The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-05-10

jostled and crowded until they reached
the wall OF the grounds and it looked
as thouKh they were about to head for
the capitol. a rush was made by the
mass of people upon the scene and
many ran pell nell to the plaza tramp.
ling down the shrubbery aud vines.
About the east side of the capitol
pandemontum rejgned, and the mount
Ell police made a charge to clear the
way. Then occurred scene scarcely
ever seen about the big building. Men,
women and children rushed for the side
walks, falling over and tramping on
one another in their attempt to reach
a place Of safety. Finally the way was
cleared and out in the street could be
seen the CoXeyites presenting Il deplor-
able and comical sight in their rags
and tatters, after their contact with
the yealding and surging populace.
Brownies personality was over. He
rode his mettlesome charger in forbid.
den paths and jumped him over the
stone coping to the eastern part Of the
port. A mounted officer started after
him and as he resisted arrest, he re.
ceived clubbing. His head was cut
but 1t Is not thought that he was badly
hurt: The incident started rumor5 at
loaf ITO general fighting but no such
thing occurred. The plaza in front Of
the main portion OF the capitol bui Id
log is In appearance at this time just
as Is usual on a beautiful day when
congress Is in session.
The episode Is certainly closed for the
day, and the affair of Coxey lasted not
over 10 munites. He was taken by
the police to the edge of the crowd
without any difficulty and entered his
carriage.
Captain Kelly said:
"Where you do 90 now, Mr.. Coxey 2"
"TO our new grounds in southeast
Washington" the Industrial leader
said. lie then gave the army orders to
march. The police authorities again
showed their courtesy in furnishing
him suitable escort, and the weary
disappointed "wealers" again started
on not tramp for a resting place.
TO BE INVESTIGATED.
After some unimporLant business in
the House today, MIR. johnson Of Ohio,
rising to matter of privilege, he said,
offered the following resolutions:
Whereas, 1t Is we'll known that the
Capitol grounds were, on May l, over
run by large assemblage Of people,
Including a considerably number of the
regular and special police OF the dis
trlct, and
Wnereae, 1t Is publicly stated that
the safety Of the members of this
House has been endangered, thereby
| making 1t Dectssary for the House to
| rely ON the clubs of policemen tor their
projection.
Res wed, That this committee on
pubic buildings and grounds be i'll
structed to inquire into th" question rs
TO whether unnecessary force was used
whether unuffendtng cltiz 4ps were cru
ely beaten aud whether the dignity OF
| This House has been violated; that he
said com mittee have the power to send
for persoDs and papers, and report th+.
facts In connection with this subject,
with their recommendation as. 70
whether any legislation is necessary In
the premises.
uthwaite suggested that the resolu-
t1on presented MI question Of privilege
In support of his contention that 1t
was a matter Of privilege. johnson
said that in sight of the members of
the House; within the shadow Of the
Capitol, citizens were cruelty and un-
| necessarily beaten, and he asked that
1t be Investigated, believing the pro.
| ceeding directly and vitally affected
the dignity of the House 1t was dis
graceful that such thing should Oc
cur. In presenting the resolution,
johnson said,he was not moved by any
sympathy with the purposes or aims Of
the Coxey army. lie acted because
the clubbing took place under the pre-.
tense that 1t was to defend the mem-
bers Of the House. No one here, he
| said, was scared, but at the doors of
the House, where the jurisdiction of
Congress IS supreme. citizens were
clubbed, and he thought 1t ought to be
investigated.
The Speaker asked how that presented
question of privilege, Those people
were violating the law.
johnson responded that he believed
1t to be question Of the very highest
privilege.
The Speaker suggested that the mat
ter should be Investigated in the police
court or other tribunal established for
the purpose, but that the resolution did
not present q question Of privilege.
The matter wasreferred TO the House
committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds for investigation.