Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1893-02-18
GETTING SERIOUS.
An Effort of the Republican House
at Topeka.
BEN c. RICH ORDERED ARRESTED.
Tho popui~ts Defeat Their Opponents
Doth sidcS Swearing Ia l'nrtIsans
nd dangerous Collision
Prob tb!s.

TOPEKA, Kan, Feb. II IL indica
lions go for anything there will bc q
battle between the officers of the riva
houses of representatives to-day. The
time for words and buster appears &c
have passed and that for action to have
arrived. What the outcome will be is
purely matter of speculation, but the
most conservative men on both sides
admit with regret that disgraceful
scenes cannot bc avoided. Each organ
Station is making nil possible prcpara-
ton and is fully determined to main.
tain its position
Ben G. Rich, chief clerk of the popu-
list house, was arrested yesterday and
promptly rescued 10y his populist asso-
ciates The initial skirmish was n de-
cided victory for the house of Duns-
more, but while it caused great rejoic-
tng on the populist side, it aroused the
republ,s,.ns to determination to in
sist upon the arrest of Rich, rs ordered
by TIE house of Douglass, ut al hazards
Republican leaders discussed the situa-
ton, which they admit to be exceed
ingly grave, ana concluded that but
ono thing remained for them to do: to
gather all the force necessary, organize
and enforce It's orders
Speaker Douglass began his prepara-
1ions for to-day's work early yesterday
afternoon. He sent out trusted men to
enlist recruits 60 his force of officers,
and as rapidly rs volunteers could he
obtained he swore them in and gave
them orders to report for duty. There
was no lack of material with which to
build an army. All the afternoon and
evening they struggled into the Cope
land hotel. subscribed their names to
the oath and were mustered into service.
About 100 had been received before s
O'Clock. Speaker Douglass says that
Shis force will arrest Ben c. Rich. If
IL fails in this it will be increased until
It is powerful enough to overcome all
obstacles
SO rr,h for the war preparations OF
Thc republicans.
The popuists have assumed the defen-
sive. The first gun must DC fired by the
rcpu blicans. After that the populists
will fight They take the position that
cEhe republican house has no authority,
that il is in law Il mob, and that its
officers or employees have no authority
TO make any arrest. On this ground
they propose 30 resist, with force If
necessary, any and all attempts to take
Ben Rich into custody. Twenty assist
ant sergeants-at-arms were sworn in by
Speaker Dunsmore yesterday afternoon
to constitute Il body guard for his chief
clerk. They will stay with him and
protect him from any effort to arrest
him that may be made by the repub.
mcan house officials.
Seven of the guard went with RicL
yesterday afternoon to conduct him in
safely from Rcpresantativ hall to the
senate chamh.. Three walked ahead
of him and To- l,nnining four brought
mp the rear. Whcn the body guard and
, Ehejr precious charge entered the pres
~encc of the diGnified senators howl
went mp from the populist side. Clerk
Rich delivered his message in due form,
che guard about faced and marched
back to the house of Dunsmore.
The populist house took a recess ut 8
o'clock until 1 o'clock this afternoon,
4he usual hour, which apparently gives
the republicans undisputed possession
of Representative hall this morning.
The hall, however. is tightly locked
and no one is permitted to enter. This
has given rise to the report that the re-
gpub!icans would be denied admission to
the hall. This may or may not be true.
The populists deny it Should it prove
true the republicans will attempt to
batter down the doors and force an en-
trance. But no matter how many Off
GERS the republicans swear in, it is now
certain that the populists will have an
equal if not a larger number, and as
they have full possession of the pro-
posed battle ground they have great
advantage.
Mr.. Rich, after the adjournment last
evening, was escorted TO his hotel by
his guard, portion of which remained
on duty all night to prevent any sur
prise by the republicans 1t was re-
ported that Gov. Lewelling would issue
a proclamation calling upon the militia
TO come to Topeka to protect the peace
and dignity of the state. The report
had it that Judge W. C. Webb was pre-
paring the document to be ready for
the governors signature this morning.
The governor could not be found either
at his hotel or his office Fred j. Close,
his private secretary, said he knew
nothing of his whereabouts, and none
of his advisers would talk regarding
H. r,.nl,n l,ilitr of the militia hain0