The Bessemer indicator., 1893-02-18
WAR IN THE KANSAS CAPITOL
Republican Representatives Earricadc
the House and are Bcseigcd by
the Pupu.ists.

the House and are Bcseigcd by
the Popu.ists.
| The troubles in the Kansas House Of Rep
rescntatlye. eliminated on the 18th This
was brought about on the l4ih by an attempt
ON the part of the Republican House to arrest
the ropulist chief clerk, which attempt was
thwarted by thu physical resistance ni the
ropullsts. rhefeupou Governor Llewclling
ordered that the Republicans should not
again be admitted TO the House, and a guard
pf twenty men WAS stationed at the doors 10
proven, their approach
The Republican members, anticipating op-
position 10 their entrance, gathered in a body
At the copeland hotel early in thr morning
and marched to the capitol. There they
found the corridor and the stalrways leading
TO the ball IN The possession Of the Populist
guard, In a hand to-hand fight in which
several Wlnchcsters and rcyolycrs made their
appearance, bur were not used, the Republi.
cans fought their way To the doors OF the
hall, which they found had hrcu locked and
barred, Two sledgc-hammers had been pro
yided for that emergency. and they were pm,
20 vigorous use by Speaker Douglass aud the
speaker pro TEN. Having gained entrance,
they barricaded the doors from within and
prepared FOR an assault
soon after they entered the hall the Popu-
list jauitor Of the capitol turned OF the steam,
The military guard ~lthou, the hull viii per
INIT no one TO enter, and the Republican. have
no means Of supplying themselves with food
or with artificial heat The Republicans hav.
ing become masters Of the representative hall,
only two means OF dlslodgius them presented
themselves to the Popullsts, 0nc was 10 put
them out and the other was to starye them
out The more hoi.hcadcd leaders advised
that the militia be called out and be ordered
10 eject the Republicans.
More conservative counsel prevailed and
Governor Llewclllng decided TO lay siege to
the Republican citadel and stnrye the pcru.
pants into submission. ~ was decided the
troops were necessary To effect this object and
the governor ordered several companies OF
the National Guard to repair to the state
house, Two local companies were soon plac-
ed In the field and during the day -evcral
more companies from nearby towns arrived
Five hundred men were on guard by rhurs
DAY morning. They were placed under COM
niand Of Colonel Hughes.
The guards had orders to allow no food Of
ans hind to be carried into the capitol. and
the building wa, closely Invested. In order
10 prevent being starved ont tho Republicans
sent ont dispatches IN all directions asking
for armed assistance from Republicans
Responses were received from all directions
promising aid at once. Among others.
Fighting Dan" Anthony, editor of the
Lcaycnwurth T11,e,, wired that 1900 armed
men would come from Lcaycnworth
The Republican volunteers viii bc nskcl TO
support the Republicans In the occupancy ~
Representative hail uniH the courts decide
which IS the legally constituted House. ln
complying with the Request 1t VIII be ncccs-
sary for them to dlslOdgc The state troops
around the capitol. such a proceeding would
seem to ncccssitnte battle. but the Rcpub-
licans predict that the militia, being com
posed mostly Of Republicans WIFI not resist
The attack Of the volunteers should The latter
proceed 10 such extreme measures.
On the other hand Governor Liewclllu-
Issued a call for provisional troops. He
issncd proclamation late Wednesday after
noon stating that as The state militia now In
Topeka was not sufficient 10 control the -iuia-
tion hya provisional companies would bc or
gauIzed. Three were formed before night
Governor Llrwelliur appeared lu the House
nnd asked the Republicans TO dlspcr-c. OF
course they refused The Republicans tore
up the desks on the Popullsts' side, and with
them constructed b1rricade In the corridor,
and Gllcd the stairway with them, making nn
obstruction which It will be very difficult to
scale
No further incident Of Importance occurred
until Colonel lluEhr. who j. q member Of
tue House, appeared before the House II, uni
form At II 80. and addressing The members
Informed them that. as commander uf the
troops they had nothing 10 fear from him.
lie would, hr said sooner resign hl- command
than carry out au order to eject the Repub-
majority Of his command would withdraw
from tho militia with him II thry wera expect
ed 10 use force 10 drive forth the legally
elected and legally organized House of Rep
re>cntatiye- from the hall provided by law
for their use.
lie lnumatol that the urder- 10 tlu guards
lu so far as they related TO taking provisions
into the capitol for the use Of the Republican
members, had been relaxed and that members
could secure provisions by letting down a
string TO the ground below.
Colonel Hughes remarks were greeted with
cheers, and In lees than inmate a string was
dangling from every window. In shorter
Tine than that baskets flied with substantial
lunches were hostrd up and the Republicans
broke their long fast
Many frulllcss efforts at a compromise have
been made. and both sides want the other to
abandon their claims pending settlement by
the Supreme Court