Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1893-01-26
ISSUE MADE UP.
Governor LewelIlng Issues His
Decree.
While Desiring Peaceful Settlement Duty
Requires to Call Halt-speakS of PEN
allies for Illegal Proceedings OF
Republican Representatives.

Governor Leweling has issued, officially,
a statement of tho reasons of his proceed
ings IN recognizing tho populist branch OF
the house and says the senate was probably
governed by the same considerations. The
statement is lengthy, but the entire case is
set out in the following;
Every step that has been taken is sus-
tanned by law and precedent, as well as by
the decision of the courts relating to such
procedents. The republican contingent has
proceeded in defiance of law, contrary to
every precedent, against the decision of the
courts, and in defiance of the legally consti-
tuted authorities of the state. If it we're for
moment granted that their claims were
valid, still the only authority competent un-
der the law to pass upon them has decided
against them. As law-abiding citizens,
therefore, ii is their duty to submit to the de
cson, and, IL they believe an injustice has
been done them, appeal to the higher court
the people of the state. Any other course
places them in open rebellion against the
legally constituted authorities of the state
and renders them liable to the penalties in
such cases provided.
II is my desire that there be no further
complication growing out of this unfortu-
nate affair. At the same time it Is my duty
to see that the authority of the state is re-
spected by all citizens, and it must not
longer be disregarded by those who are now
engaged in the illegal proceedings IN the
house.
In reply the speaker and speaker pro tenn
of the republican branch of the house issued
statement denying the truth of certain as
sertons of the governor, and, in going over
the history of the case in hand, maintain
the strict legality of their organization.
Their reply concludes;
IF, after majority of the members of
house have regularly organized and pro-
ceeded to business minority OF 81 MEM
bers, by first mutilating an Official roll and
calling in 10 contestants for seats, can Or
ganize q house of representatives, then one
member can do SO with the aid of sixty
two contestants, and there is an end to even
the semblance of constitutional government.
If the recognition of the governor and the
senate can make such body n part of the
legislature, there is little necessity of elect
ing house of representatives by the people,
for its political complexion will always be at
the mercy of a partisan governor and par
tisan senate. If anybody had ever supposed
that such was the law, Governor Humphrey
and the republican senate two years ago
might by their mere recognition" of a
minority body have wipad out the populist
house and created republican house out of
the twenty-five republican members at that
time with the aid of an outside contingent.
Such is not the law, never has been, and
never will be.
"Our struggle is not for party supremacy,
but for the supremacy of law and order, and
for the maintenance Of the basic principle
of our government, the right o: the majority
to rule. In defense of these we shall con-
tinue to stand, unawed by governors or sem
ates, until the courts decide the issue in
volved. GEO. L. DOUGLASS,
e. W. HoCH,
For the members of the constitutional house.