The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-12
BEGINS ITS WORK
The First POpulist Legislature
of Kansas
Formally Opens Its Session at
Noon Today.
is WITHOUT INCIDENT.
The Opening Characterized By
Unusual SOmnOlency.
Adjournment Taken at Two
O'Clock Until Three.

=
state of Kansas opened at noon today
People began pouring into the hall OF
the house of representatives at half
past ten to witness the opening.
In a few moments the hall was filled,
but the members got together and au-
thorized the sergeant-at-arms to clear
the room of all persons except members
and newspaper reporters and employees
The galleries We're thrown open and
were soon filled The secretary of state
announced Sergeant-at-arms Duns
more has failed to provide tickets of
admission to the hall, and we are be-
ing besieged by persons who demand
an entrance 1 have no authority to
prevent them. What am L to do?"
A dozen members sought the speaker
pro tenn, and arrangements were soon
made to keep the general public off the
floor.
In the galleries men sat with their
hats on, although there were many Ia
dies present. Smoking was not per-
mitted in the ladies' gallery, but it rose
in thick clouds from cigars and pipes
on the floor and in the east gallery,
where a dozen women occupied seats
among several hundred men.
John SeatOn of AtchisOn was the first
Republican member to enter the house.
He was soon followed by Hackbusch of
Leavenworth, eX-Speaker LObdell and
the Republican members, who took seats
on the south side. George j. Barker
Il
inclination born during a former term
as representative, went over on the
north side, sitting down as near as pos
sible in the vicinity of his old place.
Newt Try of Bourbon knows all the
Populist members, and he was busy
among them, as were J. K. Cubbison
and a few others. w. B. Swan of To-
peka dropped in to see the changes since
he was there in 1890, and w. NJ. Glenn
of Greeley came to talk among his old
friends,
Ben c. Rich put on his little skull
cap and was busy looking after the
comforts of the new speaker. whose
clerk he will be.
Before the session was opened
Speaker w D. Street went over on the
Republican side and shook hands with
the members.
The majority of the house members
wear whisl1ers Of some kind. However,
the majority do not wear front hair.
The crowds in the gallery were rest
less and were coming and going all the
time.
The preliminary work of organizing
the house began at ten minutes past
u, when Secretary of State w. E. Bush
raped for order. The hum of con-
VersatfOn ceased Immediately, members
sought their seats and in a remarkably
short time, what had been a noisy,
chattering crowd became an orderly
and dignifed body.
The second man to lift up his voice
in prayer on behalf of the representa-
tives was Rev. o. L. Smith, who, con-
trary to all known presidents, was
brief.
Mr. Bush then called the roll of mem
Der, whereupon the beauty, intellect,
corpulency and wisdom of the house
lined up before the speakers desk in
blocks of twenty, taking the oath of
Office which was administered by ASSO-
ciate Justice S. H. Allen of the supreme
court. Then the members in numeri-
cal order, by districts, signed the roll
of the house.
w. C. Jamison of Usage, c. A Max
well of Grant and J. w. Clark of Thorn
as, all Populists, were the absent mem
bers. Mr.. Maxwell has been sick for
several months and has been in a hos
pftal at Buffalo, N. Y, during the past
four months However, he will resume
his legislative duties next week.
The sergeant alarms, during the
swearing of the members, requested |
some young men to stop smoking. This
the members did as soon as the first
rap for order was heard at the open
ing.
The two silver Republican members
are J. NJ. Doyle, Republic, and Chas. |
l.. Brown, Cowley. Ed T. Hackney of |
sumner, u P. Tapscott, Hamilton JOS |
eph E. BaSgall, Ellis, EdMard Jauuins
Cowley, L. Palenske, Alma E c. Well |
ep, Anderson, and J. c. Simmons, Cher |
okee, are the Democratic members.
}. l. Cox, the delegate from Norton /
county was the last man to take the |
oath which was administered to him |
separately.
Barley of Elk. moved that w. f.
Brown of Pratt, be elected temporary
speaker. The Republicans, by ]. K.
Cubbison. made a motion that Brown |
oe elected by reclamation. A second to |
the motion also came from the Repub- |
lican side.
Barley of Howard, Keefer of .I,eav-
enWorth, and Cubbison of Wyandotte. |
escorted Mr. Brown to the chair Bark
ley performed the introduction. Mr.
Brown suggested that the house was
not assembled for bombast" and he |
would therefore make no speech.
w. p Trueblood of Usage was nonni-
n Ilts 1or temporary secretary, and on
motlon OF Theodosius Botkin Republi- |
can or Keno, was elected by acciama |
ton Mckenzie of Morris, not a mem
Der of the house, was elected assistant
secretary. - o7iie
Barley of Elk, moved that the house
Sno+e. 70 permanent organization
0eaton OF Atchison, was hungry ana |
moved an amendment to adioI1ro ,1-+i1
2:30 for lunch. 'oui ultll
The motion to adjourn was clearly
carried, but was declared lost. and tbe
mouse, after a hearty laugh at Mr.
Brown's determination to continue
work, took up the election of a sneeireT.
Barkley of Elk, who had been dele
gated to carry out the Populist callcIs
plans. in as few words as possible nom
mated w. D. Street of Decatur.
Barker of Douglas said: MIR.
speaker, desire to place in nominal
ft1on Tor speaker, Charles E. Lobdell of
uRne County"
Street was elected on the first
the vote being:
-.--.........-....74
III ..... AZ
fact that ex-spealker Lobdell
for Mr.. Street for speaker caused |
to vic 1e-1xv