The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-18
IN L FALSE LIGHT.
Design ng Pcpulist Politicians Trying 10 Make
sC+pitaI out OF she &C ion OF G1rfeId Pesz

L. pita1 out OF Ene &C ION o. Held RES1-
The populists will resort to anything, In
GLIDING deliberate falsehood, 10 make
capital for themselves, or 20 divert atten-
ton away from the assume acts OF some
OF their chief statesmen.
Yesterday they were busy around town
trying 10 make the people believe that
that honorable body of patriotic citizens,
the members Of Garfield Post, g. \. r.
had reyolted against the authority OF the
, militia and refused 10 let them have their
arms when called upon By the governor TO
aid him IN his attempt 10 mullIfy the con-
stitution and ,naugurate in peaceful. pros
peroas Kansas a reign OF anarchy. To-
stead Of being IL opposition 70 the militia
The old soldiers are with them, and in
th=ir absence are on guard protecting their
armory from & possible and threatened in
vasion By an irresponsible mob. The
statement OF facts concerning this matter
Is as follows:
Thursday morning Garfield post, in
whose building and meeting bali the
arnory is located, was IN session, discuss
ing important matters with reference 70
The trouble a. Topeka. They had been
advised By wire that part Of the Populist
program was 70 call the troops 70 Topeka,
SO that their arms might De taken away
from them and put in the hands
OF wiId-eyet PopEl.st mob,
for The purpose OF driving out tie mem
bers and disoiviDg the legally constituted
house OF representatives AT the state CAPT
tai While going On with these deIib-ra-
tioGs the Light infantry officers, followed
by mob appeared AZ the Grand Army
hall door and tried 70 pass through in
spite Of the sentry who IS stationed there
according 10 the rales OF the
post while 70 session. TIE post
could, pursuant % the constitution
Of their order. prevent al invasion OF their
peaceful meeting, bat being law abiding
citizens they courteousIy invited the OH
Gers II, bur kept the moo out TIE mem
bers OF the post and the officers Of the
militia company had 2 perfect under
standing from the start. The spokesman
FOR the post asked Captain Runyo1 OF the
militia company how many men
he had enrolled in his com
pany and he replied twsnty-eight.
Twenty-eight guns were Immediately
handed out 10 them and Captain Ruuyou
was 10, only satisfied, but reposed so
much confidence in the Grand Army ihat
he req u-s5ed of the members thereof to
take full charge of the armory and 10 per
nit no oEe 10 have any rifles or any other
property Of the company therein contained
under any circumstances without written
instructions from him. From that mo-
ment Garfield post has held poses
sion Of the armory; have kept 1t
properly guarded and Will protect the
property OF the com pany till Captain Run {
yon returns. Captain Runyon heard the
report from Topeka as the Graud Army
did and be made the remark, and meant
il too, that Governor LeBelliug or any
other man could not disarm his company
at Topeka; that his company was going 10
return with their arms or know the reason
why.
The fact OF the matter IS a company OF
populisis had been secretly organized
among the mob, whose purpose was 70
storm the army. capture the arms and 80
TO Topeka 10 shoot down members OF the
legislative body. The
Grand Army boys toiled them in their
purpose and now they are hot about it
and make the affair an excuse for circula-
ting falsehoods calculated to prejudice the
people against the Grand Army.
The old soldiers know too much about
the cost OF liberty and the value Of the
and laws to idly stand By aud
permit them TO be sacrificed by an ire
spoDsible mob.