Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-08-10

rlir" CoNMoNWnAlERs Governor
3'Fcrral is not satisfied with the re-
ports that the "commonw ealers," who
have been encamped near Rosslyn, in
this county, for the past month or so,
ere gradually deserving that camp and
leaving the county. He wants them to
80 at once, and will SO have it. Adit.
Gen. c. J. Anderson, accompanied by
Lieut.. 5. l.. Monroe aud Sergeant J..
NIarbury, of the Alexandria Light IN.
tAntry, paid an official visit TO the
camp at Rosslyn yesterday evening.
Gen. Anderson called for the gen
erals, but they were absent, and had a
talk with ''Colonels" Hamilton and
Ninetta and some of the minor officers
There are no privates. The men said
they had been misled into coming, but
seemed to be at loss as to where to
90. Gen. Anderson then assembled
the men around him aud read to them
proclamation issued by Governor
O'Ferrall ordering them to leave the
soil of Virginia The proclamation sets
forth that:
Whereas thousand or more persons
from without the Commonwealth, call
Ing themselves "Iudustrials' or Com.
monwealers," under the command of
men styling themselves generals"
have been encamped for several weeks
on The Potomac river in the county Of
Alexandria, that whereas the said per-
sons perform no labor, follow no trade,
occupation or business, and have no
visible means OF subsistence, and are
daily sent out into the surrounding
country in squads to beg aims, and re-
fuse work when same is offered at uSu
al wages: and as frequent violations OF
law have occurred in the vicinity of
their encampment since they have been
there, and, being without means of sup
port, they will soon be driven by de-
mands of hunger TO secure food by
theft or force: and as the citizens are
entitled to protection from violence,
disturbance aud annoyance of these
strangers from other States; and as on
account of their numbers it is irnpOssi-
Die for the county authorities to enforce
the vsgrancy laws of Virginia, aud
said authorities have appealed TO the
Executive of Virginia for aid; and rs in
the opinion of the Executive the said
assembly is without warrant and llle-
cal. and has already resulted in harm
10 citizens of said county, and as said
encampment is, without the necessary
accommodations and is apt to breed
sickness aud disease,
Now, therefore, |, Charles T. O'Fer-
rail. governor of the commonwealth
of Virginia, by virtue of authority
vested in me, do hereby require all of
the said people known rs Indus
trials or "Ccmmonwealers, now en-
calnped within the said county of Alex
,,ndria, to disband and dispense and de
part from the said Commonwealth OF
Virginia at or before Y o'clock m, on
Friday, the tenth day of August, 1894,
and | do forbid them to assemble with
IN the said Commonwealth.
After hearing the proclamation read
the men said they were willing to be
taken in charge by the State, which OF
course means Chat they want to be fed:
and some few of them said they Were
willing TO stay where they are notwith-
standing the proclamation. No def
ancc was shown, but all openly stated
that if the minions of the law made a
descent upon the camp no trouble
would be experienced, as all would
peacefully accompany the officers.
After insisting that the Governor RS
proclamation must be obeyed, General
Anderson left the camp.
To-day General Anderson and Lieu
tenant Monroe again visited the camp
TO see if the proclamation had been
obeyed
They found the men in camp. just IS
ON yesterday. and that they had pad
10 attention TO the Governors procla-
nation. and did not seem disposed to
DO So Gen. Anderson then returned
TO this city and telegraphed the Cover
erncr as to the state of affairs. He viii
remain in this city to await orders from the
Governor and ii is expected that prompt meas
ures will he taken to compel the commonweal-
crs TO leave the State at once.