their Coacher.
The Body Legally Organized by Repub-
licans, Who Have Majority OF One.
Tangle That May Result in the Calling Out
of Troops-Edward Murphy Nominated
for Senator by New York Dems
THE EXPECTED HAPPENED.
Row in the Kansas House That Resulted Il
Two Sets of Officers.

Topeka, Kan., Jan. 1O.-The fight for
United States Senator is fairly on. most
grave situation confronts the Kansas Legis-
lature. Amid the most intense excitement
and the greatest uproar two separate or
ganizations were perfected in the House to-
day. A conflict between the opposing
forces seemed for q time unavoidable. The
clash occurred at the very optset. The
Populists objected to the certified roll, and
the Republicans proceeded to act inde-
pendently. Neither side paid the slightest
heed to the proceedings or protests of the
other. The two Houses were both organ
lied at the same time and the same place,
and are both in session in Representative
Hall this evening.
The Republican House organized with
the following officers: Speaker. George L.
Douglass; Speaker pro tem.. E. w. Hoch;
arms, c. c. Clevenger.
The Populist House organized with these
officers: Speaker. j. NJ. Dunsmore; Speaker
pro tem., r.. H. Semple; Chief Clerk. Ben.
&. Rick; Sergeant-at-arms, Ben F. Dick.
The Democrats held aloof and enjoyed
the fun without being responsible for
any of the trouble The House is
composed of 125 members. OF these.
63. or a majority of /. hold certificates
of election. and compose the Republican
House. claiming their organization to be
the legal ana the only legal one. The Pop
ullsts number fifty -sey on, and are therefore
IN the minority. They claim that those
members whose seats are contested have
no right to participate in the preliminary
qualifications. The Republicans organized
with majority, and would doubtless be
upheld by the courts ii the matter ever
goes SO far. The session is limited by stat
ute to fifty days, and the Republicans say
they will hold the fort all that time, it
necessary, TO carry their point.
Ihe G0vernor has as yet recognized
neither House. He received committee
from both Houses, hut informed themsthat
be had no communication to transmit to
the body which sentth TO him. He will
doubtless. recognize the Popullst House,
and the Adlutant-general Will assist the
sergeant In the removal of the Republicans
from Representative Hall. They say they
will not resist the State militia. and will
Withdraw quietly to another hall, where
they will MAINTAIN their organization. So
ts3 matter stands.
HOW 1T HAPPENED.
1t all came about this way: The men,
bers had assembled quietly at 1:30 O'clock.
Secretary of State Osborne ascended tho
rostrum and raped for order. He an
nounced that he was required to appear
before the body assembled before him (he
refrained from calling it the Housel and,
laying before 1t the list of memb bers as GER
titled to by the Secretary OF State, he asked
what was the pleasure of the ssemblsGe.
Then arose q discussion az to what names
the roll should contain. Upon the decision
of this question, of course. depended every
thing involving the temporary organiza-
tion and ultimately the permanent organ
ization and control of the House.
The discussion was proceeding
quietly and in order. Suddenly
the Secretary of State deserted the char.
roll in his possession until such time as he
was informed that there was House be.
fore which he could lay It. Immediately q
hubbub arose, rivallng the confusion of
tongues at Babel Every member and
every spectator was upon his feet shout
ing. gesticulating. and hallOOlng sugges-
tions in ali directions. From the mass of
struggling men on the Populists' side. X.
II. Semper was fighting his way out to.
wards the rostrum. cheered on by his COM
patriots. From q similar mass on the Re-
pu blican side, j. X. CubbisOn was being
sent through the line.
The Republicans under the leadership of
George l.. Douglas elected Mr.. CubbisOn
rostrum first and seized the gavel and
chair. while Sempler was still struggling
through tue excited men on the floor. The
Republlcans set up cheer, whlcn made
the old State-hOuse fairly vibrate. Sempler
hnally gained the rostrum. Then 1t W as
the POpulists' time to cheer. A roll of the
mem bers-elect had been prepared aud
certified to by the retiring Republi-
can Secretary of State and Mr. CubbIson
| laid 1t before the Repub blican side. The
ia "A IN w n m
| In. This was all accomplished before the
| Populists bad thought of effective organi.
| cation. Jerry Simpson was on the floor of
| the Populist side and coached Dunsmore
| on the floor as to the proper method of pro-
] ceeding They were very slow In getting
! down to business, however even under
| Jerry simpsons whip, and just as they
| completed the election Of their Speaker the
| Republicans began the lntrod ductlOn of
bills. Their officers were finally elected
and qualified.
| Several personal encounters seemed im-
| minent while the rival organizations were
bengeffiected, but were happily avoided.
The most serious trouble took place about
the middle of the room, when Mr.. Whit
| tIngton of Lincoln. attempted to gain the
recognition of Speaker Douglas. speaker
! Dunsmoro ruled that Wilmington was out
| of order and ordered the Populist Sergeant
| arms approached Mr.. Wilmington q rush
was made in that direction by members of
| both sides. Mr.. Wilmington struck down
| the arm of the Sergeant. and q little riot
seemed about to take place when Mr..
| Whitting gtOn averteu 1t by taking his seat.
| Then the hubbub began to subside and
| gradually quieted down. good humor TAX
| ing the place of violent partisan feeling.
| The members prepared themselves for a
/ long SIEGE which both sides seemed to an
| ticIpate. They gathered in knots about the
| floor discussing the situation. and now and
| then formed foraging parties to prey upon
| the case of supplies of sand Of theig
| respective opponents. Then the excitement
| of the afternoon was transformed into q
frolic. and the best of good humor pre-
| evening the tedium was enlivened occa-
! slonally by ihe introduction of resolutions
| and one thing and another on the Repub-
| lican side.
The plan of the Populists, as outlined by
| Jerry Simpson tonight. is TO hold out until
| tomorrow. when they think their organ
| iZation will be recognized by the Governor
and the Senate. Then they Will have the
| military authority at their backs. and
| will proceed with the aid of the
AdJutant-General to remove the Republic
| aus from the House. This is the scheme
which is freely talked of tonight. and Jer
ry Simpson says it will work. All the Pop
Mist members on tho floor are
| armed. and at one time In
the night pistols were drawn between
Republican leader and q Populist deputy
| Sergeant-at- arms.
The Republicans when informed OF this
] plan said they would raise no disturbance