Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-11
TAKEN ny STORM.
Republican Senators Break Into the
Capitol mt Trenton.

Republican Senators Break Into the
Capitol mt Trenton.
AS narrated in a postscript edition of The
Star yesterday. the republican senators
broke into the senate chamber at Trenton,
N. j.. in the afternoon and took possession.
When the democratic senate adjourned
yesterday morning until today and the
members departed, their instructions to the
sergeant-at-arms and the doorkeepers were
to lock up the chamber tight and barricade
the doors from the inside When the re-
publican senators arrived at the state house
In the afternoon and found entrance to the
chamber barred again they were welpigh
speechless with indignation.
This thing has gone far enough" ex-
claimed Senator Skirm of Mercer. L want
to enter the chamber and take the seat to
which 1 have been elected. and mean to
do it,
The corridors Of the capitol were thronged
with politicians, members of the legislature,
state officials and hundreds of other specta-
tors
The republican senator's gather Ell IN a lit
tie bunch underneath the stairway leading
TO the supreme court room. Some OF them
counseled against disorder and excitement,
but Col. Skirm. backed up by several col
leagues, heid that to snter the chamber was
rights. Hundreds of men were waiting for
single word Of authority to burst the SEN
ate doors open, but Col. Skirm held them in
check. saying 1t would be wiser and better
to send for a locksmith, and he did SO.
Two expert locksmiths soon arrived and
went to work on the big heavy oaken doors
leading to the mems gallery. A huge crowd
pressed heavily against them from the rear.
Capt. Jack Graham, the famous Hudson
county constable and Col. W. H. Morrell.
the noted colOred republican and agitator of
Essex. were in front Of the mob. The lock-
smiths could not work fast enough to suit
the crowd.
Doors Broken Open.
A huge plank was obtained from the cell
lar Of the state house and four stalwart
republicans banged it against he doors
Again and again the plank was hurled and
the noise half block away sounded Ike
the explosion of dynamite deadened In the
earth.
Then the bolts were forced with a mighty
shout Of triumph, and the republican sena-
tors We're soon after In possession Of the
chamber. and with them the crowd who had
looked on while hte breaking was in pro-
gress The excitement was now at fever
heat ana messengers were sent In every d.
rection for the governor. He had gone out
OF the building only few moments before
Capt. Graham was the first to get into
the gallery. He then jumped down TO the
moor OF the chamber and opened the front
doors by turning the keys, pushing the bolts
PACK and removing the barricade Of chairs.
neavy desks. &c. The republican senator's
took their seats at once and the crowd
cheered and yelled for fully five minutes.
Then quiet was restored and the session of
the republican senate opened. Clerk Potts
OF the mousse appeared with a message an
nouncing the passage of the race track re-
pealer, whereupon there was more cheering
and the senate took recess of ten minutes
The Racing Repeater Passed.
After the recess the senate passed the
racing repeater by a unanimous vote, end
accepted the house resolution providing for
a joint meeting on the 23d of January.
A resolution was then offered by Senator
Ketcham Of Essex authorizing the appoint
ment Of twenty-five additional sergeants-at-
arms to take possession and hold the SEN
ate chamber for the use Of the senate of
New Jersey
This resolution was temporarily laid over
and the senators held a private conference
TO decide further on their course of action
Just about this time rumor spread
through the state house that the state police
had been sent for. The report was to the
erect that Chief Feeney, who is located in
Hudson county, had been asked to come to
trenton on special train with 800 men
picked from the police departments of Jer-
sey City. Hoboken, Newark Paterson Eliz
abeth and New Brunswick
The republican senators considered II like
ly that such an order had been issued ard
at once abandoned their notion of holding
the chamber with twenty-five extra men.
1t was decided to kill Senator Keteham's
resolution and adopt another in its stead,
less militant In its nature.
The senate then reconyened and adopted
resolution that whereas the democratic
minority had taken unlawful possession of
the chamber In violation Of the sovereign
rights Of the people. the sergeant-at-arms be
directed to keep the floor free from all but
members OF the legislature and its officials
and those entitled by custom to its privi-
leges.
Before this resolution was adopted, ring
Ing speeches. were made by Senators Voor-
hees, Ketcham, Bradley and Skirm. They
said they had been honestly elected and
were entitled to occupy their seats in the
senate chamber. Brute force had prevented
them from SO doing until yesterday, and
probably would continue to do so in the
future; but II any movement Of force was
to be inaugurated the democrats would have
to be first In the field. 1t made no differ
ence where they met and If they were
barred out of their own chamber in the
future they would meet elsewhere They
were perhaps recreant in not having en-
tered the chamber by force yesterday but
that would have led to bloodshed