The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-17
Conditions of War Are All Pres
ent in Topeka.
1T ONLY LACKS FIGHTING.
A Compromise Measure Submitted BY
the Governor.
This Has Been Amended and Returned to
Him, Which He Will Probably Decline
and Then Hostiliries Will no
Doubt Begin.

TOPEKA, Feb. 16.-The only thing
needed to make war in Kansas is fight
ing. The conditions of war are all pres
ent. Opposed bodies of armed men.
something to fight about and disposi-
ton to fight are all evident, but war does
not open. Bellicose preparations were
carried on briskly by both sides all day
but the governor finally offered to com
promise the difficulties, and proposition
for compromise was offered 10 the Repub-
lIcans of the house. They finally amended
1t to suit their own ideas and returned to
the governor who announced that he
would reply tomorrow and in the mean
time an armed truce exists. This IS the
situation late tonight. The whole city of
Topeka appeared during the day to be
under martial law. Troops were march,
ing and countermarching through the
broad avenues of the city, men wearing
yellow badges bearing the inscription
deputy Sheriff. were hurrying to and
ire; cannon were being dragged through.
the streets. Hundreds of civilians ar
rived during the day from all over the
state. Many carried guns in cases, few
carried them under their overcoats, but
more marched boldly from the station to
hotels with rifle or shotguns flung nom
chalently over their shoulders.
The real sensation of the day was the
disloyalty of the state troops to the COM
mander-1n- chief, the governor. He twice
ordered Colonel Hughes, commander OF
the forces to attack the Republican strong
hold, but the colonel declined and was re-
lieved. The governor took personal com
mand and ordered that no provisions be
allowed to pass the lines but the orders
were disregarded. Then Lieutenant
Colonel Barker was given command OF the
troops but still the governors orders
were disobeyed. Finally Brigadier- Gen
eral Hettinger arrived from Wichita and
took command. He let it be understood
that the Republicans had nothing to fear
from him. This caused the governor
great uneasiness and after a counsel with
the Populist leaders a compromise propo-
sition was offered the Republicans of the
house.
The Republicans hit upon a plan this
morning to strengthen their position by
bringing to their aid the authority of the
sheriff, backed by a posse. The sheriff
issued proclamation, and by noon fully
a thousand men were sworn in. Not
caring to take the risk of arming recruits
with firearms, the sheriff decided to arm
them with clubs. Ali sorts of clubs were
pressed into use, from broomsticks TO
baseball bats. The sheriff announced
that he would make no move until frac-
ture of the peace actually occurred. He
explained that he would regard any at
tempt to eject the Republicans (the legally
constituted house, as he regards it, dis
turbance of the peace, and would then in
terfeTe to maintain order. This action By
the sheriff, taken in connection with the
attitude assumed by the militia, deprived
the Populists of all their fighting support
excepting that afforded by the three pro-
visional companies of militia and some
fifty assistant sergeants- alarms.
But in the meantime the Populists be-
gan to arrive, and tonight the Populists
are strongly reinforced. The governor
may organize these into provisional
troops, who can be depended upon to
obey his orders. 1t is not believed, how
ever, that he will take such extraordi-
nary action. The prospects for tomorrow
are that the POpulists Will decline to ac-
cept the proposition of compromise as
amended by the Republicans. The gen.
eral feeling tonight is one OF renewed IN
easiness, and predictions are freely made
that tomorrow may see the long-antici-
pated war inaugurated.