Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-02-25
Mass Meeting.


day for the purpose Of discussing the
situation of affairs at our state capital
and to pass suitable resolutions recogniz-
ing and unfolding the action of the le-
gally organized house." The petition was
signed by thirty-four of our business men.
Pursuant to the petition a call for
meeting was made and all, irrespective OF
party, were invited, and large attend
ance, principally of voters, turned out at
the appointed hour.
The meeting was called to order by S.
r. Cowick, and upon motion Judge A. j.
Harlan was elected chairman and r. G.
Wilson, secretary. Judge Harlan then
proceeded with review of the situation
at Topeka in clear, logical manner and
without the least excitement or passion.
On motion of George Baker the follow
ing committee on resolutions was ap-
pointed: George Baker, Lee Monroe and
8. r. Cowick. The committee retired to
draft resolutions, and Judge Harlan en-
tertained the audience during their alb
sence. The committee presented the fol-
lowing resolutions as expressive of the
sense of the meeting:
RESOLUTIONS.
WHEREAS, On the 10th day of Janua-
ry, 1893, the day designated by law for
the converting of the legislature of Kan
sas, the house of representatives was le-
gally organized and Hon. George l..
Douglas was elected speaker thereof; and
WHEREAS, On the 10th day of Janua-
ry, 1893, fifty eight members of the legis-
lature, less than quorum, In open VIOLA
ton of the constitution and laws of Kan
sas, and by falsely and maliciously alter
ing the roll of members, prepared by the
secretary of state, inserting the names OF
ten men, who had no certificates of cleo
ton, pretended to organize and elect a
speaker and other officers; and
WHEREAS, Since said 10th day of JAM
uary, 1893, said pretended house OF rep
resentatives has occupied representative
hall and pretended to pass laws and to
obstruct the legal house In its work OF
legislation; and
WHEREAS, Governor Lewelling has rec
ognized said pretended organization as
the lawful house of representatives IN de-
fiance of the law and refuses to recognize
the legal house, lawfully organized and
presided over by Speaker Douglas; and
WHEREAS, On the 18th day of Februa-
ry, 1893, said pretended and alleged
house of representatives barricaded and
locked the doors of representative hall to
prevent the legal house from entering
and from transactlng business, and
sought by armed forces to prevent the
legally elected members from entering
representative hall, and committed other
overt acts contrary to the peace and dig
nifty of the state of Kansas and in open
violation of the laws of the state; and
WHEREAS, The members of the legally
elected and organized house afterwards
took possession of the hall provided for
them by law, and Governor Lewelling
has since in utter disregard of the provi.
sions of the law and constitution of the
state, assembled bodies of armed men
and threatens by force to drive out the
legal house of representatives from the
hall now occupied by them at the point
of the bayonet; therefore be 1t
ResolUed, That it is the sense OF this
meeting that the house of representatives
now presided over by Speaker Douglas
is the legal organization, and the pre-.
tended house presided over by j. M.
Dunsmore is revolutionary, unconstltu-
tional and without color of authority, ex-
cept such as it has exercised by force;
and that we denounce the action of the
governor as tyrannical, vacillating, in
tensely partisan and extremely unfair
| and reasonable.
Resolved, That the supreme question
which now confronts the citizens of Kan
sas is not which party shall rule, but
| rather shall law and order prevail, OF
shall mere brute force, without the
shadow of right or law, continue to domi'
nate.
Resolved, That we fully endorse the &C,
ton of the legal house, ask them to stand
firm, never yield nor falter, aud we pledge
to them our earnest support in their
efforts to maintain their rightful and
legal organization.
It WAS moved that the resolutions be
adopted, which motion was carried al
most unanimously. A division of the
house being called for, rising vote was
taken, and 63 voted for the resolutions
and 8 against. The three voting in the
negative were Mr.. and Mrs. J. W. Carson
and E. D. Wheeler.
MI. Wheeler then made some remarks
in opposition to the resolutions and was
followed by Lee Monroe, who made ar
exceptionally strong and able speech. He
was followed by J. W. Carson and he by
s. R. Cowick, after which upon motion
the meeting adjourned.
The assembly was composed OF oul
representative business men; there was
no excitement; the speeches were al
temperate; in fact, it was body o.
reasonable. thinking men, who could no
be swayed by excitement into mob, bu'
the sentiment was well defined and EN-
phatic and proceeded from a deep con
viction of the dangers that Threatened
our state from the action of the populis
leaders at Topeka.
If you want . loan on your farm cal
ON r. G. WILSON.
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