Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-02-24
mo BLOOD Was SHE'D.
KANSAS POPULISTS AND RE-
PUBLICANS TAKE UP ARMS.

| mn III" mn Si -
Each Party Claims to Legally Control the
House of -warIike
| Scenes About the State Capitol.
At the last election the Peoples
party in Kansas elected a governor and
a majority of the state Senate. The
Repu blicans claimed the election of 63
members of the House of Representa-
] tives-a majority of one--but the Popu-
| lists declare that three of these were
given certificates of election by mis-
take. The result was the organization
of two distinct Houses-each claiming
to be legal. This caused constant
conflict. 1t was agreed to leave the
decision to the courts, but the Populists
would take no action TO test the matter
and the Republicans decided to arrest
Populist Clerk Rich for interrupting
the House (the Republican House).
The arrest was prevented by guard
being appointed for Rich and Gov.
LeYelling ordered the Republicans
excluded from the hall. The doors
were barred and guards stationed at
every entrance.
The Republican leaders determined
to force an entrance and with sledge
hammers side entrance was demol-
ished and the Republican members
quickly entered the hall. Doors and
every available entrance was barri-
caded from within. Gov. Lewelling, as
soon as notified, called out the militia
with the intention of ejecting the Re-
publicans. Several companies of troops
were soon around the capitol, two can
non were run out of the arsenal, loaded,
ii was decided to establish a seige. A
squad was stationed at each side of the
capitol, sentinels were posted and no
one was allowed to enter or leave the
lines The Republicans were caught
in box. Only few sandwiches had
been provided and the Populists had
severed the steam heating connections,
thus leaving the Republicans TO freeze
| and starve.
The telephones had been unmolested
and the beseiged statesmen soon had
| dispatches rushing over the state for
volunteers to dislodge the troops and
uphold the Republican House.
These kilograms met with quick re-
sponses and it was soon known that
thousands of Republicans were hurry
ing TO Topeka. To meet this Gov.
Lewelling issued call for 500 more
troops to aid those about the capitol
building. This was a serious state of
affairs and no one would dare predict
the outcome of a single day or hour.
Gov. Lewelling became impatient on
the second day of the seige and or
dered Col. Hughes, in command of the
troops, to drive the Republicans from
the capitol. Col. Hughes refused.
Three times the order was given and
three times disobeyed. Then the gov
ernor relieved Col. Hughes of the COM
mand and assumed personal charge of
the troops Sheriff Wilkerson now
came to the front and declared that he,
as peace officer, had charge of the state
militia in the county and pro-
ceeded to take charge of the
capitol. He swore in over 1000
deputies, armed them with base ball
bats and stationed them about the
building. The militia submitted and
the governor was left without support
with the exception of handful of
armed Populists.
This state of affairs altered matters
and Gov. Lewelling offered a PROPOSE
ton of peace on the basis of allowing
each party to conduct their House
without interference. The Republi-
cans made counter proposition agree
ing: first, to dismiss all contempt pro-
ceedings; to arrest the clerks of each
faction in order TO give the matter a
legal test; the governor to dismiss and
discharge the state militia and the
provisional guard;the sheriff to dismiss
all deputies; the Republicans to have
control of Representative hall until the
controversy was settled by the courts.
The proposition was submitted to the
governor who asked time to consider.
Again the opposing armies rested on
their arms.
Finally the compromise was signed
by the governor and the Republican
committee. The state troops were
sent home; the sheriff IS deputies were
dismissed and peace reigned supreme.
The Republicans became very jubilant
while the Populists did not attempt to
conceal their chagrin at what some
termed the weakness of the governor.
by the terms of this proposition the
Republicans secure undisputed posses
sion of Representative hall in the cap
itol, the main point for which they
have been struggling. The Populists
secure the hollow privilege of meeting
undisturbed in some other place. There
will be no amalgamation of the parties.
The courts will decide which is lhe
legal House, but the Populists say the
Populist House will go right ahead
making laws the same as if there was
no such things as courts, no matter
what the courts may do. The Senate
will combine TO recognize the House
and the governor will sign the bills
passed by it. Should the bills be de-
clared to be invalid by reason of hav-
ing been passed by an illegal house,
then, say the Populists, the blame will
rest upon the court. In case such a
thing comes to pass the state institu-
tions, the colleges, asylums, schools,
ETC., would doubtless have to close.
David Deems, an 'inspired teacher
of the Prince Mike order, has been de-
clared sane by jury at Columbus, Kas.
He has about so followers.