The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-01
His Army. He Says, VIII Disband at the
Capitol Grounds, but Assemble
Again at the Steps.
ALL WILL BE ARRESTED
If the General Attempts to Carry
Out His Full Programme.
officials Serve Warning-New Camp.
Ground in the City Proper-Much
Grumbling by Private Wealers.

WASHINGTON, April sO.-The second day
of the commonweal army in Washington
was spent by Commander Coxey in making
arrangements with the authorities for his
May day demonstration. and by the men in
the miserable little camp up at Brightwood
In grumbling at the poor fare provided for
them. The long advertised procession VIII
start tomorrow morning at 8 o'clock, and
if the programme is carried out the good
roads army will march past the Whits
House. War Department and treasury. up
Pennsylvania avenue to the Capitol Nine
mounted policemen detailed by Major
Moore will ride at the head Of the process
sion. If the army attempts to march into
the Capitol grounds IL will be stopped and
its leaders will be arrested If they persist
Mr.. Coxey saw Major Moores, the chief OF
police and announced to him his inten-
ton of speaking on the Capitol steps. Some
commonwealers intimate that when re-
pulsed the army will disband, Its members
will enter the grounds as individuals and
then do their speech making under the
great statute OF Christopher Columbus on
the steps. '1f they do" says Major Moore.
they will be arrested" Having finished
their public demonstration the conlmonweal
soldiers will march TO a vacant lot at Sec
will pitch their tents. The leaders an
nounce that this will be the permanent
camp of the army of peace until the Coxey
bills are passed by Congress. Other con-
tingents are expected to join them, they
say.
Coxey sailed forth after breakfast to thu
District building. He announced his desirs
to move to the new camping ground. Conn.,
missioner Powell objected the ground
that the promixity of the old James creek
canal with its foul odors made the place
unhealthy. I'VE would fumigate the
grounds" said Mr.. Coxey. Besides our
people are very healthy. They can stand a
great deal II you could only have seen
some of the trials and tribuiations they
have undergone on their march here you
would not think the presence Of a canal
would effect them-''
How long do you expect to remain
here?'' asked Commissioner Ross.
General Coxey smiled and chucikled audi
bly,. "Why, we expect to remain here until
we get action on our bills. The few men
that are with US are only forerunner of
what is coming. OF course. when the full
strength of the army arrives this lot will
not be large enough"
Permission was granted Coxey to encamp
employ a plumber to make the necessary
sanitary regulations
WILL DISOBEY THE LAW.
Coxey went at o'clock to the office OF
the Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate, armed
with letter of introduction from the chief
of police to Colonel Bright. He said TO a
reporter: Nothing remains to US but to
make all amicable arrangement for meeting
on the steps, We win not insist on march
ing into the grounds, but when we reach
the curb will tell the boys to break ranks
and march In like other citizens"
"Then what?''
'"Then the meeting will begin"
Suppose the Sergeant-at-arms objectsr'
HE cannot object. We can hold our meet
ing there, as the Constitution gives us q
right 70 do. II would be another thing IL
we undertook to come inside the building
and hold a meeting. but that we shall not
assume to do
"You will attempt the meeting then. in
the face of official objectionT'
''Yes, and regardless of the law, because
of our constitutional rights"
Replying to a question TO whether he
had received any encouragement from Con-
gress about the passage OF his bills, he re-
| piled: Il have not Congress will not act
until forced TO do So"
Sergeant-at-arms Bright of the Senate.
and Snow, of the House, were closeted with
| Coxey a quarter of an hour. These officiaIs
pointed out the statute concerning meet
| ings and professions in the Capitol grounds,
and, in reply TO his objections that the
law was unconstitutional, they told him
| that they were here TO execute the law,
| Coxeys attention TO the fact that the law
| provided for its own suspension by the Vice
| President and the Speaker of the House,
whereupon the cornmonweal leader an
nounced his intention OF seeing them.
| Visible evidences of preparation for the
| Coxeyites We're 70 be seen about the halls
and corridors OF Congress to day, but ev-
| erything had been done so quietly that the
same serenity prevailed as that of any or
dnary day. A double force of officers was
| on duty. Captain Gardes and Lieutenant
| Watkins having charge Of the Senate end
and Lieutenant Burns being in charge at
| the House end. The double force of pri-
| Yates gave men for all the entrances to the
| Capitol and for the main assembling points.
| Two men were in the main rotunda- Each
Of the main doors and the basement en-
| frances had an officer. The Hobbies imme-
| diately surrounding the Senate and House
| ing ingress TO the congressional galleries
| We're also patrolled. Each man had his
| post and was expected to remain there
| unless called 10 assemble by a whistle
| and sightseers who thronged the halls.
/ There were no rough Characters In the
| the same freedom as usual, and the extra
| officers demeaned themselves so quietly az
| TO pass almost unnoticed.
| The main outward sign OF preparation
| was In the erection OF two large parti-
| tions, with gates on each side OF the ro-
| tunda. They were heavy pine bars extend
| ing twelve feet from the floor and fitted se-
| curely TO the stone arches The gates
were not provided with locks. Sergeant-
| alarms Snow explained that the gates
| were the same those used at Inaugural
| tion times and whenever unusual crowds
| We're expected to assemble They TO
| be used only 10 prevent the congestion
| OF a crowd i'm the rotunda or at one end
| or the other of the Capitol. he said. When
| closed people would be moyed down the
| outside each door 10 the basement below,
| whence there was ready access TO the
| streets. All the main approaches and en-
frances to the Capitol were open as usual
| except some of the obscure entrances in
| the subbasement They were closed not
| as a means OF precaution, but In order
| to allow the officers to be utilized at other
/, points. The doorkeepers in the galleries
were ordered 10 give seats TO all c0mers,
| but 10 keep the seats no more than COM
| fortably filled. without crowding the aisles
| and doorways. A few Coxeyites appeared
! at the Capitol during the day. Two were
| in the rotunda with large bundles OF tracts
| bearing on the CoXey ideas. ofhcers fol-
! lowed them 10 see that tho rule against
| peddliug or distributing circulars about the
| Capitol should not be violated. but the
men made no effort 10 dispose OF their
1