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

St Joseph No. May 12.-The Re
publican state convention was almost
turned into a riot this morning before
the delegates were admitted to the hall
The hour set for the opening of the
convention was 10 o'clock and at that
hour fully 1000 people We're 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 Filley and
Kerens factions for supremacy. The
former as chairman of the state ecm-
mittee issued tickets to his set OF de-e-
gates before leaving St Louis kereuS
and his followers are present in force
with a cOntesting delegation and TINS
caused all the trouble
The local committee on arrangement
recognizes Kerens as boss and TINS
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 tllley
would consent to a compromise.
For over two hours the delegates
stood in the hot sun. cursing alternate
ly Fiuey and kerens, but all 70 no puI-
pose. Finally, however, the crowd be
came so bOisterous that it was feared
an attempt would be made to break
down the doors. and policemen We're
sent to restore order
At about II o'clock newspaper report
ers and telegraph operators were al
mitted to the convention hall, but the
delegates were kept on the outside
while a truce was being arranged be-
tween the factions a little after u
O'Clock a crowd of men wearing tIlley
hats cOngregated in the rear OF the
theater and attemptedtO smash in fhe
rear door. They used q batterlng ram
and glass was smashed
The sergeant-at- on the inside
telephoned for the police and a patrol
wagon full of officers was sent to the
scene The sergeant-a at arms was un-
able to identify the individuals using
violence and no arrests were made, but
the officers remained on guard
John L. 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
were made that both Filley and Kerens
viii be turned down when the conVen-
tion finally opens
Finally. however an agreement was
reached by which the doors We're OPEN
ed and the delegates allowed to enter.
The Filleyites claimed the victory and
said their boss was allowed to distrl-
butte all the tickets However it was
noticed that the Kerens delegates We're
allowed to enter the building short
lv after 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
I was offered and Mayor Worries well
/ coined the delegates to the city The
/ building was packed to the doors. but
I the DELEGATES seemed to have forgotten
I their wrath and aside from a few
/ bruised heads and black eyes, where
DELEGATES had been struck with police
] mems clubs in the row, there were no
| evidences of what had for a time
/ threatened to result in riot