Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-19
THE ROSSLYN AFFAIR
GOVERNOR o'rsRRALL TELLS Why
ne ERECTED THE coxeYlTES
- only Did His Duty and ms Ne Apsis-
oiss - nGakc--Jacksoa City
(3amblers.

. Sne moet etalwart Rcpubiican papers
= the North complimented Governor
0Ftrraii upon his action IN driving the
lndistrials out OF Virginia.
paper criticised his course
IN respect to the matter rather severely.
When Governor O'rerraii was asked at
the Blue Ridge Springs the other day TX
he desired TO say anything regarding the
papers structures, he replied:
ITO be very frank. i must say that
have paid very little attention to the
criticisms Of my course In connection
with the Coxeyitcs. which appeared In
paper. / do not Know
whether this paper was speaking for the
authorities or not. but. while
I should greatly desire to preserve ami
cable relations with their officials, did
not In any manner consider their wishes
IN expeliing these people from Virginia
ssrhe destination OF all the bands or
common idlers, calling themselves Com
monwealers. was the national capital. and
they had no intention OF stopping IN
Maryland or crossing into Virginia. But
ington they were soon ordered out OF the
District OF Columbia, and all the coming
bands were notified that they must ma
resting places elsewhere. They first
moved out. and settled In Maryland. CAL
wins. Kclley's. and Jennings's armies ana
oil the rest, on their arrival, were not
allowed TO stop In the capital city. out
were required 10 move on across the
Potomac into Virginia. and Rosslyn be-
came the rendezvous of all the hoodiums
and cranks OF the West, whose exodus
from that sector had been promoted by
the citizens, IL seems. for their own eooo.
and whose departure was aided ny every
community through which they passeu
upon the idea that each community hao
n right TO rid itself OF miserable
nuisance as soon as possible. even II an
other community was TO suffer thereby.
A HEAVY BURDEN.
"The little county of Alexandria, Va
vith less than 800 utheables-426 whlte'
IA colored-taxable values OF only si'5Vo.-
90 and a population white and coioreu'
of only 900. was made the dumping
ground Of this horde of idlers and va
grants. numbering at their height more
than n thousand. These intruders were
without money, food. or means OF SUD-
sistence. When work was offered TO them
they refused II, but they had no idea Oh
starving, Squads were sent out daily INTO
the surrounding country with wagons W
secure supplies, and fer weeks the ciu-
gems of Alexandria county. mostly iarm-
arg suffering from the failure or crops
and the depression OF the times, were
forced TO contribute TO the support VI
these yagabonds. The women were Ter
rorlzed and compelled. In the absence VI
the men, TO comply with the deihahus
made on them for food. ThieVing was
Common and the quiet and peace OF tho
citizens for miles around disturbed py
the midnight prowlings OF these strangers.
representing almost every nationality. III
any OF the 'Coxeyites ventured over the
river into Washington and were caught
begging they were arrested and put IN the
workhouse This made them shy or inc
city. and their levies upon Aiexahu'ia
county heavier. and the 400 WHITE taA-
payers OF this county were Tor "eehS
virtually compelled TO supply food daiiy
for men frequently more IMAM aouOie
their number
THE REMEDIES.
This state OF things could NOT COR
tinue" continued the Governor. Sone
thing had to be done. Appeals Tor reiel
came TO me from every ulrecuon' III
Guiding the Sheriff and Board or super
ylsors OF Alexandria county. There were
only two remedies:
First, the enforcement or the Vagrah'
laws -. ithaca
Second, the expulsion OF thes'
strangers from the State.
oT'he first was impracticable. Ihey
could not be hired out, for no one wouiu
hire men who would have TO be guarded,
and besides. there were too many OF
them for the demand. They could not DC
nut In a workhouse. for Virginia mas Nv
rror<housc. and they could not be pu.
,u iaIl. for the fail OF the county wouiu
mo-, hold one fftieth OF them, ana De,
Sides the expense Of their support Ill J1i
would have imposed burden upon ."0
county too intolerable TO be oorhe'
thing was left for me TO do put 10 Ieaulie
thnm To leave the State. gave theih
80 than twenty-four hours' notice 10
break camp and depart. Ihey pau Nv
attention 10 1t, and then ordereu Wv
,oi,itorv 10 drive them out by 'he way
,bev came. which was across the pi'us'
spanning the Potomac
NOT GENEROUS.
ct have .,noken of the feeble condition
NJ the county of Alexandria. ana WINE
y,ieht say that 1t was not generous
acf unon the part of the capital CITY OF
tho nation. With her more than lo'VVv
nonulation. billions OF taxable vaines' anu
unlimited resources, with her "oihiouS0
and n,blic improvements and ponce sys-
se,r 10 push these hundreds OF VaSran's
of ,Ipon the little county OF Alexanurla'
with only about 400 white taxpayers
taxable values OF sl.500,0oo and popuia.
ton. white and colored, OF .SVo' withou.
a workhousc or police regulation, yet IL
bfen
nowerfuI. I would have pursued the same
course 1 did and required these unwel-
come. unlimited, and undesirable squat
tiers 10 depart the way they came anu III
doing So | would have followed the pre-
cedent set by Washington In the case OF
the first army that camped under 'he
shadow OF the great dome. But nave
perhaps. already" resumed the Governor
''said more than the Importance OF inc
matter demanded. / did what my sense
of duty To my own people required ana
I have no apology to make TO any one
except TO the citizens of Alexandra coun-
ty. To them ] apologize for not relieving
them sooner, but there were embarrass-
ments Of which will not speak.
what class of people live In Virginia
opposite to Washington" asked the Dis
patch representative. recalling the gaming
houses In Alexandria county.
Washington" replied the Governor, have
been sorely afflicted for long time. The
Virginia bank Of the Potomac. particu-
larry about Jackson City and Rosslyn,
has been the rendezvous OF gamblers,
thieves. and cutthroats for years. l do
not think "a worse place could be found
anywhere. IL IS a disgrace to the State
q shame 10 the community. and an in
cubus upon the prosperity Of the neigh
No. ltfx.tl 10 xtft ar NJ
defiance. and the officials are powerless.
or these officials fail TO discharge their
duty. and the citizens are content 10
Keep them in Office. hope. for the sake
Of the fair name of the State, the law
will hereafter be enforced by those en-
trusted with its enforcement. and IL
unable to suppress lawlessness and bring
Offenders TO Punishment. they Will so de-
clare, In rider that there may be q re-
sort to stronger means.''