The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-16
TROOPS OUT AT TOPEKA.
REPUBLICANS AND POPULISTS ON
TSE VERGE OF a RIOT

Observation-Disclosures and Revolvers
in their Face The Republicans Beat
Down the Doors With SledRe Ham
mers.
Topeka, KAN, Feb. ia bloodless but
exciting battle took place between the re-
publican aud populist House at the en-
trance 10 the representatives hall this morn
ing. The populists. who have had possession Of
the hall in the afternoons, adjourned yes
terday until this afternoon, and, as has
been the custom since the Begin
ming of the session the republicans
expected 20 hold their regular morning
session to-day, but last night the populists
Bwore in a large number of assistant SER
geants-at-arms, who were placed on guard
and the doors and entrances to the hall were
looked this morning. No one was admitted
60 the hall excepting populists and
members of the press and they were re-
Quired to show pass and run the gauntlet
of dozen guards. The republicans were
fully informed OF all these preparations to
exclude them from the hall and last night 100
men were sworn in as officers OF the re-
publicans and ct O'Clock this morning the
members of the republican House with their
officers started from their headquarters for
she state house. The march was through
its way through the line of guards stationed
at the foot of she stairs IN the west wing and
started upstairs.
THE PoPULIsTs ARMED.
On the first landing was a crowd OF the
populist House officers under command Of
Adjt. Gen. Artz. They were armed and
she advancing republican crowd we're met
with muzzles Of revolvers and WincheGters.
The adjutant general commanded them to
halt, but no stop was made and the advance
guard pushed into the crowd Of populsts
Three or four of them succeeded in passing
the doorkeepers after brief struggle and
getting into the hall, but the populists sue
ceeded in closing the door and barring it.
The republicans on the outside demanded
admittance, and when it was denied
them Speaker Douglass swung large sledge-
hammer and began TO batter the heavy
doors leading from the cloak room. 1t
took many blows to beat a passage waV
through, but the doors finally gave way
and the republican Legislators surged in
with loud shouts The populists promptly
reiterated and the republicans were in full
possession of the hall
Ever since the opening OF the session the
populists have had the committee rooms
and the rooms of the sergeant-at-arms
and chief clerk. These were all locked
and guarded on the inside, but
after the House had been called TO
order the republicans battered down the
doors and took possession Of them without
encountertng any resistance. At 10 o'clock |
there being few populists in the representa-
ttVes' hall the republican House had settled |
down to the regular order of business, as IL |
nothing unusual had happened. The assist |
ant Lsergeants-at-arms each wearing a |
bright red ribbon, promenaded the aisles |
and lobbies. The republicans and populists |
were both swearing in officers as fast as |
possible, to be IN readiness for any emer- |
gency. The governor was expected to call |
out the militia to-day,
IN FULL POSSESSION.
The republicans have always had the post
office and with the capture OF the other two |
rooms they had for the first time since the /
legislature met, full possession Of the hall At
12:40 O'Clock the republicans added thirty |
or forty recruits to their forcs of assist ant |
sergsants-at-arms, the cadets of Washburn |
College appearing in the hall and taking |
the oath before the sergeAut-at-arms The |
popullst jsnitor undertook to freeze out the |
republicans and shut of the steam from the |
hall.
The following order was delivered by |
Adjt. Gen. Artz to Col J. w. F. Hughes:
You are hereby ordered to assume active |
command of all the officers ana men of the |
Kansas National Guards. assembled in Topeka |
and around the state house. BY order Of
j.. D. LEwELLIEG,
COMMANDMENT Chief.
The republicans this afternoon appointed |
a committee consisting Of Messrs. Sherman,
Warner and Cubbison 20 visit Gov |
Lewelling and agree upon. il possible, a
suspension Of hostillties. They proposed |
that both houses agree TO adjourn until /
case could be made in the supreme court |
and finally odjudicated. The governor
would not entertain the proposition but /
suggested that the republican House ad-
journ until tomorrow. or course the re-
publlcans would not consent 10 that.
MILITARY COMPANY ON HAND.
At 2:45 o'clock Col. Hughes stationed a
company * militia in the lower hall of the |
west wing Of the state house Immediately |
below the hall of the House Of Representa-
tives.
Speaker Douglass read to the House a |
proclamation which he had prepared relat- |
ing what had taken place and calling upon |
the people of the state to rally to the sup |
port OF the republican House. The procla- |
NATION was greeted with wild enthusiasm |
The populist House met in the basement |
of the west wing of the state house this |
afternoon pursuant TO adjournment. but |
almost Immediately adjourned until TO-
morrow.
Gov. Lewelliug issued q proclamation |
this afternoon at 2S0 O'clock, stating taat |
as the militia now 10 Topeka was not suf-
6cient five provisional companies would be |
organized, composed OF volunteers. Only |
three companies, however, have been organ
lied, and they are Of thirty men each. Other
ID. 81. Scott. rep, member from Hodge
man county, who happened to be in OF
tawa to-day, telegraphed that be would be
here with 800 armed men on the first train.
d. B. Anthony telegraphed that 900 men
would come from Leavenworth. Columbus |
telegraphed that 400 men would come from |
there at the command of Speaker Douglass. |
In the show of business which the repub- |
licans made after getting possession of the |
hall, Speaker Douglass used as a gavel the |
sledge-hammer which he used on the doors |
90 gain entrance.
THE REPUBLICANS IN CAMP.
All day the republicans held the House |
and tonight they are in camp. People are |
bringing in provisions but the populists |
have cut off the steam, lights aud water |
and the hall is almost in total darkness. A |
few candles and lamps flicker here and |
there in the members seats, having been |
contributed by citizens. 1t is believed that |
tomorrow, when all the troops arrive the |
governor will order the republicans to leave |
the hall; that they will obey and set up the |
House in some other room. State militia |
surround the capitol and no one without a
pass from the Rdjutant general can get
10. Gov. LewellinR said in an inter
view tonight that the law would be vindi-
Gated and that the populist House would