The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-02-16
AFFAIRS BECOMING SERIOUS.
There May Vet Be BIoodshed
in Kansas.
republican Members of the Legislature
Elected From the Hall of the House
OF Representatives by the Militia
They Batter Down the Doors and
Expected.

TOPEKA, Kan, Fob. 15-10.a m.-Goy-
ernor Lewelling has called out the State
militia to eject members of the Repub-
hoan house from tho hall of the house
OF representatives, they having lust eff
fected forcible entrance through the
doors which were barred by the Popu-
lists. The Republicans used sledce-
hammers with telling effect. A riot Is
imminent
LArER-The bloodless but exciting
battle took place between the Repub-
licans and Populists house at the en-
trance to the representative hall hero
this NJ morning.
The Populists, who have had possess
sion OF the halls in the afternoons, ad-
]ourned Yesterday until this afternoon,
and as has been the custom since the
beginning of the session the Republi.
cans expected to hold their regular,
morning session today, but last plight
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 mem
bers OF the press. and they were re-
quired to show a pass and run the
gauntlet of dozen guards.
The Republicans were informed of all
these preparations to exclude them
from the hall and last night 100 men
were sworn in as officers of the Repub-
lican house, and at 0 o'clock tho mem
bers OF tho Republican house. with their
officers, started from their headquarters
for the State house.
Tho march through the long corri-
doris loading to tho representative hall
was uneventful. The little column
forced their way through the line Of
guards stationed at the foot Of tho
stairs in the west wing and started up
tho stairs.
The first landing was crowded with
Populist house officers, under command
of Adjutant General Artz. They were
armed and advancing. The Republican
crowd were met with the muzzles of
revolvers and Winchesters.
The adjutant general commanded
them to halt, but no stop was made, and
crowd of Populists. Three or four of
them succeeded in passing the door
Keepers, after brief struggle, and
getting into the hall, but the Populists
succeeded in closing the doors and
barring it.
The Republicans on tho outside de-
manded admittance, and when it was
denied them Speaker Douglass swung q
large sledge hammer and began to bat
ter 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 loud shouts. Tho Popu-
lists promptly retroated and now the
Republicans are i'll full possession Of
the hall.
Ever since the opening of the session
the Populists have had the committee
rooms, sergeant alarms room and the
chief clerks room. These were all
locked and guarded on the inside, but
after the House had been called to or:
der the Republicans battered down the
doors and took possession of them with
out encountering any resistance.
AT 10 o'clock there were few Popu-
lists in the representatives hall and the
Republican house had settled down to
the regular order of business, as il
nothing unusual had happened. The
assistant sergeants- alarms, each wear
ing bright red ribbons, promenaded the
aisles and the Hobbies.
Republicans and Populists are both
swearing in officers as fast as possible,
to be in readiness for an emergency.