The Van Buren press., 1893-02-18
THE KANSAS FAacE


Likely to Merge Into = Tragedy-HoatilI-
tics Already Begun ON Mild scaie-An
Attempt to Arrest the Chief Clerk III
the Populists Wing OF the House Results
ina Fi9ht-The Partisans are Now Armed
and Bloodshcd May Ensue.
Topeka, Kas., Feb 15.--War IL on in
real earnest between the two houses Of
the legislature, and blows have been
exchanged. There are now open threats
by populists Of sensational hostilities,
and at any moment there may be some
thing more than the talk which has
been SO long INDUCED in.
+. w. Hoch, Of Marion, In the repuh-
lican house yesterday morning, offered
resolution for the arrest Of Ben c.
Rich, populist clerk. on the charge Of
disturbing the legal house by his &C.
lions. The superintendent succeeded
in finding Rich, after considerable
search, in the parlors of the Dutton
hotel, read their warrant to him and
demanded that he accompany them.
John w. Briedenthal, Fred bailey and
others interfered in behalf of Rich, aud
Immediately there was a great crowd Of
people In the hotel. Aftera brief strug-
gle the crowd moved ont upon the
street, and with Rich in custody OF
both republicans and populists, the
crowd moved up the street.
At the corner OF Ninth and Kansas
avenues the republicans tried to run
Rich over to the Copeland house, and
warlike scene followed. In the
struggle Representative Ryan knocked
one of the republican sergeants down
and almost Immediately got astride Of
him, while John w. Briedenthal had
to use force to get rid Of republican
who was trying to pull him away from
Rich.
Other men exchanged blows, but no
body was seriously hurt.
In the end the populists got their
man away, and took him to the gov
crnor's Office, from where, a few min
utes later, he was triumphantly es-
corted into the hall OF the house Of
representatives
When Rich appeared it was not quite
time for the populist house to meet,
but Speaker Dunsmore raped for Or
der and made short speech. lie ssid:
1.-THE republicans have begun this
thing, and we will now carry 1t out.
We, by passing bills, have offered an
opportunity for our republican friends
TO bring this trouble to settlement In
the courts, but notwithsta nding their
frequent claims to the contrary. they
choose rather to win after the methods
| Ill. set
shown that we arc rs good scrap.
pers as they nre. We are hcre
to stay, and we are here to transact
business. And now, gentlemen Of
the house, the hour to which We I'd
journed having arrived, the house will
come to order. Chief Clerk hon c.
Rich, who is still with us, gentlemen.
will call the roll"
Rich called the roll and after prayer
by the chaplain the house proceeded
with business In its regular order
The situation IL serious In the ex'
treme. There Is likely to BE- , conflict
to-day. which may end In riotl
and bloodshed. Republicans ar
determined to arrest Rich and
the populists say they will never anb'
nit to It. Both speakers swore IN {
hundred extra sergeants-at-arma lnsl
night. and they are all armed. Il Y
firmly believed thst the populists viii
bar the doors Of Representative hall
against the repu blicans this morning,
and the republicans say II they do they
will batter them down.
! Speaker Douglas Of the Republicans
house said last night that the end 81
the revolutionary episode must come
and the majesty of the law should y
upheld no matter at what cost
The governor is advising the popu
lists TO resist all attempts 1T arrest.