Evening star., 1894-03-24
A COXEY OFFICE
headquarters Have Been Opened
Here by Col. Redstone.
he EXPECTS 100000 MEN
What Members of Congress Say
About His Army.
THE MASSILLON MOVEMENT


Up against the side of the narrow doorway
ieading To the stairway of Rechabite Hall
Ut IL street and Pennsylvania avenue Is
this legend:
Headquarters
Coxey's
Good Roads
Association
Upstairs in the Rechabite Hall today
hree gentlemen were seated on the raised
PLATFORM at the end of the apartment dill
sehuy engaged in reading copies of the
DehVer Road. an ultra organ Of the popu-
hsts- The central figure of the trio was
Nj Redstone. the Washington agent of
slr. C0xey- Col Redstone smiled amiably
upon the reporter
see Col Moore has settled the whole
business Tor US: he remarked with an un-
ME sIdAdDle infection of sarcasm. ITO
thihk OF man setting himself up to cic-
tate 70 peaceable American citizens and to
the Capitol grounds"
Inc reporter suggested that the superin-
tendent OF police had merely called atten-
tlon to the ordinances governing the res
erVatlCn around the Capitol building. Col.
Redstone said he knew all about the regu-
latons. but said no one could prevent the
peaceable aSSemblage of American citi-
.ehs ,here on the 1st of May. and in reply
TO direct question said that congressional
action would be secured to revoke the regu-
iationS Col Moore lays so much stress
upon ir case it would become necessary.
The men who will assemble here in
Washington on May - ne SAIL will not
be either vicious criminal. All danger
Gus characters will be risidly excluded from
tne ranks and only peaccab!e and law-abid-
Ing citizens will come to Washington to
present In person the petitions they have
20 often presented N writing and which
have been as frequently ignored
How man. of your friends will be herer'
inquired The Star representative.
Expects :,OO.OOO Men H...
II expect to see at least 3OO.OOO men here
On the 1st of May" replied Col Redstone
with measured deliberation. There will
not be any interference with the progress
OF the army by either county or state au-
thorities of the territory through which it
will pass. There will be no vandalism al
lowed and an efficieut commissary will be
carried along to provide Cor the wants of
the association, and they will bring enough
with tTem to feed for ten days all those in
Washington who have nothing by reason of
The injustice of congressional legislation
! have no doubt of the successful result Of
our mission. in the immediate passage by
congress of the two bills Mr.. Coxey will
bring with him"
The suggestion was offered that the en-
ectment OF bills appropriating money to
Improve public roads might be unconstitu-
tloEal, where such roads Were situated in
the states. but Col. Redstone believed that
thls would make no difference. as, accord
ing 10 MS IDEA, Congress was or could easi-
" make itself supreme in the matter He
impressed upon his visitor the peaceable.
character OF the proposed crusade and as
sured him that bad characters would not
De allowed a place in the procession He
was certain, however. that if a single mem
Der OF the Coxey Good Roads Associa ton
was injured or imposed upon there might
De trouble for those guilty of the offenses
Col Redstone had received no communi-
cauons today from Citizen Coxey save one
short letter, which he did not deem IL ad-
Sisaoie to give out for publication.
Opinions of Members of Congress.
Members of Congress are watching the
assembling of the Coxey army which ia tn
descend upon them with mingled astonish
ment and amusement Most of them re-
gard the army as an absurdity which will
soon melt away. Others attach to IT a
profound significance as an indication of a
popular uprising which is to shake the
foundation stones of democratic govern
ment- No thought has yet been given to
suppreSsing the army.
A number Of Congressman know Coxey
personally and credit him with cleverness
and business ability. Representative Sib-
ley of Pennsylvania and other members
who like good horses have known Coxey
at stock meetings, as he has a fondness for
high-bred horses.
Representative Ikert of Ohio. within
vnose district the Coxey army Is organ
lzinS, knows nothing of him. Representa-
that Coxey does hourishing business at
Pittsburg. though they do not know him
personally.
Concerning the march of the army on
the Capitol a number of Congressman were
Interviewed today.
Representative Bland said: TT is an indi-
cation of the unrest and uncertainty of the
people. The Coxey army has as much right
TO come to Washington as the lobbies who
come in behalf of protection and other pri-
Sate interests. AS long as they pay their
own expenses and commit no depreciation
they have perfect right to come. But IL
they violate law and become a mob of pill
layers they should be suppressed
Representative Outhwaite (OhiO): 'If
CoXey'S followers will only think they will
gee that their proposition to intimidate
Congress. and if from 10000 to 10000 can
intimidate Congress to do one thing then
another 10000 to 10000 can intimidate 1t to
do another thing. leads to anarchy"
Representative Hopkins Qll): My judg-
tnent is that the army will never material
TIE in Washington. 1t Is so perfectly alb
surd that 1 can't conceive how any num-
q purpose.
Wisdom of Having the Capitol Here.
Representative Hit Qll): THE wisdom
Of having the national Capitol at a small
city is shown by the Coxey movement. If
the Capitol were at New York or Chicago
these movements would be frequent. Paris
has been In the hands Of Coxeys three
times"
Representative Dalzell Pa.): mo party
Is at the bottom Of it. and it would have
fallen long ago If il had not been heralded
In the press. II will fall of its own weight
Representative McCiann 0ll). chairman or
the committee on labor: There appears to
be doubt as to what the purpose OF the
move is. A Chicago leader in ii says he Is
coming to insist that Indians shall not be
confined to reservations. CoXeyS purpose
appears to be to have the government build
roads and thus give work to :he unem-
ployet. II Is noticeable that organized labor
Is not identified with this movement. IL Is
asking nothing Of Congress except to be let
alone to work out its own development.
Organized labor has confidence in its own
ability to ultimately secure a fair share OF
The wealth ii creates. which is all they ask,
anu that the government shall not extort IL
from them by excessive taxes on the neces-
oaries of life
Representative Wheeler (Ala.): THE move
ment Will probably die out before they
reacn Washington. and nothing will be ac-
compiished''
Representative BrOderick Ckan): Il have
nol taken the COxey movement seriously.
Men having intelligence and regard .or the
pu1llc good could not be induced to take
Part n any such considerable number as to
mae the movement formidable In any
event. nothing could be accomplished by |
s1ch an appeal 10 Congress-