Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-21
URGE REPUBLICANS.
UNITE MORE CLOSELY
IN ORGANIZATION
DEADLOCK
IN R. !. IS NEARING
STATE OF CHAOS

Providence. r. T.. June 20-(By A.
P.-The senate ship of state, long
stranded upon the rocks of deadlock.
lost over half its crew today due to
the exploding of a poison gas bomb
in the senate chamber yesterday. All
those affected had recovered but u
or the " Republican members kept
away, and the Democrats, hampered
py the absence of a quorum, came
together only to assail their Repub-
lcan colleagues and to declare O re-
cess until next Tuesday.
FIFTEEN of the Republicans were
arrested yesterday. by High Sheriff
Jonathan Andrews when they had
refused to resume their seats at the
request of Lieut.. Governor Felix A.
Ioupin, Democratic president of the
senate. Today William C. Pelker,
chairman of the Republican State
central committee, announced that
he had advised the Republican sena-
tors 10 leave the state to escape
probable violence" in the senate.
Only one Of them, Senator Harry A.
Sanderson of Johnston. appeared at
the minority session, and the where
abouts of his colleagues remained a
mystery.
Charges and counter charges flew
thick and fast during the day. Mr..
Pelker asserted that thugs and gum
men were circulating among senate
spectators to the peril of Republi-
cans and by the connivance of
Democrats. Lieut.. Gov. Toupin de-
clared from the rostrum that Sheriff
Andrews was guilty of treason and
of malfeasance in permitting the ar
rested Republicans to leave his GUS
tody. Governor Flynn, Democrat,
assailed the sheriff for disobeying
Mr.. Toupin and fostering a spirit of
lawlessness."
Investigation of the gas bomb
remnants, assistant Attorney General
George Hurley announced, showed
that the machine was skilfully con-
structed from a laboratory testube
and was filled with liquide bromine.
The test tube was packed in cotton,
he said. and was probably broken by
being stepped upon. His department,
he added, had secured Significant
, facts" as tosthe bombs origin. which
could not now be disclosed.
Hundreds of spectators were
crowded into the senate chamber as
the lieutenant governor and Demo-
cratic leaders entered it, and they
applauded vigorously. Senator San
derson, who was present avowedly
to raise the question of quorum
should the Democrats attempt to
transact business, demanded a roll
call when the motion to recess was
put. but the presiding officer ruled
him out of order.
When Sheriff Andrews was asked
by reporters as to the whereabouts
of the Republican senators, he said
he didn't know.
"A doctor certified they were not
we'll enough to attend the senate
sessions" lie said. land 1 shall not
attempt to force them to attend I'M
til he has certified that they have
recovered. If they have left the
state 1t was without my permission.
To conduct O search for them I
should need additional appropria-
tons.
The Democratic and Republican
groups have been at loggerheads for
months because the latter would not
vote favorably upon the formers
measure for a popular referendum
on the calling of a convention for
revision of the state constitution. In
retaliation the Democrats refused TO
take up the calendar and the lieut.
enant governor has SO far refrained
from recognizing the Republicans.
Appropriations bills. a forty-eight
hour labor law and other important
measures have thus far been side
tracked by filibustering and other
political maneuvers.
A free-for-all fight occurred In the
chamber last Tuesday when the
Republicans attempted to seize con-
troll of the chair. and the flibuster
which ensued lasted until the "gass-
ing" of the chamber yesterday morn
ing.