The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-04-28
Coxey's Army.
From the philadelnhin Ledger of y

From the Philadelphia Ledger OF Wednesday.
The lramps composing the so-caled Industrial
and Commonweal Armies are marching upon the
Capital from California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Wy
oming. Virginia. Kansas Massachusetts, Ohio and
Pennsylvania. The largest of them Is commanded
by General" Kelly; it is 200 strong The next
largest is General" Coxey's. which has about 200
recruits. The object of them all is practically the
same; they going TO Washington to attempt to
intimidate Congress aSthe district commissioners
state in their warning proclamation of yesterday.
to compel Congress by mere force of numbers and
physical presence" to make laws providing for the
employment By ti'e government of labor and the
issue of ilimitabe fat money. Apart from this
timely and proper proclamation the movement has
generally excited nothing but rideule. the country
refusing to consider it seriously. In its announced
purpose It is ridiculous. Congress cannot be intimi-
dated by any such means. and if the armies reach
the Capital they have had notice that they will be
prevented doing any mischief. But there is seri-
side to this movement it is that it indicates the
certain growth of social economic and financial
heresies, the very existence ofwhich are q menace
to society,
The armies are small. but their sympathizsrs are
apparently many They fed and sheltered on
the march by these sympathizers. without whose
substantial aid their progress would be barred.
two separate bills, providing for the issue of
s5OOOO00OO of legal tender notes. be expended by
the Secretary of War at the Tate Of s20,0OOO0O a
month in building roads; the other. that any state
city village may deposit non-interest bearing
bonds, to the amount of half the value of its prop
erty. upon which the Secretary of the Treasury
shall issue legal tender notes. These demands do
not seem Ieconcilable with absolute sanity.
There is no proof no reason to believe. that these
are composed of workingmen who wish to work. or
who would accept work if it were offered them
The farmers whose doors they pass on their way
from California or Massachusetts,, or Kansas or
Ohio, or Pennsylvania, to Washington, almost
universally compl aiming that they cannot get men
to till their fields They in great need OF assist
ance in blowing and planting and not only
willing but anxious to secure men to work for them
These tramps are as rule no more genuine self
respecting. industrious workingmen than were the
"Bummers" that followed in the rear of Sherman's
army its march to the real soldiers They did
fighting; they did the forbidden foraging that is
what Coxeys army would be likely TO do il their
sympaihizers did not supply them with rations,
The armies are grotesque in themselves and in
their object but they serious in that they evil
d nty have the sympathy of great numbers of peo-
pie who are reputable workingmen. but whom the
hard times and the teachers of socialism, in and out
of Congress, have rendered restless and discon-
tented. Its the social condition which the armies
represent that must be seriously considered.