Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-04-09

MUST OBEY THE LAW.
Washington Preparing
For COxey'S Army.
VAGRANT LAW SWEEPING
And is Likely to Be Enforced in the
Case OF the Unemployed"

the arrest of the 40 unemployed who
reached this city Saturday evening from
Cincinnati, and declare that the proceed
Ing was without lawful authority. They
say also that Chief of Police Moore had
no right to ceal with these men In a
manner intended as horrible example
for Coxey's army.
The local law against vagrants is a
sweeping measure II applies to all per-
sons without visible means Of support
who are destitute, likely 10 become
charges upon the city, who have no vo-
cation or means Of gaining Q livelihood or
who solicit aims. The penalty for those
who are arreigned under ths provisions
of the act Is 90 days In the workhouse at
hard labor, but IL rests within the discre-
tion Of the Judge to accept their promise
to leavs the city at once, or 10 accept 500
bonds as surety that they will not beg or
become public charges.
There is no doubt Of the application Of
this law to the band from Texas under
Captain Primrose, for the search In the
police station of the men showed that the
total cash capital of the company
amounts to about q. or course the men
cannot give bonds for their good behavior
II permitted to remain In the CITY, but it
is not improbable that the court will ac-
cept their promises to leave town. and
have officers detailed to see that they keep
their word.
Leaders May Suffer.
Captain Primrose, the leader Of the
band, may find himself In more serious
trouble than his followers There IN an
old law on the statute book, which passed
In 1880. and has never been repealed,
which makes II an offense to bring into
the District of Columbia any destitute
people who are likely to become public
charges, with penalty Of go to $50 fine
for each offense. The police authorities
are considering the advisabllity of bring
ing a charge Of violating the law against
the leader, In which case his fines, with
the alternative of workhouse imprison-
ment, would amount to = very heavy pun
ishmsnt
The same charge may be brought
against General Coxey, II disaster does not
overtake the army of the oommonweal
before II completes It's itinerary. OF
course the vagrancy act may be brought
into application against his followers,
and beside there are two other laws which
1t Is an svowed and advertised purpose Of
the Coxeyitss TO break. One Is the act of
congress regulating the use Of the Capt.
toll grounds. which forbids, In stringent
terms, any gathering, demonstration or
parade, the making cf any oration or use
Of threatening language, the display OF
any banner or device to attract attention.
The other is local law which forbids
men to congregate on the steps of any
public or private building. 1t rests
within the discretion of the vice presi-
dent and speaker of the house to suspend
the Capitol regulations for any proper
purpose, and perhaps Coxey's agents will
apply to them for permission to carry out
their program.
Figuring on Coxey's Arrival
Major Moore, chief of police, said in
speaking of the march Of Coxeyi "Tbese
laws are on the statute books and we
have no discretion but 10 enforce them, II
Coxey's army does arrive, unless congress
should give them permission to congre-
gate on the Capitol stsps."
The details of the police movement
against Coxey are kept secret No
doubt he will be met at the District
limits, and IL the number Of bis army
are too great for the police to cope with,
the local militie will be called to their
aid. What to DO with the army when it
arrives, aud Is taken into custody, IL It
should be, isa difficult question, because
the jails and station houses Of Washing
ton will not aocomm odate such a crowd
To simply repulse them and forbid them
to enter the District would be to turn them
loose on the suburba residents of Vir-
ginia and Maryland, and this is an aspect
of the matter which gives rise to much
uneasiness here.
Major Moore has received letter from
the chief of police of Allegheny City, Pa,
describing this Coxey men in most uncom-
plimsntary terms. He declares that there
are several professional criminals in their
ranks; that four or Ave assaults were
committed by them while In that town,
and that there would be more depreda-
tions during its stay but for the close po-
lice surveillance over the army.