Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-02-17
EMBRYO CIVIL WAR.
The Kansas Legislature and Governor
Act Like Angry SChOOlbOys,
And Disgrace Themselves and their
State.

Ana Disgrace Themselves and their
State.
The contest between the Populsts and
the Republicans in the Kansas legislature,
which has existed for several weeks, has
resulted in what looks at the present writ
ing very much like miniature civil war.
The trouble began Immediately after the
meeting of the state legislature early in
January, when the Populist minority in
the lower branch proceeded to organize a
house of their own, which was recognized
by Gov. Lewelling and the Populist major
ity in the senate. Their purpose was to
control the action of the legislature in
joint assembly and elect a man of their
own stamp TO the United States Senate.
In the state senate the Populists had le-
gally elected majority, but in the house
the Republicans claimed a majority with
the aid of four Democratic members, and
they also organized house of their own.
Ever since the two separate houses have
been in existence both claiming to be the
legal house. Each has its own set of Off
GERS, and the sessions have been held
either at the same time, or one in the
morning and the other in the afternoon.
The contest grew wearisome, and Tues
day night word was passed around that
Gov. Lewelling had determined to force
the issue by denying the Republican house,
as an organization, entrance to the hall.
To this end he directed the adjutant gen.
eral to call out the militia, if necessary,
and the Populist officials proceeded to bar
the doors of the hall. The Republicans
learned of the plan, and at 8 o'clock We'd
nesday morning went to the state house in
an organized body, and encountered there
the Populst members and their officers
and retainers. After a determined effort
they forced their way through the crowd
and up the stairway, broke down the doors
of the hall with sledge-hammers, and en-
tered and took possession. A pretence
was made of coming to order for business,
but there was was too much excitement
for any actual work to be done. They
swore in a lot of deputy sergeants- alarms,
and issued a call for help from the Repub-
licans of the state. Mean time the gov
ernor ordered out either the whole or a
large part of the state militia, who were
posted about the state house in warlike ar
ray, with gatling guns, cannon, ct cetera,
in reserve. Steam and gas were turned off
from the state-house, and when the Re-
publicans telephoned caterer for food he
was not allowed to send it to them. In
other words they were in state of siege
| in tho h1v oh nhar ruith 6aED fa
purpose on the part of the Populists to
starve and freeze them out. AS another
feature of the complication in the situa-
tion the sheriff of the county issued at
midnight proclamation declaring himself
to be the peace officer, and notifying the
governor that he must disband the militia
force at the capitol. He also announced
that he would send 200 armed deputies to
the state house to take charge.
Ldter.-Last nights dispatches state
that the action of the Republican sheriff
precipitated such a crisis that the Popu-
lists weakened So large portion of the
militia were Republicans that they had no
heart in obeying the governors ORDERS and
they could not be depended on to take any
extreme action.
At noon the governor held a conference
with the Populist house members and va
rious leaders of the party. 1t was decided
to hire hall down town for the Populst
house and there their meetings will be held
till the difficulties are settled. Sheriff
Wilkerson and Col. Hughes commandant
of the militia forces, held a consultation
, with the Republican leaders, the result of
which was an agreement that all the armed
forces, except the Populist provisional
companies, should be placed under the
sheriff's command as peace officer of the
county. The sheriff announced that he
proposed to take charge of the capitol and
to relieve it and the Republican house from
a state of siege.
At noon the governors private secretary
e appeared in the Republican house with a
proposition to withdraw the troops and not
interfere with that body or its officers, if
the Republicans would drop legal proceed
ings against the Populists for arrests made,
and not interfere with the acts of the Pop
e ulists and state officials, this agreement tC
continue in force until the close of the
; present session of the legislature.
! The Republicans appear to be several
a points ahead at this writing, but a settle
d ment of the controversy is by no means il
: sight.
/. A resolution has been adopted by the