The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-03-28
A Gigantic Fake


to follow up the army and send in re-
ports. They will be sadly disappointed
when they find out that Coxey's army"
viii consist Of less than 30 people
Coxey and Carl Browne call the news
paper men together every day and read them
a half bushel or so Of mail from people who
certainly think Coxey g crank.
Most Of the newspaper men sent here are
disguised with their assignments and say
they have often been sent on wild goose
chases, but that this leads them all.
Coxey and Browne are after newspaper
nOtoriety and are getting it. They likely
will start on the trip, and by newspaper
putting viii draw large crows at all their
stopping places TO bear their silly speeches.
The army" viii consist mostly of news
paper men.
A GARSD FIZzLE.
CANTON, Ohio, March 25.-Coxey's army
of the commonweal moved out of Massillon
to-day on schedule time. There were per-
haps 75 stragglers in line at the start and 25
less when Canton, eight miles away, was
reached. Carl Browne, chief marshall, who
headed the procession, was mounted on
white horse and was followed by half q
dozen aides, all mounted on horses belong
ing to Coxey, who rode in carriage drawn
by pair of spirited steeds. The procession
consisted Of the marshals, Coxey, his wife
and sister. bugler, four covered wagons
containing camping outfits, baled straw and
several quarters of beef; a brass band that
played all kinds Of music at once and the
soldiers Of the commonweal on foot. They
marched single file and two abreast as pleas
ed their fancy and. with very few except
ions, were hard looking citizens. This they
claimed was not their fault, but the fault of
our system of government.
The weather was pleasant when the start
was made. but the procession was soon over
taken by severe snow storm. This had q
depressing tendency and a number Of deser-
tiOns were reported before Reeduburn, the
first stop, was reached. After brief stay at
Reeduburn the army resumed its tsonward
march and reached Canton shortly after
O'Clock, where Camp Lexington was pitch
ed. Coxey is enthusiastic and claims the
movement thus far exceeds his most san
guine expectations, but this is hardly in
keeping with his former declarations.
On the march from Massillon to Canton
the army was followed by mob of nearly a
thous and people in carriages, on horseback
and foot. They made the welkin ring
with their cheers and kept Coxey constantly
bowing and lifting his hat On reaching
Canton the army was crested by fully 10000
people, who were crowded on the sidewalks
snd in windows and balconies along the
street. Every one regarded the affair as a
huge joke and good humor prevailed on all
sides. Camp Lexington was pitched on a
vacant lot near the workhouse shortly after
o'clock, and the tramps constituting the
army Of oommonweal at once began build
ing honhres, scattering straw upon the
ground and making other preparations to
keep comfortable during the night
The army had TO start on It's march with
out Goddess of Peace" as no maiden
could be found to assume that role. Instead
Of goddess, however. a burly negro has
been enlisted TO carry the banner, thus Civ
ing the African race representation in the
movement. One group of five soldiers de-
serted in a body before Canton was reached.
Their marshal thought the celestial powers
were not exercising proper discretion in
sending snow storm upon the advancing
hosts and advised his men to break for pas
sing freight trains. They needed his advice
and have not been heard from since. II is
feared by some Of COxey's lieutenants that
there viii be more deserlions before morning
unless the weather moderates, owing 10 the
prevalence cf foomfortablo hay mows in these
parts.
With the ground covered to the depth OF
halfan inch with snow, nothing to eat but a
short supply Of bread and cheese and little
straw to sleep on, the Coxey recruits are in
anything but joyous mood tonight. Mur-
muring under the big circus tent, where the
commonweal army is quartered, is loud and
general. Coxey's soldiers declare that
things must improve at once or they will go
back to begging. Coxey ard his lieutenants
are still sanguine and are endeavoring to
imbue their followers with confidence by
making speeches which. however, don t
seem to have the deired effect.
Coxey regards the snow storm as a good
omen. He says to-day is his birthday that
he was born on Easter Sunday, April 16,
1854, and the snow was foot deep that day
Coxey has typewriter with him and pro-
poses to hire 8 stenographer to act as his
secretary.
While to-day has been a gala day so to
speak for fun-lovers who have regarded the
Coxey movement as a joke. the time cannot,
it is believed, be far distant when there will
be an awakening TO the fact that the permit
ting ofsuch men as Browne and Smith TO
gather together such looking crew as they
have had to-day and march them through
the country is no joke. The outrageous
manner in which Christ's name is used is
enough to warrant interference.
THEY PREFER WARM QUARTERS.
A visit to police headquarters at midnight
showed that over 80 Of the army had desert
ed Camp Lexington and were rejoicing in
the comfortable heat Of the vags' room.
They say that while the big fires at the camp
are all right there is no straw tonight and
the rotten old circls tent does not keep out
the wind. Il is bitter cold night About
20 are lef, at the camp and the balance have
sought shelter elsewhere. Browne and
Smith have joined Coxey at the Hurford.
The men at the police station are in doubt
whether they will join the army in the
morning or not. = all depends on what
kind Of breakfast IS served.
Waited For Him to Die.