The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-02-18
Question at Issue to Be Decided BY the Courts,
and the Majority House to Be Unmolested
in Their Hall at the Capitol.
Militiamen Sent Home and the Sheriff's
Army of Deputies Dismissed.
Scenes in the Besieged Room When the Re.
suit of the Conference Was Announced
Joyful Family Reunions.
THE WAR OVER.

Governor Leweliing surrenders and Leaves
Republicans in Possession of the House.
Special TO the Indianapoli Journal
Topeka, Kan., Feb. 17.-Peace reigns su-
preme tonight in the capital city of the
grasshopper State. The specter of that
worst Of conflicts, q civil war, no longer
stalks abroad. Hostilities have been avert
ed without the shedding of blood. The
taps of the drummer boys and the steady
tramp Of the militiamen as they
march down Kansas avenue is all
that remains as reminder of
what might have been. Like the ruler of
France IN ancient history, Governor Lew.
elling has marched his men mp the hill and
marched them down again. That and
nothing more. The members of 1.-The legal
House," as the Republicans call them.
selves. regard the outcome of the difficulty
in the light of q signal victory. They
have secured ell that they were contend
ing for. the right to meet and transact
their business in the hall of the House of
Representatives. and the reference OF the
question at issue to the courts.
Meanwhile, the Populist House Is on the
outside. but It's members do not. by any
means, c0ncede that they are worsted. On
the contrary, they claim that the situation
has returned to the original status. Gov
ernor Lewelling himself asserts that to the
msgnanimity of the Populists in failing to
insist upon their legal rights is due alone
the peaceabIe turn of affairs. Thus both
sides, tonight. are vociferously declaring
"The victory Is ours"
The scenes In the ball this afternoon after
the agreement had been approved have
probably never been paralleled In the his
tory of o LEGISLATIVE assembly. From y
o'clock of Wedne sday, or for total Of fif.
ty-two hours. the siXty-fve Legislators had
heen virtually prisoners and in that period
they had partaken of but n We scanty meals,
not averaging over sandwich and a cup
of coffee per man. When, therefore. the
raising of the state of siege was declared,
they were carried away with enthusiasm.
and. in their exuberance. acted
as children. Over in one corner an i'm
prOvised quartet started The Star
spangled Banner" in the opposite one a
group of SolOns were waving each others
hand to the air of "Auld Lang Syne." In
the midst Of the uprOar O stelwart colOred
man mounted chair behind the Speakers
desk snd waved the stars aud stripes. At
the sight OF the bunting the house broke
into a cheer that could be heard away
across tue StatehOuse grounds. and it was
repeater again ana again OnLll tQ6 WIN
dOws ratified in their frames.
HAPPY LOT OF WOMEN.
Meanwhile the wives. daughters and
friends of many Of the Legislators. and who
had been weighed down with anxiety since
the Inauguration of the siege, were clamor-
ing for admIttance. The Speaker gave the
order for the doors to be opened. and the
representatives of the gsntler sex rushed
in peli-mell. seeking out their loved ones
and smctbering them with caresses.
Several members Of the State Univer.
slty Cleo Club were also amdmited. and at
the instance OF Representative Lobdell,
"The Old Camp Ground" John Browns
Body" and other familiar songs were rem
dered, the members and officers Joining In
the chorus. AS kind of lnterlude Mrs.
Laura NJ. Johns. the Populist arbitrator,
was escorted to the Speakers platform and
presented with pieco of the door that had
been battered down on Wednesday morn.
ing when the Republicans took forcible
possession of the hall. At this point a
welcome diversion was caused by the ap-
pearance of a number of men bending be-
meath the weight OF big cans of coffee and
baskets of eatables. The Legislators were
next door to famishing and so a recess was
ordered at once by unanimous vote. desks
were converted into dining tables. and the
Legislators proceeded to eat. drink and be
merry.
At 2:45 the Republican House was called
to order and G. N. Hooh was designated as
Speaker pro tenn. Speaker George l.. Doug
lass. wbO meanwhile had been In consulta.
tion with several of his leutenants. an
nounced from the clerks desk that In view
of changed condition of affairs. it had been
decIded to dispense with the services of all
but thirty of the two hundred or more as
sistant sereeants- at-arms who had been
sworn In TO protect members of the cham
Der In the maintenance of their rights
Chief Sergeant-at-arms Welch expressed
his thanks to the men that were no longer
needed and told them that they had acted
like patriota
There were loud cheers for Douglass, and,
mounting chair. the Speaker made some
impassioned remarks. You have acted"
he said. lin behalf of human liberty; In the
Dame of law and order in Kansas. Your
efforts are not lightly appreciated by the
men of this House, or the Republicans and
Iaw-loving people OF our State. What you
have done may not seem much to You. but
the day will come when you will look back
and realize that you have done your State
greater service than had ever been done
for 1t before"
The Speakers sen timents were greeted
with continued cheering. AT the sugges-
tion of Representative Lobdell. O commit
tee of three was appointed to prepare reso-
lutions of thanks to the retiring employees
and spread them on the journal A recess
until 10 A. VI. Saturday was ordered. Then,
WIN thEcc uUTe CuecIs, tue prisoner OF
fifty hours filed out of tho hall through
the armed pickets and into the street.
LEwELLING CRITICISED.
While oil this had been going on Gov.
LewellIng was closeted in his Office down
stairs with several members of the PopuIist
party. Some of his visitors commended
HE courage; others upbraIded him for wi hat
they characterized as his lsck of backbone
To the latter he replied that he considered
the outcome as vindication of his own
dignity; that for the State and for the
tilted. and the entire matter was rel
essted whore il properly belonged, TO
tho arbitrament of the courts. He had
nothing to regret and nothing to apologize