The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-22
SENATE BREACH IN RHODE ISLAND
 STILL WIDENS
Troops Are Tinted If Re- calcitrant Republicans
 Hold Out

PROVIDENCE, R. l., June N.-- (By Associated Press. 1.-The breach In the ranks of the state Senate, created yesterday when it's republican members left the state was still unhealed tonight. The Senate was in recess until next Tuesday, and the deserted democrats throughout the day gathered in little groups to discuss ways and means Of getting their republicans back again. Leaders of both parties declared there was little hope of peace.
 As the result of conference today at the invitation of the Providence Chamber of Commerce between repre- sentatives of civic and business or ganizations of the state, committee was appointed to seek conferences with both parties, Ito endeavor to devise some method for alleviating the present situation"
 Demand Protection
 A bundle of .acid-soaked papers, fumes from which sickened members, was placed in the Senate chamber last Thursday, and yesterday the republic an state committee announced that the republicans, fearful of their safety, had fled to another state and would sit in no more sessions until assurances of their protection were given by the democratic presiding officer, Lieut.. Gov. Felix A. Toupin. The two groups have been in legislative strife since last January, the republican majority refusing to approve a popular referen- dunn on the calling of a constitutional convention, and the democrats in reply refusing to consider any other busi- ness.
 It was announced today that the party leaders would confer with Gov. William s. Flynn tomorrow on legal steps to meet the situation. Among the possibilities, it was ex- plained, were these the indictment of Jonathan Andrews, the high sheriff of Providence county, for permitting the republicans to leave the Jurisdiction of it's state, and of William c. Pelkey, chairman of the republican state cen tral committee, for urging them to do so; watchful waiting for return of the republicans to the chamber and their forcible detention there.
 Trial Would Delay Even if indictment could be drawn, the democrats said, it probably would be impossible to have the necessary i jury trial before next October As to l the second proposal, Mir. Pelkey told ESpOEIcfS LudL, tuc TepuOIlCduS WOulu not return until a guarantee of safety was given them. One democrat said that if the republicans returned and Sher- if Andrews refused to act against them, the governor might go to extremes and call out the state guard to enforce his orders and those of the lieutenant gov ernor.
 A statement signed by the p repub- lican senators was given out by the state committee today. In it they ac- cused the lieutenant governor of using oppressive tactics as presiding officer and of failing to presrve order. They declared they would not attend the senate sessions until such time as we receive adequate assurances that orderly and constitutional methods of parliamentary procedure will be re- stG red"
 It was learned today that on account of the senate crisis Governor Flynn would not attend the democratic na- tional convention in New York city where he was expected to go as chair man of the Rhode Island delegation. Lieutenant Governor Toupin, second in rank to the governor on the delega- tion, also would stay in Providence, 1t was said, and their places would be filled by alterDates.