The San Francisco call., 1896-03-16
FEAR TROUBLE TO-DAY.
Governor Bradley Prepares TO
Check a Riot in the
Legislature.
DISPUTE OVER ADJOURNMENT.
Presiding Officers in Senate and House
Disagree as to When the
Session Ends.

FRANKFORT, KY, March Is. The
crowded hotel lobbies and political head
quarters, which had been in state of
feverish excitement all day over the ex-
pected crisis in the Senatorial contest to-
morrow, had relaxed into state of quiet
tonight when at 10 o'clock intense excite
ment was produced by the ringing of the
military call which summoned the Nc
Creary guards, the local militia company,
to assem- bic at once in its armory on Main
street. The continued ringing of the bell
caused almost panic, as it was not known
in many parts of the city whether riot
was in progress or whether confagration
had broken out. Several hundred people
collected in the vicinity of the armory and
at first Captain Games and Adjutant
Sharpley, who were in command, denied
that the company was called out for local
service, and declared that they were
destined to Newport where they were ex-
pected to be needed in keeping jackson
and Walling from being lynched should
they be brought to Kentucky.
1t developed later, however, that no re-
quest had been made for troops at New
port and that this was only ruse to avoid
it being known that they had been called
TO take a hand to do duty at the State
House tomorrow.
Later in the evening the company
marched direct to the State Capitol build
ing and is spending the night there. The
First Regiment of Louisville has been sum-
moned and will arrive here at A. N. Sew
eral com panies of the Second yill arrive
tomorrow morning.
The Democrats are highly indignant,
end a c5nfiies between the Legislative Off
GERS, backed up by the citizens on one side
and the military on the other, is expected
to occur tomorrow. The Democrats say
that Governor Bradleys act in calling out
troops is unwarranted by law and that he
has laid himself liable to both fine and i'm
peachmeDt.
The action of Governor Bradley in call
ing out troops is unprecedented in the
history of the State. and the people of the
State capital are highly incensed. Threats
are freely made of having the Governor
arrested for usurpation of authority, as it
is conceded by lawyers that the order was
illegal. There is no question that the sit
uation has been serious for several days,
but the local officers and legislative en-
ployes were fully equal to the emergency
unless a riot should occur between the
members on the floor of the Assembly, and
if this should happen the military would
be powerless to prevent it.
The McCreary Guards, after forming at
their armory, marched in double quick
time down st. Clair street and took posses
sion of the State house. Hundreds of peo-
pie thronged the streets on either side and
the soldiers were subjected to continued
guying and jeering by the crowd as they
passed along. Colonel "Jack" Chinn,
Jim" Williams, Sharp ana others of the
personal staff of Senator Blackburn, whom
the 700 soldiers are expected to suppress,
were on the sidewalks, as were many
members of both houses of the Legislature.
The Blackburn men were taken by sur
prise and at late hour their policy for to-
morrow had not been outlined.
Senator Bronston Cd called on Gov
ernor Bradley tonight and inquired as to
the object of the resort to the militia
Governor Bradley stated that one of the
presiding officers of the General Assembly
had made affidavit before him that the
local authorities had failed to prevent
rowdies from intimidating and overriding
mem bers of both houses and, further, that
it had come to his ears that he (the Gov
ernor) was to be arrested tomorrow and
the State house 10 be taken possession of
by bullies All of these allegations were
fiatlv denied by Senator Bronston who is
q leader of the Blackburn side, and the
interview ended.
There is question as to whether to-mor-
rows ballot will be the last or whether an
other will M taken on Tuesday. Lieutenant
Governor Worthington inclines to the
opinion that the Legislature will stand ad-
iourned at neon Tuesday. Senator Ben
nett (R.) is also of this opinion, as are
number of other prominent memb bers of
both parties.
Speaker Blandford of the House, how
ever, believes the session does not expire
until Tuesday midnight, and it is his in
tention to run that body up to the last
minute. in order not only to ballot for
Senator, but also to pass as many bills as
nossible and atone as far as can be for the
uast do-nothing record of the wild
horses,' over whom he has exercised par
tial control.
To-nights trains brought in good
sized crowd of visiting politicians of both
parties, who are here to witness to-mor-
rows struggle over the Senatorshlp. 1t IS
conceded on all sides that the fifty second
ballot will be a true forecast OF the final
result. and the excitement and suspense
over it is painful i'll the extreme. Governor
Bradley has given Sheriff Armstrong
orders for the swearing in of large force
of deputies, who are expected to assist IN
preserving the peace.
Senator Blackburn spent Sunday in his
headquarters surrounded by his personal
lieutenants, among whom were ex-Con-
gresham Phil Thompson, Colonel John
B. Thompson, General P. Watt Hardin.
Colonial "Iackn Ghinn Cantain Williams.