National Republican., 1878-09-21
Cohen Trying to Cause a Strike.

slA ClOckt Nnen an SuOft WOuIu Oe HlAuV "
induce all the laborcrs In the District to strike
for uniform price for unslSilled labor, viz
Sl.5O per day. At the appointed time about |
$50 colored men assembled, but Isaac was
afraid TO venture within reach Of men at |
work. aud postponed the hour for marching |
until eleven o'clock. II was fully halfpast |
eleven, however, when Cohen announced his
readiness to proceed.
Before starting he made a short address to
his men, during which he said that the utter.
view printed in yesterday mornings Post wa,
a lie, US he had not seen q reporter Of that pa
per to speak with. lie did not intend that any
stores should be broken open. More could be
accomplished by a,ting In an orderly manner
than by violence. The following language was
used by the "Arkausls Tramp If any Of
you hear free; aCker 90 oil, don't be alarmed.
II big guns guns or artillery are used recollcct
that they eau be captured. l do not counsel
you 20 fight. but IL il becomes necessary for us
to defend ourselves | will bet doilMs that we
can get all the weapons we want" After Civ.
ing orders to the marshHls to see that orler was
preserved, Cohen gave the word Of command
and
4 PROCESSION
Of about $50 Of the worst element Of the city
started Of 10 the inspiring changing Of large
bell in O furniture wagon. Cohen aud his Sec
retary, Speer. with two other aids, occupied
seats iu an open barouche at the head Of the
mob. The former Wore n purple sash and
rosetto and a sword similar to those used by
Knights Templnrs. Speer differed from his
master only 10 the color OF his sash, which
was blue. Behind the hack was the furniture
wagon containing tho bell and several bGuners
one Of which boro these words: strike
Strike! strike! NJ one shall take your
place" Then came the foot soldiers, headed
by italian Tom" who has recently been re-
leased from the Albany peniteutiary.
Tho rabblc constituting the procession were
aTayCd In every conceivable style aud cut OF
garments. A whole coat or pair Of pants
was a novelty. Eagh striker carried u stick
or cane, and a numbcr had blankets strapped
acr1Ss their backs and small package of pro-
visions tied to the bundle. The route was as
follows: Up New jersey avenue to L street,
down 10 Fourth thence TO Indiania avenue,
passing Police Headquarters, down Sixth street
10 Pennsylvania avenue and Four-and-a.half
street. \ halt was ordered in front Of the
grocery OF Mr.. Frank Hume, who went on
Coheu's bond, aud Cuhen raising his hlt and
ilourishing his sword, proposed Three cheers
for Mr.. Hume" They were given with will,
after which the line OF march was resumed
down F0ur-and.a.half street to the Arsenal
gate A turn was made at this point aud the
mob started for the brick yards near James
Creek, at BuLZarl's Point
CJSTESTED wORKMES.
The workmen at the yards, who were resting
during the dinuer hour, rushed out to see
what the crowd meant, and were invited by
Cohen, Specr, and several Of the cOlored mar
shals to join them. The wurkmen, however,
did not take kindly to this proposition, and
| answered: We're at work now, but ii we iine
| you fellows wei! got uJt!ing." What docs
you fellows expect to get, anyhow CVLon
ia gwiac to git all your money You dare
| 10 come In dis yard, and we'll make 1t warm
for you" Look at dat fellow on lie horse :;
ain he purity somebody, now" "Nou can't
fool VS. Cohen" Hello! Jake; leu me five
| cents to Eit Il lonf Of bread = 90 work Tor
it, Niger, aud stop lis paraIin'; we'sc men
| hyar on dc navy.yard has TO work for our
| moueT.'
These remarks did not suit Isaac and he
sRily ordered his discounted tGttcr.dcmsl-
| ions TO march Oh. At last the crowd reach cd
| Their time was limited, however, aud iu
obedience to their leader they marched down
! to the navy-yRrd gate, which was closed. They
| then turned up Eight street cast RAl made q
| break for some lubOrers at work Uu q sewer al
the corner Of Eight aud c streets northeast
| 4 strong force Of police were on duty IT. THU
| place, and the mob, after indGlging in cvnsid
CRADLE groaninE, turned into MassAchusett:
avenue and halted ut the corner OF Seventh
| street. During their entire tramp not singl,
laboreT left his work to join their band, so tha
| Cohen doubtless realizes at last that the true
wOrKmcn are moi IN sympathy with his move
| lnent.
| ANOTHER MEETING AT THE CITY HALL.
| The procession WAS reformed about four
o'clock and passed through the northern and
northeastern portions Of the city. 1t was
| expected that there would be large addition
to their ranks Ia SwampO0dlc but the whit,
laOorcrs in that section could not be induced
to join the strikers. After Il long discussion
with his assistants, Cohen decided to hold
meeting at the City Hall in the evening, anC
his tried followers were dismissed uutil cigh
o'clock. At the appointed time au auiienc
smaller in numbers than any that Isaac ha
addressed since he began his Crusad
assembled and listened TO remarks frOu
the same old speakers. There We're hardly
more than hundred present. They all ap
pcarod rather discouraged ut the result o
their days labors, and, judging from their ut
terances the bottom Is out Of the Cohel
movement" In conversation with a REpUB
LICAS SrepIesentativCIu last evening, Cohen dCnie,
that his work In this city had any politica
significance or that lie was influenced by an,
motive other than for the welfare Of the IN
skillcd lAbOrers OF the District. Cohen statet
that he intended to leave Washington shortly
as he has had numerous invitations to visi
the prominent Northern cities and address til
wJrkiugmen. He also said that the people 0
this country like to he "humbugged, which /
not very complimentary to himself The col
ored man who tOlled the bell for the past tw
, days failed to receive his money and seize
the bell, which he says he will hold until hi
account Is squared. The amount due is :3.
THE sESsATIONAL REPOETs
of the proceedings Of C0hen's mob, printed Il
this city aud telesraphud to other cities, ar
greatly deprecated by the wiser portion Of Uu
citizens, as creating unnecessary alarm au
attaching too great Significance to an Rlai
, which has not at any time assumed yer,
threatening aspect and appears now to hav
, collapsed The statement published BY th
Post yesterday to the effect that Cohen ha
: called upon certain Eroccrs and threatened
take what ho wanted for his followers, II II va
G not given to him, was found upon inquiry {
! the grocers named to be without foundation.
i A representative of q prominent BaltimOI
! paper was sent to this city last evening f
. the purpose Of writing reports Of the proceed
I iuEs Oi the "riOtoIs;" :" but when he saw I'll
= magnificent handful of men at Cohen's meet
n ing he was thoroughly diSgustcd with h
: task. The officials OF the police deFartmcI
!, feel entirely confident Of their ability to cheC
u any disturbance that may occur, and do NJ
anticipate any trouble The number Of Cohen
followers has dwindled very peTCepub
during the past two days, and unless
e changes his tactics he will soon be left withO1
q disciple,
A detachment Of artillery from Fort Nj
{. Henry arrived last evening aud is qunrtert
nj tho arsenal In Fpnly a an iuuuiry fro