People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-03-03
from tne governor.
Topeka, KAs., February IL, 1893.


otherwise to become a menace to the
peace and order of the state; now, there
fore, hereby demand OF you that you
proceed at once to provide such peace
officers as may be necessary for the
preservation Of the peace and safety Of
the state, and that such officers be at
once stationed upon the capitol grounds
and in the corridors Of the capitol build
ing, IS may be necessary to prevent the
entering Of armed or disorderly men, and
that you use every lawful means IN your
power to preserve the peace, prevent
riot and all disorderly conduct, to the end
that the house of reprt sentstives may
proceed undisturbed in the legitimate
performance of its duty.
Please advise me at once il these de-
mands will be complied with
L. D. LEwELIING,
Governor of Kansas.
The sheriff also received the following
from Speaker Dunsmore:
TOPEKA, KAs, February IA, 1893.
j. N. WdkersOn. Sheriff Of Shdrnee County:
DEAR SIR:-I hereby call on you as
sheriff Of Shawnee county for sufficient
force to preserve the peace and authority
of the house of representatives. | am
very truly yours, ]. NJ. DUYsMoRE,
Speaker Of the house OF representa-
tiVes.
The sheriff refused to comply with the
demand Of the governor and Populist
speaker, ard 80 notified them.
ALARMED ABOUT THE TREASURY.
In view Of the fact that the senate
had concurred in the amendments to the
appropriation bill passed by the house,
to pay all members and employees Of the
Populist house their salaries, the Doug
lass house passed the following:
ReSOlvsd, By the house Of representa-
tives Of the state Of Kansas that the treas
urer of the state be and is hereby
sdmonished not to pay any public moneys
under any pretended act of the legisla-
ture OF this state passed by the body
presided over by j. Nj. Dunsmore, and
now pretending to be a house Of repre-
sentatives; and be it further
RsSOlUed, That said state treasurer and
his bondsmen will be held strictly re-
sponsible for any moneys 30 paid out of
the public treasury, and under no cir
cumstances or conditions whatever will
this house ever ratify, confirm or other
wise make good to said treasurer any
such money so paid under said pretended
authority.
WEDNESDAY.
The trouble was still growing. Wednes-
day morning there was q general ap-
prehension on all sides. 1t was in the
air that something was going to happen.
Numerous conferences had been held
during the night in the state Offices,
most Of the interest centering between
the executive and the adjutsnt generals
office. The PopuiisG members had held
forth during the night in representative
hall and had taken a recess for
breakfast. Speaker Dunsmore and
the sergeant-at-arms had given due
notice that aside from members and re-
porters none but the officers and en-
ployes Of the Dunsmore house should be
admitted. A guard Of halt a dozen men
were stationed at the stairway leading to
the front entrance of the hall, with in
structions to direct the members to the
rear entrance. The front doors were not
locked. A few house employees were
inside.
TIE ASSAULT.
About s o'clock q crowd Of about 10C
men and boys started from the Cope
land hotel, and as they marched toward
the state house their numbers 10.
creased. 1t was a vicious, determined
looking crowd, headed by George l.
Douglass, whom the republicans call
speaker. Reaching the first stairway to
the hall they were met by the FIVE guards
and for q moment repulsed. AS they re-
coiled and gathered themselves for an
onslaught, the guards told them thai
members would be admitted at the other
entrance, adding the information that
such were the instructions of the adju.
tsnt general and the executive council.
Douglass replied: 81, as speaker Of
the house, order you to get out Of the
way"
"You can't pass here" answered the
guard on the lower steps.
A few more words, lively scuffls be.
tween the guards and the men at the
front OF the mob, rebel yell, a vigorous
charge, and the mass Of crazy, law-defy.
ing humanity went surging up the broad
stairway toward representative hall. The
guards nearest the door, seeing what
was coming, did the only thing left fol-
them to do, sprang inside the hall and
locked the doors. On came the insur-
gent crowd, shouting, Break down the
doors; no quarters to Populists." Some
OF them had prepared for the emergency
by bringing heavy sledge hammer, and
it was soon brought into use by George
Douglass, who struck the first blow for
the destruction Of public property in the
interest Of "good government" Crsshl
went the panels Of the door and the
pieces landed inside. The mob saw only
half a dozen occupants inside, and the
battering process went on. "Strike
lower they ehnutad and eoon tha holto