The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-16
A WAR TN KANSAS.
Hosts Massing on Both
Sides and a Battle
Imminent.
THE MILITIA CALLED ON.
Doors of the Lower House Broken
Down by Means of Sledge
Hammers.
TIE MILITIA CALLED ON.
THE HALL Is BARRICADED.
Republicans Have Possession and Pro-
pose Holding Ii TO the Bit
ter End.
A Battle Expected Today When the Pop
ulist Governor Orders the Militia
to Eject the Beseiged by
Force of Arms.

to Eject the Beseiged by
Force of Arms.
Topeka, Feb. 15.-Bleeding Kansas
nearly bled again today. Nothing but
the wisest counsels of the calmer leaders
of the opposing parties prevented a seri-
Gus conflict and the shedding of blood.
Not since the anti-slavery and pro-slavery
forces were arrayed in hostile attitude
against one another has political excite
ment run so high as today, and not since
pthose perilous times has the political sit
nation come so near developing into
battle with arms. Members of the Re-
publican house, each carrying revolver,
forced their way through the Populist
guard stationed in the corridor and stair
way leading to Representative hall,
fought their way inch by inch up stairs
in hand to hand contest with the Popu-
lists, battered down the doors of the hail
with a sledge hammer, took possession
of the hall and barricaded themselves
within, and are Withstanding a siege by
The PopuliSt government, supported by
the enUire military force of the state, who
hope to starve the Republicans into IN
conditional surrender. Right here arises
the probability of an armed conflict be-
tween the Republican guards and state
militia.
Republican members have kept the
wires hot all day sending messages to
their constituents informing them of the
desperate situation of affairs and calling
for Republican volunteers to come to
Topeka at once and lend aid to the Re-
publican house. Responses have been re-
ceived from all over the state stating that
volunteers have offered their services by
the hundreds and will arrive in Topeka
by the first train. AS samples of the re-
sponses two are given:
D. n. Scott, Republican member, who
happened to be at home in Ottawa, tele-
graphed here that he would be here in
the morning with 800 armed men.
Fighting Dan" Anthony editor Of
the Leavenworth Times, wired that l, 600
armed men would come from Leaven-
worth.
The Republicans predict that the mill
tia being composed mostly of Republicans
viii not resist the attack of volunteers
should the latter proceed to such extreme
measures.
Alto O'Clock tonight 500 troops are on
guard around the building, while 500 are
on the way from different parts of the
state. Hundreds of Republican volun-
teers armed for battle are gathering from
ali parts of the state. The Populists have
organized into provisional troops, as the
militia, being Republican in sympathies,
will probably not obey the order to shoot
down their political brethren, while the
provisional companies, composed OF Pop
ulists, are prepared to go to almost any
extreme to defeat the Republican plans
and maintain the Populist position. No
one dares predict what the morrow will
bring forth. Few hope for a peaceable
solution OF the difficulty; many expect
I11olr,aI oil or 1,r,td &laf,. b,-eo ~
in anticipation.
When the Republicans went to the hall
this morning they found the doors barred
by the Popunsts. After a short consulta-
ton, the Republicans resolved to force an
entrance, and sledge hammers were
brought into play against one of the side
entrances with such good effect that the
doors were soon demolished and the Re-
publicans quickly filed into the hall. Had
the POpuliSts been in session a conflict
would surely have resulted, but FORUM
ately, the Populist house adjourned yes
terday till ! O'Clock this afternoon.
As soon as the Populists learned what
had been done Governor Lewelling was
notified. He promptly called out the
militia and instructed them to proceed to
the hall and eject the Republicans from
the floor, and the soldiers started on their
mission.
The Republicans, learning of the Gov
ernOr's action, held a hurried conSulta-
ton as to the course to pursue. No
; definite plan was decided on, but indi
vidual Republicans are trying to induce
the Santa Fe Railroad to call out It's shop
men, Other industries known to- be in
sympathy with the Republicans were also
asked to furnish men for the same pur-
pose.
Meantime the PopuIists were not idle.
Company of the local militia responded
1.-f 70, flo oo1 box hapn s0d
by Adiutant- General Artz last night to be
in readiness. They marched to the capt.
tol grounds and took UP position await
ing orders. Orders were also telegrap hed
to Holton and Marion for companies D
and G, and it is reported they are on the
way on a special train.
In the hall of the house the Republl-
cans were making a show of doing bust
ness. Great enthusiasm and loud cheers
were evoked by the presentation to
Speaker Douglass of the sledge hammer
with which entrance was effected into the
hall. and which Douglass subsequently
nsed in place of a gavel to call the house
to order A resolution passed citing
Chief Clerk Rich, of the Populist house,
and Howard, BreioenUhal and Scott to
appear before the house for contempt for
resisting the process of the house yester-
day when an attempt was made to arrest
Rich.
There were tWenty-Iour assistant
sergeants-at-arms in the house when the
Republicans forced their way in, but they
did nothing to prevent it except to warn
the Republicans that they were destroy
ing state property and will be held ac-
couutable for 1t.
The only weapons shown by the Popu-
lists was one Winchester and couple Of
revolvers in the hands of mild young
man who made no attempt to use them.
They were captured by Republicans and
Will be preserved as trophies.
This morning the Santa Fe train from
Atchison and other places brought
seventy-five Repu blicans to act as SER
geants- alarms, and other trains are ex-
pected to bring additional reinforcements.
The Republicans, anticipating trou bic,
telegrapbed for help last night. Some of
the messages were late in being delivered,
but the recipients got out of bed at mid
night 10 respond to the call The Repub-
lican house has passed a resolution re-
viewing the situation and calling on all
citizens of Kansas for 'smoral aid and
active support" to help resist the ssforces
OF anarchy and revolution. -