Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-15
MILITIA CALLED OUT.
Kansas Republicans Capture the
Hall of Representatives.
ON GUARD BUT YIELDED.
Hoke Smith in Mr.. CIeveland's
Cabinet.
FATAL MINE EXPLOSION
The Governor of Kansas Summons Il
Militia to Clear the Capitol of Repu blicans

THREATENED WITH FORCE.
The Governor of Kansas Summons the
Militia to Clear the Capitol of Republicans.
TOPEKA, KAN, Feb. Is, 10 a.m.-Gov. Lew
cling has call out the state militia to eject the
members of the republican house from the hall
of representatives, they having effected a
forcible entrance through the doors barred by
the populists by means of siedge hammers. A
riot is imminent.
WHAT CAUSED THE TROUBLE.
A bloodless bnt exciting battle took place
between the republicans and the populist house
at the entrance to representative hall this
morning
The populists. who have had possession of
the hall IN the afternoons. adjourned yesterday
until this afternoon, and. as has been the Gus
tom since the beginning of the session, the
republicans expected to hold their regular
morning session today, but last night the
Populists swore in large number of assistant
sergeants-at-arms, who were placed on guard, and
the doors and entrances to the hall were locked
this morning. No one was admitted to the
hall excepting populists and members of the
press, and they were required to show a pass
and run the gauntlet of dozen guards.
PREPARING TO ATTACK.
The republicans were fully informed of all Of
these preparations to exclude them from the
hall. and last night hundred men were sworn
in as officers of the republicans and at 9 O'Clock
the members of the republican house. with their
officers, started from headquarters for the state
house.
The march through the long corridors lead
ing to representative hall unimpeded. The
little column forced It's 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 command of Adjutant
Gen. ArtZ. They were armed and the advanc
ing republican crowd we're met with the muz-
zleS of reyolvers and Winchesters. The adjutant
general commanded them to halt, but no stop
made. and the advance guard pushed into
the crowd of populists. Three or four OF them
succeeded in passing the doorkeepers after a
brief struggle and getting into the hall. but the
populists succeeded in closing the door and
barring it.
BROKE IN THE DOORS.
The republicans on the outside demanded
admittance, and when it was denied them
Speaker Douglas swung large sledge
hammer and began to batter the
heavy doors leading from the cloak room.
1t took many blows to beat passageway
through. but the doors finally gave way and the
republican legislators surged in with a loud
shout. The populists promptly retreated and
now the republicans were in full possession of
the hall
Ever since the opening of the session the
populists have had the committee rooms,
sergeant-at-arms' room and the chief clerks
room. These were all locked and guarded on
the inside. but after the house had been called
TO order the republicans battered down the
doors and took possession of them without en-
countering any resistance.
REPUBLICANS IN CONTROL.
At 10 O'Clock there were few populists in rep
resentative hall and the republican house had
settled down to the regular order Of business
as if nothing unusual had happened. The as
sistant sergeants-at-arms each, wearing bright
red ribbon. promenaded the aisles and Hobbies.
The republicans and populists began swearing
in officers as fast rs possible to be in readiness
for emergency
GUARDING THE GOVERNOR.
With the republicans in possession of repre-
sentative hall the interest of the populists
conferred about the governors Office A
guard was placed at his door and only
faithful populists were permitted to enter. He
issued a call for three companies of militia i'm
mediately after the clash in representative hall
and will. when the forces arrive, order them to
storm the hall and take possession of ii.
Many of the militiamen openly declare that
they will under no circumstances respond to
the call Of the governor and they will not be a
party TO an assault on the republican house.
The governor made a demand on the sheriff
to swear in deputies and assist him in pre-
serving the peace. But the sheriff declined,
saying that he did not propose to be judge as
to which OF the claimants was the legal house
of representatives
In a letter to the governor he said tina: II the
governor proposed to protect the Dunsmore
house that house itself had full authority to en-
lie: all the officers that 1t required to protect
itself without any assistance from him.
THE MILITIA WILL REBEL
The captain of one Of the militia companies
stated to the United Press reporter tkis morn
ing that il his command came out at all il
would DO so to defend the republican house.
He said he would not obey any of the COVER
nor's orders in violation OF the law and order
Over 200 men took the oath of assistant ser
geants at arms in the republican house this
morning and tho adjutant general busy
deputizing assistants all day for the populists.
WHEN THE PoPULIsTs ASSEMBLE.
The popuiist house adjourned yesterday
until 80 p m, at which hour the next con-
dict is expected. Populists say they will take
possession Of representative hall at all hazards.
The republicans say they will not yield even at
the point of the bayone,.
A desperate fight seems inevitable. Per-
haps il will not be today, but there appears to
be no other way 10 settle the differences. as the
republicans took possession of the disputed
territory by sheer force this morning.
Il places them on the aggressive and the pop
ulists Will be compelled TO assume the agrees
siye.
GATLING GUNS ORDERED UP.
Gov. Lewelyng has sent an order by tele-
graph to Capt. Willis of the light artillery at
Wichita commanding him TO bring his COM
pany with gat;liny guns to Topeka by first
train and to asse .nble in the state house and