Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1893-01-19
LIVELY TIME.
The House of Representative Di-
vided Against Itself
Republicans and Populists Each Elect Of
f1cers and Then Camp Upon the Field
The Senate Recognized the
Popuiist House.

The Senate Recognized the
Popuiist House.
TOPEKA, Kan, Jan. lin anticipa-
ton of trouble at the organization of
the house, the sheriff of Shawnee coun-
ty this morning swore in forty deputies
for duty in preserving order.
The members were slow in gathering
and at 12 o'clock, the hour set for the
opening of work, many OF the seats
were still vacant and all the absentees
! were populists
At 1870 the republicans checked up
and found that every one of their sixty
4, three members were in the hall ready
for action.
At 1:25 o'clock Secrets,r y of State o.
borne appeared at the speakers stand
and announced that the law provided
that he should lay before the house a
list of members as he found it in the
secretary of states Office.
George l.. Douglass interrupted with
the statement that the secretary should
only lay the list before the house and
one, he would not consent for Osborne
to preside, and other members agreed
with him.
Mr.. Osborne said: ~ am here to per-
form the same duty in the house as
have to perform in the senate"
Mr.. Cubbisuu said: 81 suppose the
other side will object to the reading of
Campbelrs name"
Eyes, SIR" said Mr.. Dunsmore 'sThat
is the idea
81 am afraid said Mr.. Cubbison,
that would bring us to clash and
carry us beyond discussion"
Mr.. CubbiSon then spoke at length on
the law and custom in cases of this kind.
The law, he declared, had already made
list and no man outside of the roll,
not even Mr.. Osborne had a right to
decide any point that would deprive
the house of its constitutional privilege
of deciding upon its mem bership.
At this stage the secretary of the SEN
ate was announced with a message
from the senate.
''Wait," said Mr.. Douglass. This is
not an organized body"
fWhat does the secretary say?'
shouted Mr.. Dunsmore.
Gentlemen said Mr. Osborne, 81
am only here to act in ministerial ca
pacity. When the house informs me
that it has a presiding officer to receive
this roll, 1 will deliver it. -
With that Mr.. Osborne abruptly left
the desk and disappeared from the hail.
Mr. Semper, of Franklin county, a
populiSt, hurried to the desk and as
sumed the gavel and Mr.. Cubbison, u
republican. quickly joined him and both
began beating the gavel.
The house was now in confusion, but
the republicans continued to nominate
officers, who were declared elected by
Mr.. Cubbison.
Then somebody moved that the house
proceed to call the roll.
The certified roll was missing, hav-
ing been carried away by Mr.. Os-
borne, but a roll of some kind was
saying that he had the roll as certified
by the secretary of state.
AS the roll call proceeded the repub-
icans responded as their names were
called, while the populists kept up a
roar of protest and shouted orders back
and forth.
Mr.. Dunsmore then got his forces to-
gether and they proceeded to elect Mr..
Ryan temporary speaker. Meanwhile
Mr.. Cubbison called for the members
to come forward and be sworn. The
republicans held up their hands and d
Topeka lawyer named Thomas III. Balm
administered the oath. Then the re-
publican clerk called the roll again and
Mr.. Douglass was declared elected
speaker. Judge Strong swore Mr.
Douglass in and he assumed the chair.
Mr. Dunsmore kept his machine in or
der and soon two houses were in full
operation on the same floor. Douglass
and Ryan were now side by side put
ting motions and every body was on his
feet shouting and yelling.
Mr.. Troutman, republican, moved
that the sergeant-at-arms be instructed
to clear the lobby. This was carried.
and on motion Mr.. Douglas appoint
ed committee of five to notify the SEN
ate that the house was organized
By this time the populists had pro-
gressed so far in the organization as to
elect Dunsmore speaker and he soon
had full set of officers chosen and
committees appointed to notify the SEN
ate and governor that the house was or
ganized and ready for business.
Secretary Brown, of the senate, now
appeared and, recognizing Speaker
DunSnore, announced that the senate
had organized.
| There was no adjournment of either
lower house Legislative body. The
| leaders on both sides were afraid that
/ by an adjournment some advantage
! might be lost TherS was no attempt
| at business after 5 o'clock and the
| members prepared to make themselves
, comfortable for the night Small boys
were admitted with buns and sand
! witches. An enterprising populist
brought cigars and the accommodating
, house porters brought TASKS of whisky.
! Speaker pro tenn HOch held down the
republican speakers chair, and pro tenn.
Speaker Sernple dozed in the populist
| chair. Here and there over the house
| members were curled up on the floor. at
midnight there was absolute quiet but
the conservative men who attempted to
bring about the compromise recognized
that nothing could be accomplished.
Revolvers Drawn.
TOPEKA, Kan, Jan. lin an alter
cation between George Higgins, the re-
publican sergeant-at-arms, and one of
the populist doorieepers revolvers were
drawn and a general row was only pre-
| vented nv the iDtarferenoe of q few