The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-12
RIOT IN KENNUCKY Senate
Trouble Over the Unseatiag Of Mr..
Kaufman.
KNIVES AND PISTOLS APPEAR
The Republican House and Democratic
Senate Unscat Members ut Win
and General Disorder Follows.
Blackburn Counseis Peace.

Frankfort, Ky, March 11.-All the
conflicting elements in the senatorlal
battle We're almost turned into a blood
thirsty mob of senators, members OF the
house and their adherents today. the
combatants came far nearer the riot
Gus precipice than they had done since
the deadlock The house and the lob
bies were the scene Of excitement which
needed only an overt act on the part of
the Republicans to provoke the use of
knives, revolvers and clubs.
The Republican house had unseated
Kaufman in spite of Dunlap's with
drawal of his contest of the seat and
refusal to qualify. Quick with re-
vengeful spirit. the Democratic sena-
tors made good their threat to retail
ate, and unseated Walton and James
The Democrats of thsS house rushed
from the hall i'm wild stampede ana
into the rotunda to break a quorum on
the vote on the report as amended.
F'ifty-one Republicans. however, re-
sponded to the roll call and Kaufman
Democrat) was unseated. In a minute
the widest excitement prevailed all over
the state house. Senators huddled to-
gether in the middle of the senate
chamber, while a mob crowded every
entrance. The Democratic senators
yelled their votes unseating Senators
James and Walton (Repubiicans) Three
minutes later u mob was at the door
of the house declaring that James and
Walton should never go in there. In
the mob Were several men with their
pistols in their hands standing at the
door daring Republicans to attempt to
bring the two unseated senators
through.
BLACKBURN'S COUNSEL.
Senator Blackburn was in the crowd
counselling coOlness. The crowd was
mad when they learned that James had
already slipped into the house and had
done so while they were unseating him
i'm the senate Men and women rushed
from the building, and the chief of po-
lice and large body of patrolmen
We're on hand. ready to interfere In
case any overt act was committed
Dunlap, the newly seated representa-
tive, attempted to enter the house, but
was kept back by the crowd at the
door. The Republicans tried i'm vain to
induce Walton, the unSeated Republic
can senator to brave the knives and
pistols and force his way into the
house, but he refused to leave the SEN
ate chamber DOorkeeper Tyler (Dcm-
ocraD and his deputies had stood guard
at the joint assembly door for half an
back the surgirg, bowling, kissing mob.
A fight was nearly pecipitated when
Register of the Land Office Reynolds
Republican) demanded admittance.
He and Sergeant at Arms Sommers
We're about to lock horns, when Senator
Goebel and others stepped in and Mr..
Reynolds was allowed to pass In. Pis-
tolls were brandished several times dur
ing the incident
hn 70
nounccd at the door. Speaker Blanford
refused to recognize ii, saying the door
keepers usurped the authority of the
house In keeping out members entitled
to vote, meaning Dunlap and Walton.
A hot collouuy ensued between the
speaker and Senator Bronston. The
senator charged that the speaker was
attempting to usurp the powers of the
Joint assembly by electing Senator
Gocbel president. when through Senator
Salyers and others order was restored.
VOTE ON SENATOR.
The chief clerk in calling the names
Of the members Of the senate omitted
those OF James and Walton. the two
Republican senators who had been un-
seated by the senate majority a few
minutes before going into joint as
sembly. The clerk of the house. i'm
calling the roll of the house members
omitted to call the name of Kaufman
DemocraD who had been unseated.
The roll call showed 130 members
present with two pairs. The roll was
then called for a vote for senator. The
Republicans refused to vote. The bal
lot resulted: Blackburn, 81; Carlisle,
10; Buckner I. No quorum voting. the
joint assembly dissolved till noon to-
morrow.
After the adjournment of the joint
assembly, the crowd thinned out some
what, but many still remained and to-
night feeling Is at a high tension. 1t
is believed that Mr. Dunlap. the newly
seated member of the house will refuse
to qualify.