The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-09-27
(By Associated Press Leased Wire)

(By Associated Press Leased Wire)
Oklahoma City.-The military occu-
patton of the state capitol building,
intended to prevent the scheduled con-
vening of an extra session of the lower
house of the state legislature at noon,
had been completed at $3.50 o'clock.
1t was estimated approximately 100
guardmen were in the building. Every
corridor, every outside entrance and all
driveways in the immediate vicinity
were patrolled.
statement warning house members
not to carry to the capitol building
'any weapon even so small as a pen
knife" was issued by w. D. McBee,
leader in the special session program
to legislators gathering to go to the
capitol at noon.
No Force by Solons.
Mr.. McBee declared "there must be
not the least thing provocative in our
attitude" He said final plans provided
for the house members to go to the
capitol s.ngly. He said the first meet
| ing place would be on the fourth floor
Of the building, before the doors 20
The house chamber.
Evry one entering the building was
oh 4llenged Attaches assisted guards
to identify regular employees and state
officials. NeWspapermen were required
to present credentials signed by Gov.
j. C. Walton.
Military headquarters had been es-
tablished on the first floor of the ro-
tunda. The house chamber is on the
fourth floor. The capitol grounds were
kept clear by the military. No cars
were allowed to enter the grounds.
The members of the Oklahoma state
legislature left their hotel shortly af-
ter 10 o'clock for the state capitol.
John L. Graham, assistant Oklahoma
City POSTMASTER, notified McBee that he
had received instructions today from
the acknowledgement that the post
Office could not be used for any bust
ness other than governmental. McBee
assured him that the legislators chad
never thought of using the federal
building" for the proposed session.
Legislative headquarters in down
town hotel were emptied at 10:15, all
house members dispensing to meet la
ter at the capitol
Col. Key Reads Order.
Col. VIM. S.. Key, military command
er of Oklahoma county, at 11:58 this
morning read to members of the lower
house of the state legislature the or
der of Gov. Walton, forbidding the as
semblage of "any or all members of
the legislature during the present per-
iod of unrest" He ordered the legis-
lators to dispense Immediately and re-
fused to amplify or explain his order
in any manner when approached by
leaders of the lower house.
The lawmakers began to dispense i'm
mediately without any show of resist
ance to the order of the military com
mander. AT 1905 all the legislators
mad left the corridor outside the house
chamber and the military were alone
in command of the building.
Col. Key rad his ordrs to the assem-
blage outside the house chamber.
There was no violence or bloodshed.
The house members gathered before
the entrance to the house. chamber
We're given a firm and curt order by
Col. Key not to attempt to assemble.
AS the legislators left their hotel for
, the capitoB w. E. Dinsey, state repre-
sentative from Muskogee county, an
nounced "a names had been signed to
the petition for the extraordinary SEES
sion.