People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-02-24
A HOWLINC MOB
Of Buns and TOughS.
The Truth About the Topeka "War."
Topeka, Kan, Feb. l6, '93.

Topeka, Kan, Feb. 16, '93.
Mr.. EditOr:-PerhapS SOmeOf your
readers have not read the report of
the political war at Topeka, by not
having access to the daily papers.
The day just ended was the most
exciting day I've seen since the cap
ture of Morgan, "the raider in Ohio,
the summer of 80. The state house
grounds and surroundings, present a
war-like appearance. The state mil
itia have chagre Of the building: they
were placed inside and outside of the
building: regular picket lines, stacked
arms, camp fires. three or four can
non, loaded with grape and canister,
rolled into line: campany after COM
pany marching up to the front steps
and forming into line; the old famil-
lar sound Of tramp, tramp" halt, "
Fix bayOnets," etc, could be heard
on every side, and the shrill call of
the bugle was very impressive.
Now, you want to know what the
militia are here for: 1st-day before
yesterday the orphan house arrested
without cause or authority the chief
clerk of the POpuliSt house. claiming
that he was in contempt, and under.
took to take him to the Copeland
hotel, Headquarters of the Repub,
LEANS" He refused to 60. They un.
dertOOk to take him by force, which
brought on hand-tO-hand conflict
the stand-upperS getting knocked
down. They then gathered at the
Copeland and ragged, swOre, threat.
ened, and showed fight, by swinging
reyOlyerS, and finally commenced
swearing in men, labelling then
assistant Sergeant-at-armS, 100 or
more. Their bOiStrOuS action, many
Of them drunk and composed Of
negroes, thugs and tOughS, caused the
Governor to fear a riot, so he called
on the sheriff for protection. The
sheriff refused to preserve the peace,
and the state house, and everything
was at the mercy of a rOitiOuS mob.
The fears OF the Governor were we'll
founded, for by o'clock this morn
ing the intent of the mob was plainly
seen. In few minutes the Republi-
can members, in company with 10 or
100 thugs, several negroes, many of
them drinking, with reyOlverS, clubs.
and Sledgehammer, made a rush for
Representative hall. The doOr-keep.
er Informed them that "all the mem.
bers of the Legislature would be ad.
mitted at the other door" but refus-
ed to admit the men with the rec
anarchiStic badges, labeled, sergeant
alarms" This LAW and order
crowd proceeded to smash down the
costly doors of the Estate house, amidst
yellS which would put maniacS tC
shame. The door soon gave way.
and the hall quickly filled I'D with a
class of men many of whom are faI
from being representative men of
Kansas. They then cast around fol-
more fields to conquer and rushed fol
the Sergeant-at-armS room and two
or three of the "brave" and blood.
thirsty proceeded to break in that
door also. Very soon Douglass was
rapplng for order and the chaplain
commenced praying, while a great
number were curSing and swearing.
drinking whiskey and shaking hands,
such sight, for class of men who
pretend to protect the dignity and
honor of our state is disgrace tC
American civilization.
Three ladies, Mrs. Rich, Mrs. Pack
and Mrs. CrOun, were in the chief.
clerks office, three or four of the
thugs came to the doors and ordered
them out, swinging their revolvers
IN their faces, pulling out their bot.
Ties, drinking and carousing in a
fearful manner. By this time ex.
cltement ran high. The news spread
like wild-fre; the people came run.
ming in every direction, pandimonium
relgned supreme. Law and order
and the power of the state were com,
pletely trampled under foot by an
organized, premeditated mob. YOU
now have the situation at noon
Thursday. Remember the sheriff re.
FUSED to act, both verbally and ther
by letter. The Republicans had com,
mitted the overt act; had with an
armed force diSObeyed the orders OF
the chief executive; had attacked anC
destroyed a portion of the state,
property; everybody in arms; the
town had been filling up with a dan
gerous looking class of strangers
brought here by the railroads free Of
charge; everything proving thai re
OelliOn and ignoring and tramplinc
under foot our laws and authority b,
a lawlesS body of men, many con
trOlled by corporations, was clearl,
intended. To prove the above as