The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-17
done with compromises. and that the only
alternative left to the Republicans was un'
conditional surrender.


conditional surrender.
THE sHERITF'S POSSE.
The Republicans hit upon . plan this
morning to strengthen their position, and
that was to bring to their aid the authority
posse of at least one Thousand men. Tho
sheriff issued his proclamation. summoning
q posse at 10 O'Clock. By noon the ono
thousand men had been sworn. Not caring
to take the risk of arming the recruits
with firearms, the sheriff decided TO arm
with clubs All sorts of clubs were pressed
into use-clubs made from broom handles;
clubs made from feather-dusters, with the
feathers; clubs made from chair-legs and
table-legs, and clubs made from wagon
spokes. Still not enough clubs could be
improvised to arm the entire posse and the
sheriff finally bought all the baseball bats
in town and placed them In the hands of
those still unarmed.
1t was at first the object of the sheriff to
take possession of the Capitol and make
the troops members of his posse. That
plan was abandoned as unnecessary and
dangerous. and the sheriff decided to take
no action with his posse until q fracture or
the peace should actually occur. He ex-
planned that he would regard any attempt
to eject this Republican 1.-THE legally consti-
tuted House. as he regarded it disturb
ance of the peace, and would then inter-
sheriff. taken in connection with the atti-
tude assumed by the militia, deprived
them of all armed support ex-
cepting that afforded by the three
some fifty assistant tsergeants-at-arms. This
condition determined the Governor to seek
TO compromise. and to at least gain little
time.
More kilograms were sent tonight to the
Populisr strongholds throughout the State
advising them of the situation and inform
ing them that the presence of Populists
would be great support to them both
physically and morally. In the meantime
hundreds of Populists to whom kilograms
had been sent last night began TO arrive,
and tonight the Populists are strongly re-
inforced. The Governor may organize
these into provisional troops. who can be
depended upon to do his orders 1t is not
believed that he will take such extraordl.
nary action, however.
The injunction proceedings to restrain
the Auditor from paying the salaries OF the
PopulIst members under the legislative ap-
House. comes up tomorrow morning. at 9
O'clock, in the District Court. Whatever
the decision OF that court may be an ap-
peal will be taken to the Supreme Court.
The prospects for tomorrow are that the
Populists will decline to accept the PROPOSE
tion TO compromise as amended by the Re-
publicans, and that the situation will then
lapse back into tO-day's condition. In that
event the only resource left the Populists
will be reliance upon provisional troops.
The general feeling tonight is one of re-
newed uneasiness. and predictions are
freely made that tomorrow may see the
long-expected war inaugurated.
Situation Early This Morning.
Topeka. Kan. Feb l7.-At O'clock Fri
day morning the situation at Representa-
tive hail remains unchanged, except In that
most of the members have gone
to bed in such places about the
hall as are convenient for the comfort
able disposition of the human frame The
usual guard is maintained. Heavy snow
commenced falling at midnight. and the
militia guards without the Capitol are get
ting test of the handships of active
service The terms of the armistice
are still maintained, and no
trouble is enticipated between this
hour and daylight The members
of the sheriff's posse are sleeping on their
arms. ready to respond at q moments warn
ing to the sheriff's call. Emergency squads
are maintained. one at the Copeland Hotel,
one at the courthouse and one at Grand
Army Hall