Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-02-16
SOLDIERS ENCIRCLE
KANSAS CAPITOL
Gov. Lewelling Threatens to
Drive the Republicans from
the House To-day.
HE CALLS OUT THE ENTIRE
STATE MILITIA


House, After Being Barred Out by
the Populists-Action OF the Douglass
House Endorsed.
TOPEKA, Kan, Feb. 16-The political
situation here has reached crisis. An
open conflict Is now believed to be newt
able
The bitterness engendered between the
opposing parties during the campaign
and since the organization of two rival
Houses of Representatives may be wiped
out with blood.
Violence has already been resorued to-
The Republican House, which was barred
by armed Populists from the Hall of
Representatives, has taken forcible pos
session.
The Populists have temporarily aband-
oned their places in the Hall and ad-
journed until 1870 to-day to await the
outcome of executive interference in their
behalf.
Gov. LewellinR has issued proclama-
tion calling out the entire State militia,
When the Republicans went to enter
the hall of Representatives yesterday
they found the doors hac been barred.
They were barred by the Populists.
The Republican 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 a side entrance leading to the
hall that they were soon demolished and
the members of the Republican House
filed quickly through and entered the
hall.
Had the Populist House been in session
a conflict would surely have resulted, but
fortunately the Populist House was not
to meet until one O'Clock, and conse-
Quently was not in session at the time.
AS soon as it became known by the
Populists what had occurred, Governor
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.
The soldiers started on their mission.
The Republicans being informed of the
action of the Governor held hurried
conference to determine upon what
course of action to pursue. No
definite plan was decided upon
but individual Republicans went to
work trying to induce the Santa Fe Rail-
road to call out its shop hands to oppose
the militia In ejecting 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 Populists were not idle.
Company G, a local militia company
which djut. Gen. Artz had notified to
stand in readiness, was already on the
ground and orders were telegraphed to
HILTON and Marion for companies D and G..
While these warltke preparations were
going on the Republican House was max
ing a show of business, but nobody took
any interest in the proceedings, until Mr.
Hale Of Rush, arose and said that it was
fitting that the efforts of Speaker Doug
lass should be recognized by his brothers
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
AS ne said this he produced from be-
hind his desk the big sledge-hammer the
Speaker had used to help effect an en-
trance into the hall Of the House, an
which he afterwards used in rapping the
House to order.
This was the signal for more cheering,
and when Douglass received it from the
hands of the page he held it aloft, the
members stood UP and shouted, and when
Douglass used it as gavel the members
fairly danced.
The Populists, anticipating the events
of the day, attempted to throw the bur,
den of the situation on Sheriff Wilkinson,
of this county.
The Governor informed him officially
late in the afternoon that rumors, APP
parently we'll founded, were in circula-
tion, to the effect that n lawless mob
(the Republican House of Representa-
tives) contemplated the forcible invasion
of the Hall of the House of Representa-
tives, and called upon him to summon
shertH's posse comitatus to resist such
lawless invasion and to preserve the peace.
Speaker Dunsmore, of the Populist
House, sent the following to Sheriff Will
kinson:
''SIR-I hereby call on you, as sheriff
of Shawnee county, for sufficient force to
preserve the peace and authority of the
House Of Deputies
The sheriff after taking legal advice re-
fused to comply with the demand of the
Governor and the Populist Speaker and
notified them that il there was q House
of Representatives legally organized it
was clothed with the power to appoint a
Sergeant-at-Arms who would have all
the power necessary to call to his assist
ance any number of citizens necessary to
enforce the authority with which he was
invested by the House; that he did not
wish to decide which House is the legally
organized body and should take no part
as long as the peace and quiet Of the citi-
gems remained undisturbed.
This reply of the sheriff determined the
Governor to call out the militia and after
the Republicans made forcible entrance
to Representative Hall, he wired the COM
manders Of the various companies to re-
pair at once with their commands to the
scene of hostilities.
The various companies which had been
drawn up about the State House accord
ing to the ideas of the Individual COM
mandants were given positions at the four
main entrances to the capital on its four
sides.
Squads of men were posted at all che
basement entrances. Sentinel lines were
thrown out, and the situation assumed
really military aspect.
The forces were divided into three
parts each to remain on active duty
eight hours, while the other two, while
being held in reserve, are permitted to
obtain rest and refreshments.
This plan was adopted to aid in carry
Ing out the general plan of a siege
The Populists decided not to force the
issue by an assault upon the Republican
position in Representative Hall, but to