Kansas City daily journal., 1897-02-12
POPS PROVOKED TO WRATH.
Republicans Use the Power Given
Them by the Rules to obstruct
IeRiSIatioH.

Topeka. .Kas., Feb. 11.-(Special.) The
first omnibus of bills introduced IN the
house was wrecked tonight, its contents
scattered. and the Populists cast upon the
rocks, angry and disconnected. The NIL
nority commenced nagging the majority by
raising the question of no quorum which
the sneaker ignored, at the suggestion OF
Sneaker Pro Tenn Weiep. Roll call was
Insisted upon, and a dragged-out calling OF
the names emINied the commlttee ana
cloak rooms For an hour the daily jour
nal was read until the patience of the pa
rents of local bills was worn out Then II
was that the fun commenced 1t appears
MIR. Trueblood. for the Populists, and Mr.;
Lobdell for the Republicans, had entered
into an agreement that no objections
should be raised by the majority 10 ofnhI- nm.
bussing local bills, which agreement Mr..
Lobdell failed 10 communicate TO the mi
nOrity.
acduiesced in and then, as the list of titles
proceeded. objections were made until q
dozen or more had been passed over. Ihen
one of the Populist brethren found ms pet
measure about to meet like fate, when he
asked for a separate roll call BY this time
the Republicans were ready to oppose any
thing and everything, and PHI atter Diil
the majority adjourned the house, the only
thing they could do. Speaker Street came
down from the stand; red faced and angry,
and with unusual vehemence declared that
not a bill originating on the Republican
side should be passed. Mr.. Fairchild, who
was in a tuneful mood, Joined the song ana
said he had always been fair. but from this
time on the minority should feel the pow
er of his majority. and that they might as
well go home. Mr.. Barkley declared his.
patience long since worn out and said that
henceforth he was the enemy Of all man
kind. excepting Populists. Mr.. Dingus
thought the time had come to exercise the
power possessed and do up the Repub-
leans ''if l only knew what to do
An impromptu caucus was held in the
center OF the hall, each man endeayoring
TO be heard, all talking at. once and all
seeking for the solution of the tangie into
which thay had been drawn They were
helpless and became more angry because
of their helplessness. Although only about
of whom We're ladies, Speaker Street or
dered the sergeant to have his en-
tire force present in the morning and not
open the doors until $50, and then to re-
fuse admittance to any except those en-
titled to the floor under the rules, and TO
refuse all passes.
AS they cooled down, dozens of plans
were offered and rejected. to circumvent
the enemy. 1t was found that the major
ity had made the rules and did not have
votes enough by ten to change them so
the majority could rule. They will shut
off all bills introduced by. the minority
unless they can secure these ten votes un-
when the rules will be amended so at any
time the majority can rule. AS the Repub-
licans are like herd of cattle in front of
blizzard, without organization, they hope
TO gather in the weak kneed or more anx-
ious ones Speaker Street and Mr.. Fair
child, the Populist caucus leaders, who con-
stitute the party in the house, declare they
will no longer permit the minority to stand
between the suffering people and needed
legislation.