The Indianapolis journal., 1893-02-16
SCENES IN THE CAPITOL.

Before and During the Siege.
TOPEKA, Kan, Feb. 15-There are many
incidents connected with the events Of to.
day that are interesting. AS stated above.
when the Republicans went to enter the
Hall of Representatives at 10 o'clock this
morning they found the doors had been
barred by the Populists. The Republican
leaders soon determined to force an en-
trance and sledgehammers we're secured
for this purpose. They were used to such
effect that the door of side entrance lead
ing to the hall was soon demolished and
the members of the Republican House filed
quickly through and entered the hall. Had
the Populist House been in session conflict
would surely have resulted at once.
but. fortunately. the Populists yesterday
adjourned until o'clock this afternoon.
and. consequently, were not In session.
This morning the Santa Fe train from
Atchison and other places along the line
brought seventy-fve Republicans to act as
assistant sergeants-at-arms. The Repub-
hcans. anticipating trouble. telegraphed for
help last night The messages in some in
stances were late being delivered. but tho
men to whom they were sent got out OF
their beds at midnight and at once gathered
recruits tor duty at the Capitol.
The Populists claim they had twenty -four
assistant seraeants ts- alarms sworn In and In
possession of the hall when the Republic
ans forced their way in. They offered no
resistance. except to warn the Republicans
that they were destroying State property
and would be held responsible to the law.
The only weapons shown by the Popullsts
were III the hands of A. j. Boyd. l.. L. Hop
kins and l.. I. Yount, at the foot of the
stairway. and in the hands two wild of
young men. who rushed across tho
hall from the back stairway. A. j. Boyd
had Winchester and q man named
Hopkins and Yount had revolvers. G. c.
Clements. who was also on guard at that
point, had heavy cane with ahooked ham
die. No attempt was made to use the
weapons, except by Clements. who, with
broad grin on his face used the crook of his
cane to catch Repu blIcans by the ankles
they passed up the stairway. thus tripping
them down, but. as they fell. others fell
upon them. and at one time dozen or more
Populsts and Republicans were writhing
together. On their way upstairs the Re-
publicans captured Winchester and q re-
volver. which they wall preserve as
trophies.
sLEDGE FOR GAvEL.
Soon after the Republican House opened
for business Mr.. Hale. of Rush, arose and
said that it was fitting that the sffests of
Speaker Douglas should be recognized by
his brothers. and he desired to present to
ment which he had used to call the House
to order this morning. As he said this he
produced from behind his desk the big
siedge hammer the speaker had used to
help effect an entrance into the hall of
the House. and which he afterwards used
in rapping the House to order. This was
the signal for more cheering, and when
Speaker Douglas received the hammer
from the hands of the page and held it
aloft the members stood mp and shouted,
and when he used it as a gavel the mem.
bers fairly danced; Not satisfied with
had their warpaint on, offered
resolution recitlng the resistance
made by Ben Rieh, Mr.: Howard,
| John Breidenthal and S. NJ. Scott to
| the Republican sergeants- q farms yester-
| day when they attempted to arrest Rich,
and directing that Howard. BreIdenthal
| and SCOTT be brought before the bar OF the
| Honse to answer the charge of contempt of
| the House. The resolutions were adopted,
and the House for a moment subsidized.
| Speaker Douglas also issued an appeal to
| the citizens of Kansas. The appeal reviews
| the trouble begun yesterday and covers the
| events of to-day. In closing the Speaker
| asks of all Kansas citizens their moral aid
| and active support" to help maintain the
| organization of the Republican House and
| resist the forces of anarchy and revolu-
| tion, who openly proclaim their determine
| tion In advance TO disregard the Judgment
| Of the courts and to continue In defiance OF
| the law" The appeal was adopted by tho
| House in the form of q resolution.
Before the House was called to order the
| Republicans found the room of the Ser
| geant.at-arms barred. The door was
promptly broken down. They then pro-
| ceeded to eject the Populist guards from
| q show of resistance. and he was picked ND
| and bodily carried out of the room. They
| announced, too that they intended to hold
fast to what they had captured. and to do
| so with force. if necessary.
During the long hours of the afternoon
| the Republicans found little to interest
themselves beyond watching from the WIN
dows of the hall the warlike preparations
o'clock two of the Republican guards sta
| toned in the corridor chanced to run
across tMackeyl. Assistant State Auditor
| The guards arrested him on the charge of
ing the morning scrimmage. Maokey was
hustled into Representative hall In short
order. When the Significance of the
| proceeding became known to the members
was an exciting one. But no violence was
| done Mackey. He was taken before the
bar of the House, was reprimanded by
| Speaker Douglas. He was then confined
sergeants-at-arms. Before long sounds
of scufle issued from tue
room. and shortly afterwards Mackey
plunged through the door. bloOQ was
| streaming down his face from q Sc
we're scalp wound which his jailor
had inflicted with o walking stick.
| Mackey explained that he attempted
| to open the door to the hall
| when the sergeant-at.arms, without warn
| ing. struck him. The sergeant says
| Mackey drew a revolver. and demanded
his release, whereupon he the seraeantl
| struck him. Mackey was then allowed to
| 60. he is not seriously injured.
THE GOVERNOR TALKS TO REPUBLICANS.
| At 10 o'clock tonight Governor Level
| ling appeared at the door OF the House ana
asked admittance. He was permitted to
/ enter and, as he made his appearance. the
members rose in respect. He strode to the
| platform and made An impressive speech
II come" he said, mot as the Governor Of
the State. to order you from this hall. /
| come to you as q man, and entreat you as
| citizens of Kansas and men of honor to
surrender to the legal authority of tho
, State and To vacate this hall" Continu-
i ing. he said the events of the pact two
days seemed TO have robbed both sides OF
/ their reason. and that the situation was
now so strained that the slightest incident
might lead to a conflict and bloodshed.
Speaker pro TEN Hoch interrupted the
Governor to ask IL il would not be- fair for
each side TO vacate the hall pending set
tlement of the difficulty.
The Governor said he would consider no
| oOm DrOmiae and No aDDeal bv fha Ranuh-