Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 October 1890 — HOT TIMES IN GUTHRIE. [ARTICLE]

HOT TIMES IN GUTHRIE.

An Attempt Made by Excited People to Hang a Representative; j THurAday was a day of extreme excitement in the legislature at Guthrie, I. T., he occasion being the consideration of toe bill for the permanent location of the territoriol capital. The Lower House yesterday passed the bill locating toe capital at Oklahoma City. Before action had been taken on the bill in the Upper A motion in the Dower House to the action of yesterday was adopted. The friends of the measure, however, prevailed! upon Speaker Daniels to sign the bill after the vote on reconsideration, and Representative Perry, Who had quietly himself of the bill, was hurrying over to the chamber of the Upper House, to obtain, the signature of the presiding officer of that body. The vigilant enemies of the measure observed the move and the legislative body became a howling, mob. The spectators joined the members On the floor and an attack was made upon Speaker Daniels and it wa ß * demanded of him, in a peremptory manner, that he sees to it that the bill be returned to the clerk. Daniels referred the crowd to Perry, who was just about to escape from the hall and who, in the meantime, had handed the hill to Representative Nesbitt. Perry ran into the street with the mob at his heels. He was quickly caught. Someone cried “hang him.” The cry was taken up and became general. The crowd was in earnest. Perry begged for mercy and turned his pockets out. “Nesbitt has the bill,” he cried. Nesbitt was in the crowd and a rush was made for him. Perry, with his inside out pockets flapping in the breeze, joined in the chase. Nessbitt kept ahead of the mob for four blocks. Then his strength failed him and he surrendered. He was marched back to the representative hall where he was compelled to deposit the bill on tho Clerk’s desk. Speaker Daniels took the bill, and, accompanied by W. H. Thompson of the News as a witness, repaired to the governor’s mansion, where, in the presence of the governor, he erased his name, saying: “I signed this bill under a misapprehension,” luthe meantime CaDt. Kavanaugh, post commander, and U. S. Marshall Grimes appeared in representative hall and calmed the excited crowd, which still demanded the punishment of Perry and Nesbitt. Dispatches from Guthrie, Friday, say: The excitement over the capital location con tinued on the 3d. After the demonstration against Messrs. Daniels, Perry and Nesbitt, Tuesday evening, had subsided, S. R. Mitchell, city attorney of Oklahoma City; who chanced to be In town sent this telegram to one of his friends at home: “Your Representatives were mobbed on the street to-day. Send one hundred armed men.” The armed men arrived on the first train Thursday morning and were among the first to secure seats of vantage in the hall ! of the lower house before that body met in its regular session. Fully twice as many friends of the Guthrie measure, equally strongly armed, were also present. Their presence caused intense feeling, and it would have taken but the slightest outbreak to have caused serious trouble* Speaker Daniels was too ill, suffering from nervous exhaustion, caused hy toe exciting scene of which he was the center, Wednesday, to preside over the session. , As soon as the House was called to order Representative Terrell * introduced a resolution, calling attention to the presence of armed men in the chamber declaring their presence to he undesirable, and directing toe Sergeantsat-arms to eject all spectators, newspaper men excepted. The resolution was voted down—2o to 50. Consid* erihg a probability of a repetition of the riotous scenes of the 3d it was deemed advisable to postpone further action on toflUapitol question. A.reporter called to see Speaker Daniels. He was utterly prostrated, and consented to an interview against his physician’s advice. He said, in substance: “I have stood by Oklahoma City as long as I think 1 can. I signed that bill under a misapprehension and I have so informed the Governor.” The Speaker was very weak, but he sum* mctned up strength sufficient to write a communication to the House stating toe facts in his interview. He also framed a resolution providing for the recall of toe bill from the Senate. When this resolution is presented a lively time is expected. The Oklahoma City force is still on toe ground; and its motto Is, “Fair play fqr Oklahoma City.” The Guthrie force is determined that its city shall also have fair play, and unless both agree as to what constitutes fair play, trouble will doubtless ensue.