The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-22
Colorado Situation Shows No Signs of a Peaceful
 Nature
DEMOCRATS CONTINUE ID
 HOLD ON IN THE SENATE
They Are Sleeping on Cots, With Pc Iicemen and Deputy Sheriffs to Protect Them-Joint Session
 Fails to Produce Results.

Denver Col. January a-There were rumors of all kinds and plenty of war like preparations at the state house to- night. Early in the evening the story gained credence that a body of armed men was hidden some where in the state house with the purpose of seizing the chamber of the house of representatives some time during the night with the ob- ject of holding it in the interest of one of the senatorial candidates. The house chamber has heretofore been guarded by three or four men and early this morning ladders are said to have been found in one of the side corridors, reaching to a window communicating with the house gallery It is also said that half a dozen men who were in the vicinity of the lad ders ran when discovered
 This incident gave color to the rumor of an intended armed attack upon the chamber tonight To guard against such a move Sergeant-at-arms Plummer placed thirty armed men under charge of as- sistant sergeant-at-arms, sherman Bell, who was member of -.oosevelts Rough Riders, in the chamber, with instructions to protect 1t at all hazards. Shotguns and large calibre revolvers are in evil dence and it Is not thought likely that a. capture will be attempted, even if 1t has been planned.
 Democrats Hold Fort.
 The democratic members of the senate are still in session, although most of them went to sleep upon cots early In the evening. They are protected by a score of policemen and deputy sneriffs. A joint session of the two branches of the general assembly for the election of United States senator was held today but only democratic members participant ed in the vote and there was no election. After concurring in adjournment of the house until o'clock Friday the demo- cratic members proceeded 10 the senate chamber, where the joint session was called to order by Senator Adams. tenn porary president of the democratic fac ton of the senate. There were present twenty-sx senators and twenty-five rep resentatives a total of lfty-one, all democrats, which is the number required to elect a senator. Senator Theo Me- Guire, democrat, retired after the session had refused to excuse him from voting, leaving only fifty members present.
 Some members objected to the proceed lngs on the ground that the joint session was irregular, and five democrats besides Mcclure refused to vote, On the joint ballot forty-five votes were cast, all be- ing for Henry M Teller.
 The joint session then adjourned until noon tomorrow.
 Any Action May Be Void.
 The republican leaders say that any ac- ton the joint session may take will be illegal and invalid, as the house had ad- fourned nntfI Friday In order O give the two senates q chance to make peace.
 After the house adjourned without per- hitting a joint session, the point was raised that no ballots taken on Sundays would be valid, because the provisions of the statutes had not been compiled with today. The legal advisers or the house managers said they were satisfied after & careful examination of federal and state constitutions that 1t was not necessary for the assembly to meet today to com pare the journals if it did not see ft It was admitted that when the two houses did meet, it would be necessary to go ahead with the balloting and that one ballot must be taken on each legislative day thereafter.
 The republican senators held an execu- tive session today, Lieutenant Governor Haggott presiding, and at the conclusion the members said there was nothing to give out" They adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow.
 All efforts to bring the two senates to- gether have proved unavailing.