Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1893 — THE TOPEKA TROUBLE. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE TOPEKA TROUBLE.

TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES EFFECTED* The Populists Will Net Attempt to Recapture Representative Hall, hut Will Let the Courts Act—A Proposition Submitted to the Governor. Dogs of War Called Off. It seems now quite probable that the Kansas legislators’ unrivaled specialty performance of burlesque legislation

is not to terminate in red and horrent war. The comedy feature will be kept up to the close. It predominated on Thursday. The Governor, in his capacity a? first officer of the State, ordered his militiamen out to protect the Populist cause, but the militiamen, though they did appear on

the scene, gently but firmly declined to protect. They would go home first. Later the Governor, was politely requested by the Sheriff of Shawnee County to keep his hands off. “I wish to inform you," said the Sheriff to the Governor, “that your action is without my consent.” Finding that his soldiers wouldn’t obey him, and that the Shawnee Sheriff simply bade him get hence and be hanged to him, the Governor has called his forct s away from the House of Representatives, where they had been laying siege to a group of Republicans, bereft of light, heat and food. Wherefore the Populists will content themsolves with hiring a hall down town and hold their legislative sessions apart from rude and Interfering foes. It would seem now that, with two houses of representatives in full blast, several armed farmers, a few troops,

and the Sheriff of Shawnee, Kansas ought to he able to take care of herself. And then she has a Goverhor, too, albeit his subjects are manifestly disinclined to be governed. It is . not likely that blood wlll ( be shed by any general collision,, whatever may hap-

pen between hot-headed individuals. A correspondent says; “The spectacle exhibited at Topeka is disgraceful. The Populist party has defied the peace authorities of the county and resisted arrest. The Republicans have thrown themselves into an active and open de-

fiance of the highest authority of the State. Speaker Duusmore said that the Populist House would continue to hold sessions In the basement of the State House and latey, if the trouble is not settled soon, another hall would be hired. He said the House had no longer anything to do with the scheme to recapture the hall; that was now wholly in the hands of the Governor, and what he proposed to do nobody knew’ or could know. The serious portion of the controversy may be regarded as ended for the next twenty-four hours at least. The Governor has gone home to sleep and so has the Sheriff. The commander of the militia being no longer “In It” and being even without a base-ball bat, has nothing more to say. By to-morrow the cruel war will all bo over. The Populist House, in its session in the basement, formally resolved against the letter-carriers carrying provisions to the Republicans upstairs. The whole letter-carrier force of Topeka was employed in the work. The men, with well-filled bags, would appear in their gray uniforms and demand admittance to the state-house. United States District Attorney Ady and the United States Marshal were both on hand to see that they were not molested in their duties. They were not, of course, but It Is no secret that their bags contained provender. , In fact, the letter-carriers make no secret of what they were doing. Attorney General Little said that no attempt would be made to remove the Republicans from Representative Hall by tho Governor. “The Sheriff has organized a mob,” said he, “and threatens to pounce down upon the militiamen in the State House. The men in the Capitol are trembling with fear for the consequences of an attack of this kind, and we will do nothing to precipitate it. The Sheriff’s mob is armed with guns and clubs, and there is no telling what they will do If they should assault the military. The Populists will do business in another hall, and the military will be used to protect them there; if any attempt is made to disturb them the Governor will defend them at all hazards. ”

Representatives Rawson and Gruble, members of the Populist House, attended the afternoon’s session. They said that sixty-four members, one more than a quorum, were present. Roth of them were asked what would they do in ease the Supreme Court decided the Douglass House to be a legal organization, and both replied that they would abide by the decision of the court. Th,ey insisted, however, that the court lidd no right to interfere. Cause of All the Yrouble. In the present Legislature of Kansas the Senate consists of twenty-five Populists and fifteen P.epublicans. It is claimed that the House consists of sixty-four Republicans, fifty-nine Populists and two Democrats. On joint ballot, it is claimed, there are eightyfour Populists, seventy-nine Republicans and two Democrats. The Republicans have a majority and a quorum in the House. But the Populists allege that four Republicans who were defeated at the polls procured certificates of election through fraud and hold seats on the Republican side of Representative hall. The Populist “House" declared these Republican usurpers not entitled to seats, and seated the contestants on their own side of the hall. This action gave the Populists sixty-Jhree members on their side, with only sixty on the Republican side. But the Republicans in dispute still sit with their side and vote. So each wing has an alleged quorum. The rival houses have been making faces at each other ever since their organization, but up to Tuesday no blows were struck. It was announced that thousands of Republicans from various parts of the State were rushing to Topeka and will le in the ranks defending the Republican House. Along with this came ths information that trsinloads of Populiata

wePe expected. Another report hi to the effect that the Republicans challenged the Governor to submit the legal points at issue to the State Supreme Court, and that he replied, in substance, that he would submit nothing to a Republican court. On the other hand, It is reported that he challenged the Republicans to await the passage of an appropriation act, and then teat Its validity In the courts. This was declined. In the meantime the Populist Legislature appropriated money for current expenses and the Republicans enjoined the State Treasurer from making payments. He is a Populist, and said he should disobey the injunction. Still, he and his bondsmen did not like to assume the responsibility, and he has not yet let any of the money go. The county treasurers are taking advantage

of the confusion, and may refuse to pay tax collections to the State Treasurer. Peffer Says “Starve the. Rebels." Governor Towelling has been deluged with telegrams from Populists in all parts of the State tendering assistanct In the way either of money or men. Among the dispatches received were the following: Guard the State safely. Starve the rebeli out. W. A. Peffeb, John Davis. Pittsburg (Kan.) is ready with 1,000 men tt sustain you in standing up for Kansas. citizens’ Committee. fall on Jewell County for men or money ready. 0 M. Ross, M. R. Sutherland. Should the exigency require, Montgomerj County will furnish a regiment of 1,000 men tt sustain you in enforcement of law and order. R. P. Kebchival. Miami County is with you; stay with them W. T. Smith. Chairman.

SPEAKER DOUGLASS

REPRESENTATIVE RYAN

THE STATE CAPITOL, TOPEKA.

GOV. LEWELLING.