The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-05-05
is IN WASHINGTON
Tents of the Commonweal Pitched
Near the Promised Land.
A MOTLEY, RAGGED CROWD
All Washington Turned Out to See the
Industrial Army-Speeches by
Brown and COxey.


Coxey, commander.in-chiefo of the Good
Roads Army of Commonweal, standing
on rickety wagon in the center of
Brightwood Driving Park, waving aloft
his Alpine hat to one of the most cos
mopolitan and extensive audiences ever
gathered in Washington, announced
this afternoon that the greatest march
of the nineteenth century had been &C
complished. Three hundred and fifty
men, headed by band, marched into
the park, pitched tents and stretched
themselves in the sun. Thousands from
the city turned out to make holiday of
it and inspect the curious aggregation.
Thick clouds of dust overhung the two
roads leading to Brighton from the city
all day long which were plowed with
more travel than customarily. Two
endless professions swept along the
roads all day with such a variety of
travellers as had never turned out in
Washington since war times.
Lining the entrance to the park en-
terprising colored citizens had estab=
lished their booths in traffic in ginger
bread, and sweetened water passed cur
rent for lemonade. The semblance to a
circus layout was further enforced by
thimble riggers and shell men stalking
about the outskirts of the crowd. But
when the people poured in the park en-
closures the suggestion of circus day
was full blown. In the center OF the
half mile track was tapped canvas
enclosure which encircled the quarters
of the commonweal army. Half dozen
weather beaten army tents stood about
the canvas drawn circle with several
canvas covered wagons. The entire
optsides of the wagons were covered
with black dauhs of legends. A queer
mixture of COED roads and finance pre-
vailed. Near by were fastened two
large American Asgs; and emblematical
banners were freely displayed. But the
most queer sight was the men who bad
marched. They were the most unique
and ipexplicable aggregation ever
brought together. Some of them wcre
at work at the tents and wagons, others
curled up on the damp ground munehing
great chunks of bread, and many
stretched sleeping in the sun with their
heads pillowed on their rolled up coats.
In the most pretentfous tent. which bore
the sign Headquarters" were found
the leaders of the army, Coxey and
Brown. Brown busted himself In chang
ing his buckskin suit for more con.
ventional black cutaway in preparation
for the s'incarnation services" which
were aboIt to be inaugurated. Clad in
fashionable spring attire Of light gray
hue and as perfectly creased trousers as
could be seen on Fifth ayenue, With =
cup Of coffee in one hand apa boiled
egg in the other, from which he altef-
nately took refreshment and susteuance,
sat Coxey. The question which has
most agitated Washington was pro-
pounded to him:
''What do you intend 70 do when the
police prevent yon from holding your
meeting in the capitol grounds'" he was
asked. "No one will prevent u.s." re-
piled Coxey. docs not the constitu.
tipn guarantee the right to peaeeably
assemble snd petition eongressf" asked
he.
sBut there is police regulation
passed BY congress which forbids per.
sons TO assemble on the capitol grounds
apd the police will stop your army If it
attempts to trespass:D 1.-THE constitp-
tien was written before any POLICE
regulations" replied goxey. IF they
come in conflict with the constitution
they are veid. We stand squarely upon
the constitution; that's our platform"
chow do you intend to enforce your
rights!" "There Ia but one way, by ap-
peal to the courts. We will 60 before
the highest courts in the land II neces-
sary. Meanwhile We will wait here In
Washington If it takes all summer. If
the courts refuse rs our rights there
will be q revolution. I do not advocate
a revolution, nor do | desire 1t, but 1t
will be Irresistible, and it will be the
greatest reyplution of history If the
American people are only thoroughly
aroused"
The conversation Of Coxey was broken
into by trumpet call WHICH summoned
the choir Of the army. Following Carl
Brown, choir of a dozen men came
out to the platform of the wagon.
Brown climbed into the wagon, stand
ing beside . stslwart man holding aloft
q banner with the lengend; "The
Kingdom Of Heaven ION earth) Is at
hand" The choir sang in various keys,
Key to each individual, parody on
the revival hymn, "Hold the Fort"
Before the singing was ended several
hundred people gathered around the
wagon with pplifted faces. Across the
track in front Of the imProvised plat
form the grand stand seats were filed
with solid rows Of men and women as
on race day. The track itself was
full Of carriages, in some of which
lsdiss aud gentlemen Of the fashion.