Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1893-11-11
GOV. lEWEIliNG EXPLAINS.
Tells How the Legislature Controversy Was
Settled.

WICHITA, Kan, Nov. 3.-After max.
ing a political speech here Thursday
night Governor Lewelling read the fol-
lowing statement in regard 10 the terms
OF settlement of the legislature contro.
versy, made and signed on the night of
Feb. l6 last, which was referred to by
Speaker Douglass in his speech in thi:
city Tuesday night:
Governor dwellings Statement.
"The Populists always sought fol-
compromise. The situation was becom.
ing more strained every hour, but on
this particular night a truce was ar.
ranged with the sheriff. 1t was under
stood that the sheriff's forces, which
numbered about 100, should make no
attack under the cover of darkness, and
on the other hand no attempt should bs
made to eject any person from the Doug.
las; house. After this truce had been
entered into, and for the first time in AZ
hours, l went home to my family 1--WE
were boarding at the Chesterfield house,
near midnight. / was about to retire
when Colonel Sells, tine hotel proprietor,
sent for me and stated that George r.
Peck desired In audience with me and
that a carriage was waiting.
Had Been Repeatedly Proposed.
II told Colonel Sells that l was not
sufficiently acquainted with Mr.. Peck to
warrant my going with him, that I did
not understand the nature of his mission
and regarded him and the interests hs
represented as hostile to the administra-
ton. Colonel Sells construed my hesita.
ton as fear of personal violence and
urged me to consent to the interview.
Notwithstanding the tears and e~ntreaties
of my wife and daughter, who were
alarmed for my safety, / consented to
go. Mr.. Peck then reminded me there
was imminent danger Of bloodshed and
destruction of property and that he had
called me to this conference to see if a
way could not be devised to avert a
dreadful confusion of this legislative
controversy. ! told him / had offered
everything which was reasonable and
that ! was hoping for a compromise, and
willing to do all in my power to bring il
about. He asked me what I would pro-
pose. / Their stated, and he wrote, the
terms proposed In the paper read 10y
Douglass. These terms were the same,
in substance, that had been repeatedly
proposed and SO often rejected by the
Douglass house.
They Contended For P~rinciple.
mr.. Douglass says now the hall was
all they contended for. Not so with tho
Populists. They contended for princi.
pie. They were willing to yield the hall
but they con tended for a chance to leg
slate for the people. There was 0
studied attempt to decimate the Populist
strength by arrests and otherwise unit IL
they should have no quorum then their
power TO legislate would be destroyed.
BY the term, Of the conference, the
pledge was extorted from the Repub'i-
cans that the Dunsmore house should
not be interfered with. This was whal
was sought at all times by the Populists
and as evidence that this Ii what they
contended Ter, ] cite the proposition
which was sent to the Douglass house
by Private Secretary Close on tho 10Th
Ut February. the day before the final
agreement. 1t Is identical with the
proposition dictated by me to MI. Peck
and finally signed by myself and the
Douglass house committee ON the fol-
lowing day which vas Feb. IL"