The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-05-17
DANCER IN CROWDS.

). deputy marshals is TIE extreme danger
OF allowing men to gather in crowds dur.
Ing time Of excitement. Feelings Of a
comparatively calm aud moderate char.
actef are easily changed by the magne-
tism Of crowd into something very
much stronger. Disapproval quickly
becomes anger, and anger madness.
II would seem to be the case that a
number of residents, anxious to see the
Coxeyites get out Of town, had made up
their minds that the railroad, having
brought them here, was bound to take
them away. This Is undoubtedly the
feeling that gave rise to the interest TAX
en- In the Coxeyites' movements by many
responsible citizens. The workingmen
we're, with very few exceptions, in
hearty sympathy with the ''army." Many
did not stop TO consider whether the rail-
road could have helped itself, or whether,
II II could, 1t was not doing the wisest
thing possible by failing to scrutlnize it's
brakebeams too closely.
The trouble arose from the decision on
the part Of the deluded reformers that
they were the people, the people we're the
government, andthat, If they were nu-
merous enough, they could ride to WASH
ington on the cars without paying;
whether the railroad was willing to carry
them or not. When this idea got firmly
into their heads. they bad no man among
them with the sense and authority to
keep them In hand. They perched them
selves 10 large numbers on the tops OF the
cars, and would not allow the train to 10
on without them. They thus made il
necessary for the railroad to take notice
Of them. and forced the position. They,
and everybody else, knew that II they
had gone in small numbers and without
making themselves insolently conspicu-
Gus. the railroad men would not have
seen them. Their action amounted to q
seizure Of the train, and when they pro-
ceeded to take control q the brakes.
casuistry itself could make nothing but
lawlessness Of their conduct.
II is well to put these men just where
they belong. They knowingly took what
they had no right to take, and, trusting
in their numbers. and reckless Of conse-
quences, they refused to give it up, and
defied the law.
Scores Of them are known to have re-
fused work at wages that would have
kept them during these hard times, be-
cause, forsooth, they wanted to 20, some
Of them to Washington, and others ''back
East" They deliberately made tramps
of themselves, nothing else. Many, no
doubt. were decent men, but they were
in bad company. They we're ordered of
the cars by the marshals, who were legal
ly 10 charge Of the train, and they refused
10 60. What remained to be done +?
Either to vindicate the law or submit to
anarchy.
When force has to be employed il is
idle to look for consijerate treatme 1t.
Either the marshals or the tramps had to
get of the train. The marshals started
in to put the tramps off, and they resist.
ed-they were flung of. This is precisely
what they had to expect, and what they
deliberately laid themselves liable to.
There is no doubt or denial OF the fact
that number of citizens ardently en-
Outraged the tramps and noisily urged
them to resist the msrshals. The crowd
was by no means representative Of the
responsible element Of the city's popula-
ton; but, while there were many hobos,
and while the indiscreet youth, who loves
row OF any kind. were out in force,
there were also many respectable citizens
present. When the Coxeyites began to
fly from the top Of the cars whether they
jumped off or were knocked Off they did
not all land on their feet. They hit the
ground, many Of them very hard. and
the feelings Of the onlookers got worked
up. 1t seemed to them brutal; and the
sympathy always given to the under dog
was added to that already felt by many
for the tramps. When revolvers began
to crack and the men came down quicker
and harder, the crowd became frantic.
It did not stop to consider the legality or
necessity Of the marshals' action, the
mere blood brotherhood with the men on
the ground forced the sympathy of the
crowd into active participation. One
man yelled out his indignation, another
and another followed, the excitement got
to fever heat, stones were hurled at the
officers, cries of "Kill theml" "Hang
themw began to be heard, and, had the
train not moved out and left the crowd to
expend its sympathies on the disem bark
ed Coxeyites, there might have been
terrible dark and bloody stain on the
fair name Of the city. 1t was bad enough
as it was, but 1t was narrow escape from
something very much worse.
Had there been no crowd to applaud
and abet the lawbreakers they would
have got OF the train when ordered, as
they did in the forenoon; and there were
enough marshals to have kept them from
getting on again. II the marshals we're
unnecessarily rough 1t Is not to be won
dered At. The tramps had armed them.
selves with clubs, and used them, and
the supposedly decent and law-abiding
on-lookers were hurting insulting and
abusive epithets at the officers OF the law,
while they also as madly encouraged the
tramps. Thus the crowd was responsible
for much that occurred, including the
manning Of tramps and officers. This is
q nasty thing to be at the doors Of our
citizens-but does it not lie there2 No
good can come Of shutting our eyes to the
truth.