Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-02-23


and when one was found he was
brought forthwith to the hall, passed
through the guard line and given the
oath. Each was decorated with a red
ribbon. by which badge the republican
house officials were distinguished.
"a yisit From the Governor.
ToPfzKA. Kan, Feb. delegations
of citizens and republican representa-
tives waited upon the governor all day
to beseech him to interfere in behalf of
order. The imprisoned republicans
could only wait for some one from the
popu1ist ranks to vary their monotony,
for all republicans were barred who
could not get an order for admission
from the acknowledgement. After lunch
had been served through lowering ropes
to friends without, and the members
had settled in their seats for the night,
one of the sergeants announced that
Gov. Lewelling wanted admission. A
committee of citizens accompanied the
governor and the republican guards ad-
mitted him.
Gov. Lewelling was as composed as
he always shows himself to be- He
walked deliberately up the aisle with a
the situation. Every member of the
house arose when he entered, in obedi-
ence to command from Speaker Doug
lass, and as much courtesy was
shown on either side as if the gov
ernor had come in obedience to
an invitation to greet guest of honor
Gov. Lewelling went directly to the
speakers stand and was presented bv
l-ar 10 l,
speech by stating positively that he
would consider no appeals from the re-
publicans, but that if they did not va
cate the hall at once he would send the
military force to put them out The
governor said:
Gentlemen, have formulated moth
ing to say to you before coming into
the hall. [ have come to you as cit
izen. No man can deprecate the pres
ent situation more than I. regret the
situation that exists. 1 entreat you as
citizens of Kansas, as men of honor, as
Know you are, to appreciate the diff
iculties which may arise in the future.
There is only one course to be pursued.
1t is impossib BILE for any receding by the
executive from the course he has taken.
1 entreat you as citizens not to make it
tary to order this hall cleared
ct has been said repeatedly that you
were waiting for some bills to be passed
to get this matter into the courts. A
bill has been passed. If there is a solu-
ton it is at hand. appeal to you and
urge you to surrender this hall to the
legal authority of the state. 1 don't
want anything of riotous nature to oc.
cur. beg this Of you, especially those
who are not mem bers- ;"
Speaker Pro TEN. Hoch, who was on
the floor, at this juncture interrupted
the governor by saying:
Governor, pardon me a moment.
appreciate your coming both as gov
ernor and citizen of this state. Gov
ernor. would it not, pending decision
of the courts, be fair and honora BILE for
both sides to vacate this hall? / appeal
to you as governor, as my governor, in
this critical crisis. This is the fair
thing in this matter by us as well as by
the other side. Will it not be fair by
all parties to surrender this hall pend
ing settlement"
Gov. Lewelling replied: 'In asking
you to surrender this hall into my keep
ing tonight, my personal friends, ask
you to give the hall into my keeping
tonight. This is all have to say"
Mr.. Hoch attempted to ask ques-
ton, but Gov. Lewelling interrupted:
''It is not for me to enter into this con-
troversy. There are several militia
companies in the state house, and
hope that I will not be compelled to
call upon them"
Mr.. Greenlee, of Reno, here asked:
Governor, will you abide by the de-
cisiOn of the supreme court"
Gov. Lewelling would not answer the
question and left the speakers stand.
Ex-Gov. Osborne here asked permits
sion to make few rem arks, which
permission was granted. He said: 81
am not here for the purpose of making
an address. At a meeting of prominent
citizens of Topeka Dr. McVicar, e. Ben.
nett, p. g. Noel, John r. Mulvane and
myself were appointed committee to
wait on the governor. In that meeting
of citizens and here tonight | did not
and do not think it proper to discuss
the merits of this difficulty. We are
tonight on the verge of a revolution.
The people of this state must be pre-
pared to read in the morning papers OF
a flow of blood in the streets of Topeka
| unless some hand is raised to avert this
| disaster Kansas has passed through
| many scenes, but none SO serious
| as this, which is far more dangerous
than when Pap Price raided at our
doors at Kansas CITY. The governor
| has told you that it will be his duty to
call the militia to evict you, and
| know, and he knows, you are prepared
| to resist
He then said it was the feeling of the
| people outside of the hall and the sen.
| timent outside of this city that there
should be no resistance; that the mem
bers should not bring on civil war.
| Closing he said:
DO not force upon us war liabl to
be more destructive than this section Of
this country has ever SEEM
Gov. Lewelling, with his private sec
| rotary, Fred j. Close, and the citizens
| committee, who had been close listeners
| to all that had been said, at the conclu
| sion of eX-Gov. Osborne's remarks arose
| and marched out of the hall.
Gov. Lewelling and his friends had
not reached the door before there
| were a half dozen republican mem
bers on their feet protesting against
! a surrender.
Tho cont r,,e