The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-05-12
SMASHED DOORS.
RiOtOus Scene at the Missouri
Republican State Convention.
Doors Smashed I'm and Glass is
Broken.
TWO RIVAL FACTIONS.
The Kerens Hen and the FiIley
Men
TWO RIVAL FACTIONS.
Struggling for the Possession
of the Opera House.

st. Joseph Mo. May 12-The Re
publican state convention was almost
turned into a riot this morning before
the delegates We're admitted to the hall
The hour set for the opening Of the
convention was 10 o'clock and at that
hour fully 1000 people were in front Of
the Crawford opera house, where the
convention was held, clamoring for ad-
mittance
The cause of the trouble was dis
agreement between the Filey and
Kerens factions for supremacy The
former as chairman of the state com
mittee issued tickets to his set Of dele
gates before leaving St Louis kerens
and his followers are present IN Loi &c
with a COnteSting delegation and TINS
caused all the trouble
The local committee on arrangements
recognizes Kerens as boss and this
committee also issued tickets to the
convention and having obtained pos
session of the keys of the opera house
refused to admit any one until Finley
would consent to a compromise
For over two hours the delegates
stood in the hot sun. cursing alternate
ly FilIey and Kerens. but all to no pur-
pose Finally, however, the crowd be
came so b0isterous that it was feared
an attempt would be made to break
down the doors, and policemen We're
sent to restore order
AT about IL o'clock newspaper report
ers and telegraph operators We're adj
nftted to the convention hall, but the
delegates We're kept on the outside
while truce was being arranged be-
tween the factions. "A little after ~
o'clock a crowd of men wearing Finley
hats congregated in the rear Of the
theater and attemptedto smash in the
rear door. They used a batterlng ram
and glass was smashed.
The ergeant-at-arms on the inside
telephoned for the police and patrol
wagon full of officers was sent to the
scene. The sergeant-at- arms was UNI
able to identify the individuals using
violence and no arrests were made but
the officers remained on guard.
John J. Bittinger, chairman of the
local committee of arrangements, had
possession of the keys and would ad-
init no one to the hall The delegates
in the streets were furious and threats
We're made that both Filley and Kerens
Will be turned down when the conven-
ton finally opens.
Finally. however. an agreement was
reached by which the doors were open
ed and the delegates allowed to enter
The Filleyites claimed the victory and
said their boss was allowed to distri-
butte all the tickets However it was
noticed that the kerens delegates were
allowed to enter the building. Short
III after j O'Clock, after delay of three
hours. Chairman Filley appeared on
the stage and called the convention to
order.
After the reading Of the call. prayer
was offered and Mayor Worries well
coined the delegates to the city. The
building was packed to the doors, but
the delegates seemed to have forgotten
their wrath and aside from a few
DELEGATES had been struck with police
mems clubs in the row. there We're no
evidences of what had for a time
threatened to result in a riot