The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-19
REVOLVERS WAITING FOR THE ROW.
The Smallest Spark Would Have Set
OFF Terrible Explosion-HouseU I'm
seated a Democrat--Senate Re
taliated by Deposing Two
Republicans.

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usurped the place of cool Judgment anc
sober thought. At times it looked as i
there might be an outbreak of mob vic
lcncc. When it became known outside
that the house had unseated Kaufman
Democrat, and that the senate had un
seated the Republicans, James and Wal
ton, the aspect looked so Threatening
that many of the great crowd that
thrOngcd the corridors made Il rush tC
get away. There was an unscemly rush
for the joint assembly door, which was
guarded by large body of armed men,
AT one time the explosive riot was al.
most had. That point would doubtless
| have been reached if the Republicans
| had attempted to force the unseated sen
ators into the joint assembly meeting.
Kaufman, the Democrat unscatcd by
| the house, was already in the hail.
Senator James, one of the unseatcd
senators, got in by strategy This left
one unscated Democrat and one unscat-
ed Republican in the joint assembly
hall. This made honors about even on
that score and tended to promote peace.
There were revolvers waiting, silent but
ready, at the hall door and anyone who
wanted trouble could have had it.
Within the hall the joint assembly
matters were made to run more smooth
ly by the ruling of Speaker Worthing-
ton that the clerk of each house should
call the roll for the vote of the house.
Once under way, the joint assembly
proceeded to business in true parlia-
mentary style. When it adjourned,
in good humor. The breaking of the
quorum indicates that this will be the
straight way of the parties throughout
the few remaining days and that neither
party will elect II senator.
After the house convened today the
Kauffman-Dunlap case came up. Al
though Mr.. Dunlap had withdrawn his
contest, the speaker ruled that the case
must take its course and Kaufman,
Democrat, was unseated by vote of 40
to 4G, the two Populists voting with the
Democrats. AS soon as the action of
the house in the Dunlap case was re-
ported to the senate, the Democrats
made move to retaliate by unseating
Senators James and Walton. The Re
publicans united in n motion to adjourn
and it was put amid the widest con
fusion. The lieutenant governor de-
clared the senate adjourned and the Re
publican members left the chamber in
II body. The Democrats then voted
Senators James and Walton ineligible
to seats in the senate-21 yeas, no nays.
Senator Bronston declared that neither
James nor Walton should ever get into
the joint assembly for United States
senator.
Senator James succeeded in leaving
the senate chamber before its vote to
unseat him was taken and entered the
house.
Senator Walton was not so fortunate
and he was refused admittance. On
one side of the door leading into the
house chamber stood the scrgenat-at-
arms of the house, while on the other
stood the sergeant-at-arms of the senate,
Jack Chinn, with jim Williams and sew
eral others The crowd in the cor
ridors and below in the Railways was
greatly excited and hard to restrain
When the joint assembly convened,
Speaker Blanford issued ordes that no
one others than members or persons en-
tilted to the privileges of the legislature
be admitted.
AT 1907 o'clock the door keeper an
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speaker, before recognizing the chair.
said with great heat that the doorkccper
had full control OF the door and no
other one had.
Mr.. Bronston declared that the ruling
was without precedent.
He shouted II move that Senator Goe-
bel be made presiding officer of the as
sembly."
A storm of ayes and nays arose. dur
ItpI,
ington appeared and took his seat and
raped for order and succeeded in quiet
ing the noise for n time.
Senator Sayler arose and made a
speech in which he implored members
never do anything that would disgrace
the State of Kentucky (cheers).
II am afraid that we have already
crossed the Rubcon," he said; "lct us
go no further"
A violent contest then arose as to
whether the clerk of the senate or the
house should call the roll for the joint
assembly. Speaker Blandford finally
ordered the clerk of each house to call
the roll of its members.
This was done, the clerk of the house
emitting to call the name of Mr.. Kauff-
man and the clerk of the senate omit
ing to call the names of McsSrs. James
and Walton.
me Dallot Tor senator was then begun
Senator Elliston voted for Carlisle, as
did Holloway, Noe, Sayler, Stevenson
Carroll, Rice, n. n. Speight, Violet and
Walker.
Burlington voted for Blackburn. while
Poore refused to vote. Il. c. Smith
voted for 5. C. Buckner The names
of James. Walton and Kaufman were
not called.
The Republicans refused to vote at
ALL with the object of breaking n quo
rum.
An exciting scene occurred Just before
the vote was announced. The roll of
absentees vas called and Flippen (Rep.)
who had been absent arose and started
to vote.
Speaker Blandford shouted to him to
sit down and not vote and he was finally
induced to do So The Democrats crit
icised Speaker Blandford for doing as
he had He declared he had Il right
to do as he had, because he was only
member of the joint assembly. The
ballot resulted as follows:
Blackburn 81, Carlisle 10. Buckner l.
The chair decided that as only 80
votes had been cast, there was no quo
rum and therefore no election.
Upon notice the assembly adjourned ut
once and the exciting events of the day,
which are without precedent in the Ken
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