The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-03-01
CIVIL War TN KANSAS.
The Rival Political Parties
Come to Blows.
The Governor Calls Out the En-
tire State Militia.

Dy the Kansas slate Mlntla ana Sl1ty-lour
Republican members Of the lower house Of
the Legislature can neither make their es-
cape nor receive food or information Of any
kind from the outside world. Men
are running up and down the
streets of Topeka like mad and the widest
excitement prevails. Nearly every militia
company in the State has been ordered to
Topeka by the Populist Governor, and from
all over the State dispatches are
pouring in to the Republican members
telling of armed citizens who have re-
sponded to the Republic members call for
assistance. Every partisan in the city car
ries a revolver, and 20l Republican SER
geants-at-arms are armed with either a
musket or revolver and some of them with
both.
has led to the warlike demonstrations was
caused by the fact that the long controversy
between the Republican and Populist
Houses had come to a crisis and that open
riot had followed. The Republicans bat
tered down the doors of Representatives
Hall and forcibly took possession.
AT o'clock the stairs leading to the main
entrance OF Representatives. hall was
guarded by about a dozen fopulists. It
was the intention of the Populists to admit
all the members Of the Republican House,
but the employees of that body and all visi-
tors were to be excluded. The guards at
the top We're armed.
At 8 o'clock the Republicans formed at the
Cortland House and started for the State
House. Leading the procession, arm in arm,
were Speaker Douglass and Speaker pro
or chief marshal was j. A. Cubbisen. The
members marched in twos and following
them large crowd Of men.
The procession met with no opposition
until it reached the main stairway leading
up to the hall. Here stood a repre-
sentative Of Adjutant-General Artz
and number OF assistants who
completely barred the way. Back Of
them on the stairs were other men,
completely choking the narrow passage. A
large crowd of spectators had gathered in
the hall adjacent to the stairway, and when
all the Republican members mad fairly
entered the east wing Of the building the
rush was tremendous.
The guards resisted and tried to iu-
timidate the Republicans with display Of
weapons. J. W. Butteraeld, who had OBJ.
tained an entrance through the press door,
appeared at the head Of the stairs and
shouted:
''Mep, for Gods sake don't shoot. Don't
be rash. Let there be no b!ooashed. Come
on, the way is clear"
This diverted the attention of the guards
and the crowd rushed forward with ire
sistible force. One guard was struck
ig the face and dropped his gun. The
others were driven into the hall, but
The side door was broken open and the
Republicans poured into the hall through
the c.oak room. The main door was still
locked and the Populist guards had disap.
peared with the key. Speaker Douglass had
provided himself with q sledge hammer,
and, after making three demands that
the door be unlocked, he pro-
ceeded to break the panels with
the hammer, assisted by Representatives W.
blow tore large hole in the heavy door.
and, with a piecs Of the wood, Lawyer
Clemens aimed blow at representative
Swan, striking him in the hand.
Another Populist drew Winchester to
his shoulder and was about to fire on the
crowd, but desisted when he found himself
covered by two revolvers in the hands of
W. P. Wilcox, as Assistant Ser.
geant-at-Arns. Mr.. Swan, who Is
a boiler maker by trade. soon broke the
lock on the main door, and, with wild cheers.
the Republicans entered and took possession
OF the ball. Some Of the guards and two or
three members were rathe roughly handled
during the conflict, but there were no serious
results
Business proceeded as though there had
been no disturbance. The Popuhst mem
bers were not present, and the Popullst
guards, doorkeepers, and other officers were
forced to retire from the hall, although no
effort was made to exclude the regular Pop
ulist members who hold certificates OF e!ec'
tior.
AT noon the Republicans had entire con-
troll of the hall, aud the Populists did not
attempt to hold session. No adjournmsnt
was taken at noon, but at 30 p. N. dinner
was served to the Republicans by five col.
ored men from the Copeland Hotel
During the afternoon the Populists. VINO
have charge Of the machinery Of the State
House, turned OF the water. elecTic lights
and heat from Representative Hall.
R. B. Welch, Of Topeka, was sworn in
as Assistant Sergeant-at- Arms, and in.
structed to swear in 200 or more deputies to
assist in supporting the Republican House.
WEIGH is q large and powerful man, and his
first act was TO kick. down heavy door
to a room which was said to conceal an
armed body of Populists. 1t was found to
be unoccupied. he then sent to the Wash
burn College and invoked the aid OF the
students OF that institution to assist him IN
preserving order ana resisting any attempt
to overthrow the Republican organization.
About forty students volunteered for the
work. and places were assigned to them in
the hall ana lobpies. Some were arme1 with
clubs and broomsticks and all said they were
eager for scrimmage.
After the news OF tue conflict had been
circulated through the towns adjacent to
Topeka, the people commenced pouring into
on horseback, and by rail. Most OF
the new arrivals were Populist. SYM
pathizsrs. Fully $500 people were
congregated on Capitol square, and
every inch Of space in tue State House was
occupied. Information was given that 1OO0
Republicans were on the way from Leaven-
worth, 800 from Kansas CiCy and 2OO from
Ottawa.
Governor Lewelling and Adjutant- General
Artz held a conference and decided to order
out the militia, the Governor observing that
he proposed to fight it out to the bitter end.
General Artz Immediately ordered out the
militia force of the State, which consists
of less than 1000 men. Company Z OF
Oakland, a suburb Of Topeka. was
the first to arrive, coming py electric
cars. They marched Immediately to the
State Horse, and were welcomed with
cheers by the Populists. Company G OF
Marion and Company B OF Holton came In
later by special train. Battery b of Topeka
was called out, also Section A of the light
artillery OF Wichita, with Gatling gun. Bat
terry B took possession OF the arsenal In the
Capitol square, and arranged for issuing
arms, ammunition and clothing to the SOL
diers. Three companies Of volunteers we're
organized at the request Of the Governor,
and armed with carbines from the State ar
senal.
at lG:3o that night there had been no adj
vance made by the troops and no hostile
demonstration on either side. The Populists
have possession OF the entrance to the State
House, aud the Republicans are resting qu-
etlv in Representative Hall.
The Ponllist House met in the basement