The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-02-16
Kansas Republicans Refuse to
Run Up the White Flag.
THEY DEFY GOV. LEWELLiNc.
Soldiers and Cannon Surround State
House, but Fail to Intimidate.
Thousands Of Men Coming 60 the Rescue
OF the Beleagured-Col. Hughes. the
Militia Commander. WIN Not Fight
His 1riondo.

KASsAs CrrY, Feb. 16.-At $50 O'Clock
this morning q special train on the
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe road,
carrying four Associated Press special
correspondents and . corps of tele-
graph operators, will leave this city
for Topeka. 1t 10 expected that the train
will make the fifty-eight miles between
here and Topeka in less than one
hour. 1t is believed at this hour
that an attempt will be made very
early in the morning to force tho
members of tho Republican legislature
from behind the barricades made out. of
the benches from the Populists' side of the
hall. This attempt will be in accordance
with tho expressed determination
of the governor who said he would
drive them from the chamber at the
point Of the bayonet. 1t Is generally be-
lieved that this radical step will meet with
armed resistance and that this attempt
will be made very early in the morning
before the arrival of the promised
recruits from both Republican and
Democrats from adjacent cities. This train
will consist Of an engine and one car char
tered for this special use by the Associated
Press.
TOPEKA. Feb. 15-"Bleeding Kansas"
nearly bled again today. Nothing but
the wisest cOunsels and calmer leaders of
the opposing parties prevented a serious
conflict and the shedding OF blood. Not
since the anti-slavery and pro-slavery
forces were arrayed in hostile attitude
against one another has the political ex-
citement run so high As today, and not
since those perilous times has the politi-
cal situation come so near developing into
a battle with arms. The members of the
Republican house, each carrying . revol.
yer, forced their way through the Popu-
list guard stationed in the corridors and
stairway Leading to the representative
hall. They fought their way. inch by
inch. up the stairs in hand-to-hand con-
flict with the Populists, battered down the
doors of the hail with . sledge hammer.
took possession Of the hail and barricaded
themselves within and are now withstand
ing siege by the Populist government.
supported by the entire military force of
the state. who hope to starve them into
unconditional surrender. Right here
arises the probability Of armed conflict b.
tween the Republican guards and the state
militia. The Republican members kept
the wires hot all day. sending messages to
their constituents, infoxnifag them of the
desperate situation of affairs and calling
for Republican volunteers to come to To-
peka at once and lend aid to the Rspub-
llcan house. Responses have been received
from all over the state. stating that voiun
teers offered their services by hundreds
and will arrive in Topeka by the first
train. AS samples of the responses, two
are given:
d. NJ. Scott. Republican member, who
happened to be home in Ottawa, tele-
graphed he would be here in the morning
with 300 armed men.
Fighting" Dan Anthony, the editor of
the Leavenworth Times, wired that 1,0O0
armed men would come from Leaven-
worth. The Republicans predict that the
militia, being composed mostly of Repub-
licans, will not resist the attack Of the
volunteers should the latter proceed to
such extreme measures.
At 10 O'Clock tonight 500 troops are on
guard ar ound the building, while 500 more
are on the way from different parts of the
state. Hundreds OF Republican volun-
,eers armed for battle are gathering from
all parts of the state. The Populists have
organized into provisional troops. The
militia being Republican In sympathies.
will probably not obey an order to
shoot down their political breth-
rem, while the provisional COM
panies composed Of Populists are
prepared to go to almost any extreme to
defeat the Republican plans and sustain
the Popuiists' position. No one dares
predict what tomorrow will bring forth.
Few hope for q peaceable solution Of the
difficulty. many expect bloodshed, and all
are holding their breath in antici patton.
When the Republicans went to the hall
this morning they found the doors barred
by Populists. After short consultation,
the Republicans resolved to force an en-
trance. Sledge hammers were brought
into play against one of the side entrances
with such good effect that the doors were
soon demolished. and the Republicans
quickly fiied into the hall. Had the Popu-
lists been in session, conflict would
surely have resulted. but forum ately the
Populist house had adjourned yester-
day till CLOCK this afternoon. As soon
as the Popuhsts learned what had been
done Gov. Leweiiing was notified and he
promptly called out the militia. He in
strucied the militia TO proceed to the hail
and eject the Republicans from the floor.
The soldiers started on their mission. but
the Republicans, learning OF the governor's
action, held a hurried consultation as to
the course TO pursue. No definite plan
was decided on. but individual Republic
cans were trying 20 induce the Santa Fe
Railroad Company to call out its shop
men ~ oppose the militia. Other indus
tries known 10 be in sympathy with the
Republicans were also asked 10 furnish
men for the same purpose. In the mean
time the Popalists were not idle. Com
pany 4 of the local militia responded
promptly TO the call. having been notified
by Adis. Gen. Ar,z 10 be in readiness.
They marched 10 the capitol grounds
and took up position awaiting orders.
Orders having been also teiegraphed to
Ho!ton ana Marion for Companies D and
q. II was reported back that they were on
the way on specias train.
In the hall of the house the Republicans
were making a show of doing business.
Great enth husiasm and loud cheering were
evoked by the presentation to Speaker
Douglas Of the sledge hammer with which
an entrance had been effected into the
hail, and which Douglas subsequently,
used in pi ace OF the gavei TO call the house
TO order resolution was passed citing
Chief Clerk Rich, of the Populist house,
Howard Breiden,ha, and Scott 10 appear
before the ho1ye 70, contempt TO. resisting
the process cf the house yesterday y hen
an attempt was msae u arrest Rich.
There were twenry- fant assistant ser
Reausp-a -at-arms In sae h2use when the Rs,