The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-16
LAWLESS LAWMAKERS
THE REPUBLICANS FORCE THEIR
WAY INTO THE HALL.
The Governor Calls Out the Militia to Eject
Them--Both Sides Swearing
In Deputies.

NepuDlcans and Populists in the House
at the entrance to the representative hall
'his morning. The Populists. who have
had possession OF the hall since yesterday
afternoon. adjourned yesterday until this
afternoon, and. as has been the custom
since the beginning of the session, the
hepublicans expected to hold their regu-
lar morning session to-day. but last night
the Populists swore in a large number OF
| assistant Sergeants-at-arms, who were
| placed on guard, and the doors and en-
frances TO the hall were locked this
| morning. No one was admitted to the
haIl excepting the Populists and members
OF the press, and they were required to
| show pass and run the gauntlet OF a
dozen guards. The Republicans were
| fully Informed Of all these preparations
to exclude them and last night hun
| dred men were sworn in as officers of the
| Republicans. and at 0 o'clock the MEM
bers OF the Republican House, with their
ofhcers. started II ON their headquarters
! for the State house. The march through
| the long corridors leading TO the repre-
sentative hall was unimpeded and the
| little column forced its way through the
| line Of guards stationed at the foot Of
| the stairs in the west wing and started
up the stairs. On the first landing was a
crowd of Populist House officers under
the command of Adjutant- General Artz.
They were armed, and the advancing
Republican crowd were met with muzzles
of reVolvers and Winchesters. The Ad-
Jutant-GeneraI commanded them to halt
but no stop was made, and the advance
guard pushed into the crowd of Populsts
and three or four OF them succeeded in
passing the doorkeepers after n brief
struggle and getting into the hall, but the
Populists succeeded in closing the doors
and barring them. The Republicans on
the outside demanded admttance and,
when 1t was denied them, Speaker Doug
las swung a large sledge hammer and
began to batter the heavy doors leading
from the cloak-room. II took many blows
to beat the passage way through, but the
doors finally gave way and the Republi-
can legislators swarmed in with loud
shouts. The Populsts promptly retreated
and the Republicans are In full posses
sion OF the hall
Ever since the opening Of the session
the Populists have had the committee
rooms, sergeant alarms room and chief
clerks room. These were all locked and
guarded on the inside. but after the
House had been called 10 order the Re
publicans battered down the doors and
took possession of them without encoun-
were few Populists in the representative
hail and the Republican House had set
tied down TO the regular order of business
as If nothing unusual had happened.
Assistant observation-disclosures each wearing
a bright red ribbon, promenaded the
aisles and Hobbies. The Republicans and
Populists are both swearing I'm officers as
fast as possible TO be in readiness for any
emergency
laC coll la1 q
State militia to eject the members OF the
Renublican House from the hall of repre-
sentatives.
The Republicans have always had the
nostofice AMI with the capture or the
other two rooms they had for the hrst
time since the Legislature met, fuil pos
session of the hall. At 1910 o'clock the
Republicans aided thirty or forty recruits
TO their force OF assistant sergeants-at-
arnos the cadets Of Wnshburn College
arpearlng in the hall and taking the oath
before the serg slnt-at-arms. The Fopu- |
lists tanitor undertook to freeze out the |
Republicans and shut of the steam from
the hall.
The following order was delivered by |
Adputant General Artz TO Colonel j. w.
F. Hughes:
you are hereby ordered to assume ac-
tive command Of all officers and men of
in Topeka and around the state House
By order Of l.. D. Lewelling, commander
in-chief."
The Republicans this afternoon appoint
ed a committee, consisting Of Mr.. Sher-
man. Mr. Warner and Mr.. Cubbison, 10
visit Governor Lewelling and agree upon.
If possible, a suspension Of hostilites.
They proposed that both houses agree
to adjourn until case could be made
al
dicated The Governor would not enter
tain the proposition, but suggested that
the Republican House adjourn until to-
morrow. OF course the Republicans would
not consent to this. At 245 Colonel
Hughes stationed a company of militia in
the lower hall of the west wing OF the
State House, Immediately below the hall
Of the House of Representatives. Speaker
Douglass then read to the House pro-
cIamation which he had prepared relating
10 what had taken place. and calling upon
the people Of the State to rally TO the
support of the Republican House. The
was greeted with wild en-
husiasm. The Populist House met in the
basement of the west wing Of the State
House this afternoon, pursuant 20 ad-
ournment but almost Immediately ad-
ourned until tomorrow. Governor Le-
yelling issued a proclamation this after
noon at 2:3O o'clock. stating that as the
militia now in Topeka was not sufficient.
hat provisional companies would be or
.anized, composed of volunteers. Only
hree companies. however. have been or
-anized. and they are Of thirty men each.
other companies will be organized If
necessary.
D. NJ Scott a Republican member from
Iodgeman county, who happened to be in ,
ottawa to-day. telegraphed that he would
e here with three hundred armed men
n the first train. ID. b. Anthony tele- ,
raphed that 900 men would come from
Columbus telegraphed that
90 men would come from there at the
of Speaker Douglass. In the
how of business which the Republicans
lade after getting possession of the hall
peaker Douglass used as a gavel a sledge
ammer which he used on the doors to !
ain entrance.
Sheriff Wilkinson informed the Governor
midnight tonight that he was the .
aace officer and demanded that the lat .
II turn over to him the situation. Col ,,
lei Hughes in command OF the State
ilitia. went into the Republican hall
'tcrwards and told the Republican mem
srs that II the Governor asked him to
ect them ne would resign his position
All day the Republicans held the House q
nd tonight they are In camp People = :
re- bringing I'm provisions, but the Popl- !,
ats have cut off the steam lights and n
ater. and the hall is almost in total y
,rkness. A few candles and lamps flicker
ere and there on the members seats,
,ying been contributed by citizens. It