The herald., 1893-02-17
Everything but Fighting in
Progress in Kansas.
Bellicose Preparations on a Big
Scale at Topeka.
The Situation Last Night Described
as an Armed Truce.
Republicans Still Holding Representa-.
tive Hall-The Governor Postpones
Hostilities by Proposing
Compromise.

TOPEKA, Aan., teDs l0.-Ine only
thing needed to make war in Kansas is
fighting. The conditions of war are all
present. Opposing bodies of armed men,
something to fight about and DISPOSE
ton to fight are all evident, but the war
does not open. Bellicose preparations
were carried on briskly by both sides all
day, but the governor, by offering to
compromise the difficulties keeping the
two houses apart, tapsred the crisis off
into very tame armed truce. A propo-
sition for compromise was offered to
to the Republican house. They finally
amended it to suit their own ideas
and returned it to the governor
who announced that he would reply to-
morrow, and meantime an armed truce
exists. This is the situation late to-
night.
The whole city of Topeka appeared
during the day to be under martial law.
Troops were marching and counter
marching through the broad avenues of
the city; men wearing yellow badges,
bearing the inscription "Dep. Sheriff."
were hurrying to and fro; cannon were
being dragged through the streets. Hun
dreds of civilians arrived during the day
from all over the state. Many carried
guns in CAGES; a few carried them under
their overcoatu, but more marched boldly
from the station to the hotels with rifle
or shotgun flung nonchalantly over their
shoulders.
DIsLoYALTY OF THE MILITIA.
The real sensation of the day was the
disloyalty of the state troops to the
commander-in-chief, the governor. He
twice ordered Colonel Hughes, the COM
mandant of the forces, to attack the
Republican stronghold. The colonel
declined and waE relieved. Then the
governor took personal command, and
ordered that no provisions be allowed to
regarded. Then Lieutenant Colonel
Barker of the Third regiment was given
command of the troops, but still the
governors orders were disobeyed.
Finally Brigadier General Hettiger ar
rived from Wichita and took command.
He let it be understood that the Repub-
licans had nothing to fear from him.
This caused the governor great uneaai-
ness, and after council with the Popu-
list leaders, compromise proposition
was offered the Republican house.
THE sHERIFF's INTERVENTION.
The Republicans hit upon 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 1000 men were sworn in.
Not caring to take the risk of arming
his recruits with firearms, the sheriff
decided to arm them with clubs. All
sorts Of clubs were pressed into use,
from broomsticks to baseball bats. The
sheriff announced that he would make
no move until fracture Of the peace
actually occurred. He explained that
he would regard an attempt to eject the
Republicans (the legally constituted
house as he regards it) disturbance of
the peace and would then interfere to
maintain order.
THE PoPULIsTs' FIGHTING FORCE.
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
offered by three provisional companies
of militia and some 30 assistant SER
geants.at-arms. Meantime Populists
began to arrive and tonight the Populists
are strongly reinforced. The governor
may organize these into provisional
troops who can be depended upon to
obey orders. 1t is not believed, how
ever, that he will take such extraordi-
nary action.
WHAT TODAY MAY BRING FORTH.
The prospects for tomorrow are that
the Populists will decline to accept the
proposition of compromise as amended
by the Republicans. The general feel.
ing tonight is one of renewed uneasi-
ness, and predictions are freely made
that tomorrow may see the long antici.
pated war inaugurated.