St. Paul daily globe., 1893-02-15
War On In Earnest Between
the Two Houses in
Kansas.
Republicans Undertake to Ar
rest the Clerk Of the Pop
uliSt House.
An Encounter Resulted, in
Which Fists Were Freely
Used.
PopuliSts Are Victorious and
Carry Their Man Off in
Triumph.

1IluLIpus
TOPEKA, Kan, Feb. 14.-War IS on in
real earnest between the two houses of
the legislature, and blows have been
| exchanged. There are now open threats
by the PopuliStS of sensational hostili-
ties. and at any moment there may be
something more than the talk which has
been so long indulged in. An attempt
by deputy SergeantS-at-armS of the Re
publican house to arrest Ben C. Rich,
clerk of the Populist house, on orders
from the Republicans, was the cause of
the conflict, during which two Republic
ans were knocked down and several
men on each side were badly bruised by
blows of fists. The encounter occurred
in the very center of the city and created
the greatest excitement. What will be
the outcome of the trouble no one now
attempts to foreteil, but it is generally
agreed that tomorrow will witness the
most exciting scenes known in Kansas
for years.
The trouble all arose out of the ag-
gresSlve attitude assumed by the Re-
publican house this morning. E. w.
Hoch, Of Marion, said the people were
tired of this
Legislative Farce,
and demanded that the legislature get
down to business. He knew of two
ways to settle the question-elther to
knock down OF 60 into the courts. He
preferred the latter, and in order to
bring the matter before the courts he
proposed action set forth in a resolution
which he introduced. This resolution
declared that Ben c. Rich, clerk of the
PopuliSt house. had unlaWfuly inter-
rupted the proceedings Of the legally
constituted lower house of the legisla-
ture. and prevented the transaction of
public business. and directed the ser
geant-at-armS to arrest him and bring
him before the bar OF the house to show
cause why he should not be punished
for contempt The Republicans
promptly adopted the resolution, and
the sergeant-at-arms, with two assist
ants, went in search of Rich.
In the meantime the Populists had
arranged to meet force with force. and
if the Republican sergeant-at-arms had
appeared in the house with the Populist
clerk. there would have doubtless ell
sued rot Of big proportions. 1t so
happened that Rich could not be found,
and after waiting until 12 o'clock, the
Republicans adjourned until tomorrow
at 9 o'clock a. NJ. The Populists
Jeered Their Opponents
for "weakening," and guyed them un-
mercifully as they marched out of the
hall. Meanwhile the .sergeaut-at-arms
had found Rich at the Dutton hotel and
read the warrant to him, demanding at
the same time that he accompany him.
john w. Breidenthal. Fred Bailey and
others interfered IN behalf of Rich and
Immediately there was great crowd of
people in the hotel. After brief strug-
gle the crowd moved out upon
the street, and with Rich in custody
of both Republicans and Populists,
the crowd moved up the avenue.
AT the corner of Ninth and Kansas ave.
nue. the Republicans tried to run Rich
over to the Copeland hotel. and a war
like scene followed. In the struggle
Representative Ryan knocked down one
of the Republican sergeants-at-arms
and Immediately got astride of him,
while John W. Breidenthal. chairman
OF the PopullSt state central committee,
had to use force to get rid of a Repub-
llcan who was trying to pull him away
from Rich. Populist Reading Clerk S.
M. Scott struck Republican Assistant
Sergeant-at-Arms Jordan, infictjng a
wound under the eye. Other blows
were struck, hut no further damage was
done In the end the Populists got
their man away and took him to the
governors office, from where, few
minutes later, he was triumphantly es-
cOrted into the hall of the house of rep
reSentativeS.
His Wife Holding One Arm
and Representative Wordsworth. of
Atchison, the other. His appearance
in the hall was greeted with cheers and
clapping of hands.
Speaker Dunsmore, in calling the
house to order, referred to the street
encounter, leaving all the, blame on the
Republican house and defending the
cause of the Populists. After the roll
had been called the following preamble
and resolutions were adopted:
"Whereas. An attempt has been made
to arrest the chief clerk of this house bv
an organized mob calling themselves
the Republican fouse of represent
atives, bat which we believe to be in
reality the Santa Fe railroad; therefore.
be it
Resolved, That we, the legally Or
ganized and constituted house of repre-
sentatives. proclaim to the state of Kan
sas that the mob was foiled, and that
our flag is still there
Later the Republicans swore out war
rants before Justice Chesney, charging
Representative Ryan and Reading Clerk
S. NJ. Scott with assault and battery. A
constable appeared in the hall to arrest
them, but they declined to accompany
him until they had received advice.
Ryan consulted with his friends, and
announced that he would neither go
with the constable nor give bond for his
appearance. The constable fingered,
grim and determined, and announced
that he would make the arrests, even if
if he had to summon posse.
The Situation Serious.
The situation here tonight is serious
in the extreme. There is likely to be
conflict tomorrow, which may end in
riot and blOodshed. Republicans are
determined to arrest Rich. and the Popu-
lists say they never will submit to it.
Both speakers have sworn in 100
| extra sergeants- at arms, and they
are all armed. 1t is firmly
believed that the Populists will bar the
| doors of the representative hall against
| the Republicans tomorrow morning, and
the Republicans say that If they do they
will batter down the doors. Speaker
Doeglass, Of the Republican house, said
| tonight that the end OF this revolution
ary business must come, and the majesty
] of the law should be upheld, no mat