The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-01-19
lEmElIINc,e erA1EMENT.

TOPEKA. Kan, Jan. 18.-Governor Lew
elling this evening handed to the Anso-
ciated Press representative long state
ment, giving his reason for recognizing
the populist house. In nutshell his rea-
son was that he believed the populist
house to be legally organized and the Re
publican house to be illegally organized.
The statement quotes precedents for his
action. In conclusion, the statement
says:
THE Republican contingent has pro-
ceeded in defiance of law and the legally
constituted authorities of the state. If it
were for a moment granted that their
claims are valid, still the only authority
competent under the law to pass upon
them has decided against them. As law
abiding citizens, therefore, 1t Is their duty to
submit to the decision, and if they believe
an injustice has been done TO them 10 ap-
peal TO A higher court, the people OF the
state. Any other course places them in
open rebellion against the legally consti-
tuted authorities of the state and renders
them liable to the penalties in such cases
provided. 1t is my desire that there may
be no further complications growing out
of the unfortunate affair. AT the same
time it is my duty 20 see that the author
ity of the state is respected by all citizens,
and it must not longer DE disregarded by
those who are now engaged in the illegal
proceedings in the house"
The governor warns the people of the
state to not be deceived by the editorials
in the daily papers, which, he says, are
subsidized by the plutocrats, or by the
action of the recent so-called mass meet
ings, which were organized by railroad at
torneys and the money power.
Speaker Douglass and Speaker Pro Tenn
Hoch of the Republican house, tonight is
sued reply to the governors statement
They say that the governors reference TO
the recent mass meetings is fragrant per-
version of facts and an insult to the thOus-
ands Of people who participated in them.
They attack the governors statement of
the facts of the organization of the two
houses and then go on to state, from Re
publican standpoint, how the two houses
were organized.
The Republican house, says the state
ment, was organized by sixty-three mem
bers, a majority Of one of all the members
who held certificates of election from the
canVassing board, certified to by the sec
retary of state. The populist house was
by fifty-eight members, who
held certificates, together with eleven men
who are contesting the seats of Repu blican
certificate holders. IL contestants eau
participate in the organization of legis
lative body, continues the-statement, con-
government is at an end. If
the recognition OF the governor
and senate can make such body part of
the legislature, there is little necessity of
electing a house of representatives by the
people; for its political complexion will
always be at the mercy of partisan gov
ernOr and partisan senate.
Our struggle is not for party suprem-
acy, but for the supremacy of law and
order, and for the maintenance OF the basic
principle of our government-tne right of
the majority to rule. In defense of these
we shall continue to stand unawed by gov
ernors or senates until the courts decide
the issue involved"