The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-02-22

but exciting battle took place between
the republicans and the populists at
the entrance to representative hall yes
terday morning. Tuesday night the
populists swore in large number Of
assistant sergeants-at-arms who were
placed on guard and the entrances to
the hall were locked No one was ad-
mitted excepting populists and mem
bers Of the press and they were required
to show a pass and run the gauntlet OF
dozen guards. The republicans were
fully informed Of all Of these prepare
tions to exclude them from the hall and
had hundred men sworn in as officera
At o'clock the members OF the re-
publican house with their officers start
ed from headquarters for the state
house The little column forced its
way through the line Of guards and
started up the stairs
On the first landing was n crowd OF
populist house officers under command
Of Adjt Gen. Artz They were armed
and the advancing republican crowd
was met with the muzzles Of revolvers
and Winchesters The adjutant gen.
eral commanded them to halt, but no
stop was made and the advance guard
pushed into the crowd of populists
Three or four of them succeeded in pass
ing the doorkeepers after brief strug.
gle and getting into the hall, but the
populists succeeded 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 be-
gan to batter the heavy doors leading
from the cloak room. 1t took many
blows to beat passage way through,
but the doors finally gave way and the
republican Legislators surged in with q
loud shout. The populists promptly re-
treated and the republicans were leftin
full possession Of the hall
The republicans barricaded the doors
Of the hall and had $50 deputy ser,
gsants-at-arms on the inside to resist
any effort on the part Of the officers OF
the populist house to gain admission.
Speaker Douglass gave orders to admit
any Of the populist members who held
certificates, but no officer or clerk OF
the populist house would be recognized
One hundred republican sergeants were
on the outside to guard the doors and
prevent rush BY the populists The
steam and light IN representative hall
was cut off.
At II o'clock Gov Lewelling sent an
order by telegraph TO Capt WilliA Of
tho light artillery, ut Wichita, com-
manding him TO. bring his company
with GAtling guns TO Topeka by first
train, assemble In the state house and
await orders Z,
Col Hughes. commander Of the mill
Tia, created sensation by appearing In
the representative hall at midnight and
stating TO the republicans that he had
resigned and would not lead troops TO
clear the hall He said his men were
with him and could not be used 10 such
purpose Hisactions created great ex.
citement
TOPEKA. Kan, Fob 1T.-At II o'clock
yesterday Gov. Lewelling sent notice 10
the republican house that unless they
vacated the hall within fifteen minutes
he would clear II by force. The only
attention paid TO, the order by the re-
publicans was to place additional
guards at the doors and nerve them
selves TO resist the promised assault
The governor ut noon had failed to car
ry out his threat A wagon load OF
provisions, enough to keep the occu-
pants Of the house supplied for twenty
four hours, drove up to the west wing
OF the entrance Of the state house about
noou. The captain in command Of the
company on guard there relieved his
men from guard duty as the wagon ar
rived, and everything II contained was
carried into the hall without hindrance
As soon as this was accomplished the
soldiers again went on duty. At 10
o'clock Gov. Lewelling dismissed Col
Hughes and took personal charge Of all
the military forces
The populists have practically aban-
doned the field The crisis raised by
ohcIih NhhSIsOh SuihAhB Oub poS1o
Of 1000 men TO defend the republican
position is so critical and one 30 filed
with embarrassing difficulties, that
they decided not TO meet II At noon
the governor held conference with
the populist house members and vari-
GUS leaders Of the party The governor
said that the militia could not be de-
pended upon TO carry out his orders;
that the assistance Of 1875 men compos-
ing the force OF deputy sergeants and
100 provisional troops (all that could be
depended upon 10 stand loyal would
be useless before the sheriffs posse Of
1000 men. II was decided 10 hire hall
for the populist house and there the
meetings will be held until the difficult
ties are settled
Late in the afternoon II was agreed
between Sheriff Wiikenson and Gov.
Lewelling that there would be no at
tempt TO dispossess the republicans Of
the hall The county Offices In the
court house excepting the sherifs
Office were closed The clerks and ooun-
" officers have all been sworn In a.