The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-24
HE GOES STARRIN G
MR.. NESBITr Is NOTHING IF NOT
MELODRAMATIU

Finding the Doors of the Assembly Cham
Der Locked, He is Smitten with an In
satiabie Desire to indicate His Right
t. Enter Such Public Hall at Any Time
HE Surprises a Republican Caucus by
Making Batte-insRam of HIMSELF
Vickers Reaches for Him--NIr. Nesbitt
is a Popuiist.
Guthrie, o. II. Feb. 23.-(Special)-
Neither house of the legisla ture held a
session yesterday on account of Wash
ington's birthday. The day, however,
was spent in committee work and
much business was disposed OF.
The Douglass-Dunsmore act of the
Kansas legislature OF two years ago
was played by Populist member last
night that came near causing a little
blood TO be spilled. The Republicans
held q party caucus in the house be-
hind locked doors and were in the midst
of their deliberations when q terrific
crash startled them, and the moment
a portion Of the door opening into the
lobby fell il. Not knowing the trouble
the members rushed to the door and
found Mr.. Nesbitt the Populist men,
Der from Cleveland county standing
al the door with a ladder in his hands
and several other Populists standing
around. Mr. Vickers, Republican
member from Wood county was the
first to rush into the lobby, and crying
who broke down the house," turned
loose single handed to clean out the
assaulting Populists. He reached out
after Nesbitt and a hand-to-hand COM
bat took place that would have proven
dangerous had not the many persons
present interfered.
VICKERS WAS MAD.
Vickers and Nesbitt are both power
full men; but the rage of NickerS was
such that he simply carried everything
before him. Nesbitt in his attempt TO
get away, was forced to a railing over
an inner court and would have fallen
over TO the floor below had not some
one caught him and jerked him back.
For a minute it looked like an all round
free-for-all fight. The only thing that
prevented it was that NeSbitt took 70
his heels and ran out of the building,
followed by the other Populists.
The only damage done was slight
abrasion behind Nesbitt's ear where
Vickers hit him when he Knocked him
against the railing when he reached for
his large and juicy nose.
The affair has created considera bic
Indignation and the assault of Nesbitt
is considered entirely unjuStifia bic.
1t seems to have been the intention
of Mr. Nesbitt purely to create a sensa-
ton. 1t seems that he desired to en-
ter the room but the Republican COM
mittee knew nothing of his intention
until the door was broken down and
then did not realize the cause of the
outrage After explanations showed
that he desired to get in; but had not
-n1 &c ha
inside, and persons in the lobby did
not know of his desire until he ap-
peared on the scene with ladder in
his hands and proceeded to break
down the door
OBJECTIONABLE MOTIVES.
His intentions or rather his motives
for committing the foolish freak are
not even now surmised, but il is suppos-
ed that he simply did it to show that
a legislative chamber was public prop
erty and free to everyone, and that he
had a right to enter it whenever he
pleased. This, however, was under
stood by the Republican caucus and
when it aSStembled there il announced
the fact ahead of time and did simply SO
because it was the most convenient
room and was not being used by any of
the members at the time. Had Mr.,
Nesbitt sent in notice that he de-
sired to enter he would have been well
come. and if he desired to remain the
committee would have assembled else
where But ii was supposed that as
twas known that private Repubh-
can caucus was in session there, that
any member, no matter of what party.
would have the common courtesy to
respect its sitting, unless il was neces-
sary for him to get something in the
room, for which purpose the courtesy
of the committee would have admitted
any gentleman, stopping for the time
being its delibere tons, if they We're of
O. private nature.
NOT THE FIRST TIME.
However this is not the first time
Mr.. Nesbitt has been in the position
of being accused of committing a rash
act. 1t will be remembered that he
and Dan Peery had an inglorious
chase during the first Legislature. in
stealing the bill locating the capital
although it has been the general opin-
ion since that Peery had the bill and
not Mr.. Nesbitt. But, however that
may be, Mr.. Nesbitt was half across
the city and was striking for the coun-
try when caught.
The present act is no credit to him,
he is himself sorry for it.
The house passed the bill extending
the payment of this years taxes 10
August /.
The passage CT the bill is a great
victory for Mccoy, as il not only
enacts his bill No. II into law extend
ing the time in which taxes may be
paid TO August l, 1895, but also makes
taxes hereafter payable in two install
ments. January 1, and August /, fol-
lowing each assessment.
The house also passed a bill giving
power to sheriffs to sell personal prop
erty in case of failure TO pay taxes.
This has been the trouble with the
non-collection of personal taxes SO
far.