The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-12
Republican and Democrat Mem
bers Act Like HoOd1ums.
PISTOLS ARE DRAWN.
People Now Ashamed to Regis
ter from Indiana.

last night in which almost every
member participated. Revolvers
were drawn and many persons were
seriously injured. Adams of Park
county, perhaps fatally.
For fully twenty minutes the state
house was filed with a bowling,
surging mob. Men who had been
friends and sat side by side during
the session became deadly enemies
and made every effort to injure each
other. Myron King, Governor Mat
thews' private secretary, was locked
in the elevator and a big burly man
guarded the door and refused to
allow him to leave. The police final
ly drove the man away and the secre-
tarv was released. When he arrived
at the door of the house at 1855 he
found it locked. He had an i'm
portant message from the governor,
and a great deal depended upon its
delivery to the speaker of the house
before 12 o'clock.
He pounded on the door, but was
denied admission. He cried that the
door was locked and requested that it
be opened as he had a message from
the governor. His voice was heard
by number of Democrats who were
in the corridors and they ran to his
assistance. An attempt was made to
force open the DOORS but the crowd
of Repu blicans who were bent on
keeping the governors secretary out
with his message, resisted with all
the strength they could command.
The heavy oak doors were unable to
stand the pressure brought to bear
upon them, and they were forced
open. King, who was in front, was
forced right into the crowd of Re-
publicans, who were bent on keeping
him from reaching the speaker.
With one accord the men began
striking at each other, and the secre-
tary was in great danger of being
killed.
''Kill himi Kill himr' cried hun
dred voices. The women who were
in the gallery screamed and one or
two of them tainted. In moment
every thing was confusion and friends
and enemies alike were fighting. The
sole aim of the Democrats was to get
King through the crowd to the
veto and the Republicans were de-
termined to hold him ba ok until 10
o'clock, at which time the house would
adjourn sine die. Inch by inch the
Democrats gained ground. Many per-
sons were knocked down and
trampled under foot. Revolvers were
hourished in the air, but as fast as
one was drawn the man holding it
was knocked down. The heavy
chairs were torn from the floor by the
mob and desks were broken to pieces.
Doors leading to other rooms were
shattered by persons in the corridors
trying to effect an entrance to the
chamber. The police were powerless
to check the mob, which seemed bent
on destroying everything in the room.
At 1887 King with his clothing
torn almost from his body and his
face bleeding was pushed by main
strength through the crowd and
thrown heavily against the speakers
desk. He still held Governor Mat
thews' veto in his hand, but it never
reached the speaker.
Just as King was about to place it
in his hand Speaker Adams kicked
and beat back the crowd and in a
voice which could be heard above
the terrible din, cried: THE house
has adjourned; the house has ad-
iourned.''
This raised great cry from the
crowd and every body made a rush
toward the speaker. The veto was
torn from Kings hand by man who
dashed out of the crowd with 1T and
made good his escape.
This practically ended the riot.
SIEVE raj small fights occurred. but the
police and others finally succeeded in
driving them from the chamber. No
less than two dozen persons were
hurt No arrests were made
The trouble originated over the bill
to supplant Custodian Griffin, Demo-
crat, with a Republican. The gov
ernor has three days in which to
consider all measures. The bill was
delivered to the governor three nights
ago. 1t was his scheme to hold it to
the last minute, and then the legis-
1ature could not pass it over his veto
as its statute adjournment would
take place at - o'clock.
| The governors secretary started
! with the bill with ten minutes line.
| The Republicans attempted by force
| to prevent his reaching the 1egisla-
tive halls with the bill in time.
| Adams, who was injured, is the
representative of Park county. He
was kicked in the pit of the stomach
and had to be carried from the house.