The Portland daily press., 1893-02-16
CIVIL WAR.
Kansas Militia Called Out by GOV.
ernor LeWelling.
REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF LEGIS-
LATURE BARRICADED in
THEIR HALL.

A Riot Threatened in Topelza-The State
House Besieged-Attempt to Starve
Out the Republican Legislature.
TOPEKA, Kan, February ia riot is
imminent between the Republicans and
Populists in the Hall of Representatives.
The long expected crisis has arrived, and
there now seems no way to prevent
dangerous clash between the two par
| ties.
When the Republicans went to the hall
of representatives at 10 o'clock this
morning, they found that the doors had
been barred by the Populists. The Re-
| publican leaders soon determined to
force an entrance, and sledge hammers
were secured for this purpose. They
were used to such effect upon the doors
of side entrance leading to the hall
that they were soon demolished, and he
| members of the Republican house tiled
| through and entered the hall.
Had the Populist house been in ses-
sion a conflict would surely have result
ed. but fortunately the Populist house
Yesterday adjourned till l o'clock today,
and consequently was not in session at
the time.
AS soon as it became known by the
Populists what had occurred, Gov.
Lewelling was notified. He promptly
called out the militia and instructed
them to proceed to the hall and eject the
members of the Republican House from
the floor.
nv ! - L.. .4..,+o 4 -, +bo;,. ,,,icoiop
The Republicans being informed OF the
action Of the Governor. held h rried
conference to determine upon what
course of action to pursue. No definite
plan was decided upon, but individual
Republicans are trying to induce the
Santa Fe Railroad to send out its shop
hands to oppose the militia in eJectlng
the Republicans from the hall.
Other industries that were known to
be in sympathy with the Republicans
were also asked to furnish men for the
same purpose. Down stairs the Popullsts
were not idle. Company G, a local mill
tary company which Adjutant General
Artz had notified last night to stand in
readiness, was already on the ground,
and orders were telegraphed to Holton
and Marion for Companies d. and =.
While these warlike preparations were
going on the Republican house was MAX
ing show of business, but nobody took
any interest in the proceeding until Mr..
Hale of Rush arose and said that it was
fitting that the efforts of Senator Doug
lass should be recognized by his BROTH
ers, and he desired to present to him IN
the name of the House the instrument
which he had used to call the House to
order this morning. AS he said this he
produced from behind his desk the big
sledge hammer the speaker had used to
help effect an entrance in the hall OF the
House and which he afterwards used IN
rappine the house to order. This was
the signal for cheering and when Doug
lass received it from the hands of the
| page and held it aloft the members stood
up and cheered.
Not satisfied with their mornings
triumph, the Republicans, who now had
their war paint on, offered resolution
reciting the resistance made by Ben
Rich, Howard, John, Breidenthal and S.
M. Scott to the Republican sergeant-at-
arms Yesterday when they attempted to
arrest Rich, and directing that Howard,
Breidenthal and Scott be brought before
the Bar of the House to answer to the
charge of contempt of the House. OF
course the resolutions were adopted and
the excitement for moment subsidized.
The Populists say there were "a assist
ant sergeant-at-arms sworn in and in pos
session of the hall when the Republic
cans forced their way in. They offered
no resistance except to warn the Repub-
licans that they were destroying state
property and would be held responsible
to the law. The only weapons shown by
the Populists were in the hands of A. J.
Boyd, Z. L. Hopkins, and L. L. Iount,
at the foot of the stairway, and in the
hands of two wild young men who
rushed across the hall from the back
stairway. A. j. Boyd had Winchester.
and man named Tompkins and Yount
had revolvers. G.. @. Clemons, who was
also on guard at that point, had heavy
cane. with a hooked handle. No
attempt was made to use
the weapons except by Clemons, who
with broad grin on his face, used the
crook Of his caneNto catch Republicans
by the ankles as they passed up the stair
way, thus tripping them down, but as
they fell others fell upon, and at one
time dozen or more Popuiists and Re-
publicans were writhing together On
their way up stairs the Republicans cap
tured Winchester and revolver, which
they will preserve as trophies.
This morning the Santa Fe train from
Atchison and other places along the line
brought Is Republicans to act as assist
ant sergeant-at-arms, and other trains
are expected to bring additional rein
forcements from points near by Topeka.
The Republicans, anticipating trouble,
telegraphed for help lastnight.
Republican Appeal.
Speaker Douglass of the Republican
House has issued an appeal to the citi-
zens of Kansas. He asks of all Kansas
citizens their "moral aid and active sup
port to help maintain the organization
of the Republican House and resist the
forces of anarchy and revolution, who
openly proclaim their determination in
advance to disregard Judgment of courts
and to continue in defiance of the law.
Companies Ordered for Duty.
The latest order from the executive is
one calling for the militia companies to
report for duty at the capital: Co. G, Sd
regiment, Oakland; Co. B, Sd regiment,
Holton; Co. G, I'd regiment, Marion; Co.
l