Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-02-23
Bordering ON Anarchy.


Topeka, Kan special: Kansas is al
most on the verge of civil war. The
members of the Republican House
Wednesday morning captured Repre-
sentative Hall by force and turned out
the Populists. They are now in pos
session, and Gov. Lewe ling has ordered
out the State militia to eject them.
There is great excitement and riot is
imminent.
The Populists, who have had possess
ion Of the hall in the afternoons, ad-
journed yesterday until this afternoon.
and, as has been the custom since the
beginning of the session, the Republl-
cans expected TO hold their regular
morning session today. But last night
the Populists swore in large num-
ber OF assistant sergeants- at arms,
who were placed on guard, and
the doors and entrances to the
hall were locked this morning. No one
was admitted to the hall excepting Pop
ulists and menbers Of the press, and
they were required to show a pass and
run the gantlet OF a dozen guards. The
Republicans were fully informed OF all
these preparations to exclude them
from the hall, and last night hundred
men were sworn in as deputies.
At g o'clock the members OF the Re-
publican House, with their officers,
started from headquarters for the State
House. The march through the long
corridors leading to Represent ative
Hall was unimpeded and the little
column forced its way through the line
Of guards at the foot of the stairs in
the west wing and started up the stairs.
On the first landing was q crowd of
Populist House officers under command
of Adjt. Gen. Artz. They were armed,
and the advancing Republican crowd
was met with the muZZles of revolvers
and Winchesters.
The Adiutaut General commanded
the Republicans 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
doorkeepers after a brief struggle and
getting into the hall, but the Populists
succeeded in closing the door and tar
ring it.
The Republ cans on the outside de-
manded admlttance, and when it was
denied them Speaker Douglass swung a
large sledge hammer and began to bat
ter down the heavy doors leading from
the cloak-room. 1t took many blows to
beat a passage-way through, but the
doors finally gave way and the Republi-
cans legislators surged in with a loud
shout. The Populists retreated, leav-
ing the Republicans in full possession
Of the hall.
Ever since the opening of the session
the Populists have had the committee
al nd
Chief Clerks room These were all
locked and guarded from the inside, ut
after the House had been called to or
der the Republicans battered down the
doors and took possession of them with
out encountering any resistance.
The Republicans and Populists are both
swearing in officers as fast as possible
TO be in readiness for any emergency.
Called Out the troops.
With the Republicans in possession OF
Representative Hall the interest of the
Populists center ed about the Governors
offices, and a guard was placed at his
door. He issued call for three compa-
MES Of militia Immediately after the
clash in Representative Hall to storm the
hall and take I ossession of it. Many of the
militiamen declare that they will under
no circumstances respond 10 the call OF
the Governor, and that they will not be
party 10 an assault on the Republican
House. The Governor made a demand
on the sheriff 10 swear in deputies
and assist him in preserving the
peace, but the sheriff declined, say
Ing that he did not propose to be a
Judge as to which Of the claimants was
the legal House of Representatives. In
q letter to the Governor he said that IL
lhe Governor proposed TO protect the
Dunsmore House, that House itself had
full authority to enlist all the officers
hat 1t required TO protect itself without
any assistance from him.
Over two hundred men took the oath
Of Office as assistant sergeants- at arms
In the Republican House this morning,
and the Adjutant General was busy
ieputizing assistants all day for the
Populists. Populists say they will take
possession OF Representative Hall at all
hazards, and Republicans say that they
will not yield even at the point of the
bayonet. That a bloody conflict must
come all admit.
Governor Lewelling has sent an order
by telegraph TO Captain Willis of the
Light Artillery, at Wichita, command
ing him to bring his company with gat-
ling guns to Topeka 10y the first train
and TO assemble in the State house and
await further orders.