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

The Arrest of the PopuIist Chief Clerk By
tho Republican Sergeant-at-Arms Pre-
cipitated a War at Topeka
A crisis was reached in the legislative
middle at Topeka on Tuesday, Febru-
airy IA by the republican house adopt
ing resolution offered by Mr.. Hoch,
speaker pro tenn, who in addressing the
house reviewed the situation since the
legislature met and which had existed
ever since with no prospect of set tie
ment. He, therefore, offered resolu-
ton the preamble to which recited that
Ben. c. Rich (chief cerk of the populist
house, had by boisterous language
been in the habit daily for
soue time past of disturbing the pro-
ceedings of the house of representa-
tives, and that 'tsuch conduct has great
ly interrupted and interfered with the
transaction of public business by this
house, and has impeded and still inn
pedes necessary legislation in the in
terest of the people of the state of Kan
sas," he, therefore, offered this resolu-
ton:
Resolved, That by such action and conduct
the said Ben c. Rich has been and is guilty OF
contempt of this house and the speaker is here
oy authorized and directed to cause said Ben
c. Rich to be forthwith arrested by the ser
geantat-arms and brought before the bar of the
house to show cause, if any he have, why he
that said Ben c. Rich be held in custody by said
sergeant-atarnns subject TO the further orders
OF the house of representatives.
As soon as the resolution had been
passed, Speaker Douglass directed the
sergeant alarms to carry out the order
of the house. Sergeant-at-Arms Clev-
enger was not in the city and three as
sistants-Jordan, of Rice county; w. II.
Young, of Wyandotte county, and L. E.
ClogSton, of Greenwood county-Started
out Immediately in search of Mr.. Rich
They went to the Dutton hotel and pro-
ceeded to Rich's room, where they
found him in company with his wife
and D. M. Howard, of Shawnee county
The resolution of the republican house
was read to Rich and he was immedi-
ately placed under arrest. He said he
| did not recognize the officers who ar
rested him as having any authority, but
intimated that he would go after finish
ing his dinner. Before finishing his
dinner many of Mr.. Rich's political
friends had assembled at the hotel
Soon after L o'clock the republic
an officers and Rich started for the
state house. The populist friends of
the chief clerk gathered around him
and a fight ensued in which several of
the republican officers Jared badly.
Rich was taken away from them and
escorted to the house by his friends. In
the mean time the repu blican house had
adjourned until morning.
The republican officers finally gave
up the attempt to hold him, and Rich
and his friends proceeded to the state
L, L Al L
| before the hour of the meeting of the
| populist house, 1:30 o'clock. When
Speaker Dunsmore called the house to
order he made a short speech in which
he said:
81 very much regret the events which
led to the exciting scenes of the past
! few hours. We have elected a legal
majority of the house of representa-
tives and have passed ten bills which
have become laws as soon as they have
been signed by the governor. If we are
| in the right, as we know we are. we
will surely win and have nothing to
fear. I wish to advise the members of
| this house to remain on the side of
peace and order. If we are forced to
! by circumstances we will press into
service the forces of the state to main
| tain our constitutional rights. No
matter what the excitement may be
| keep your seats. This is simply a
| question as to whether the Santa Fe
railway and similar corpora tons or the
people are to control this state.''
After the populist house had been in
| session short time Mr. Gest, of Jeffer-
! son, introduced the following:
Whereas, An attempt has been made to ar
| rest the chief clerk of this house by an organ
| lied mob calling themselves the republican
| house of representatives, but which believe
! to be in reality the Santa Fee railroad: there
| fore be it
| Resolved That we, the legally organized and
constitutional house of repreSen ativeS, pro
| claim to the state of Kansas that the mob was
foiled and that "our flag is still there -
| This was adopted and that closed the
active trouble of the first day