Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-05-04
COXEY STOPPED.
Washington Police Refuse to Let tho
Commonwealers Into the Capitol
Grounds.
Story Of the March Up Pennsylvania
Avenue and Its Very Sudden
Termination.
Coxey Not Arrested, But He Was
Marched Back to His Carriage
by the Police.

"ooA oAuy was dSC1r early upon brlgnC-
wood heights, with preparations for the
great procession to the Capitol. There
was an early breakfast of eggs, coffee
and bread; tents were struck and packed
into wagons and the whole army was
aligned before 9 o'clock. All the men
carried slaves on which luttered white
flags with the motto ''Peace on earth;
good will toward men, but death to in
terest on bonds"
There was much marching and
countermarching on the grounds, pranc-
ing of stations and hauling of the conf
mlssary wagons into line. The men had
passed cold night, most of them sleep
ing on the ground. Before the start,
Carl Browne formed the men into hol-
low square, and put them through a
most remarkable drill.
The slaves were handled like guns
and when Browne shouted "gloria and
peace they cheered three times, shrilly,
and waved their sticks in the air. These
evolutlons We're performed by the main
body OF the army.
Browne harangued the men in his
customary street fakir strain, telling
them that they had received permission
to march to the capitol grounds, where
they must disband and enter as indi-
vidual citizens.
"Whether or not we will be per-
mitted to speak, cannot say" he
added, ''but you must be careful to pre-
serve the peace. Then we will reform
and march to our new camp nearby,
which has been provided. This demon
stratlon will be more powerful than
force, than guns, or than bonn bs,' and
the ragged army at this cheered wildly.
Then Browne went on: "The people
said that we would not march up Penn
sylvanla avenue when we reached here.
Yet the police department informed
Brother Coxey that we could march,
Meanwhile down in the city IL ere
was nothing to indicate that the city ol
professions was eager to view the great
est parade that had ever tramped the
asphalt of Pennsylvania avenue. 1t
takes brass buttons and bands and many
OF them to stir Washington crowd,
and Coxey's dissconant fifers and drum
mers could not cause even the vagrant
negro population to get down town be.
fore hand. When the army was ready
and out of Brightwood driving park it
started kfor town. AS the caravan
wound its way down through the mile
stretch of woods to the city it was
The Most Fantastic Array
ever conceived in a dream. Nine
mounted police rode on ahead, clearing
the way. Then came Carl Browne in
his buckskin suit, mounted on his big
gray Percheron stallion and waving a
small flag. Next was creamy white,
prancing circus steed, the feature of the
whole parade, bearing Miss Mamie
Coxey, in the role Of the goddess of
peace. She was slender, really hand
some girl of II years, with long golden
hair drifting down her back. She wore
pure white riding habit, which
streamed after her as the tall horse on
which she had been perched pranced to
the music of the hand. Her head was
covered by little rimless, blue cap,
and she shaded her face by tiny para
sol. Altogether she was picture of
such unusual beauty that
A Spontaneous Cheer
greeted the unexpected appearance all
along the line. The Goddess of Peace
was followed ly Oklahoma Sam, the
cowboy, on another big stallion, then
came Roy Kirk and three other mar
shals. Thatcher the bugler rode next
emitting frequent blasts from his cor
net, and followed by the big Tapping
American flag, carried by stalwart
wealer. Next the commonweal army
band Of six pieces, mostly Lass drums
and cymbals, pounding determinedly ii
an attempt at Marching Through
Georgia"
Mr.. Coxey and his wife and 2-year-
old baby came next IN carriage, and
then the army itself.
There was lutte of actual interest in
the march up to Pennsylvania avenue.
When the head Of the procession reached
the east front of the capitol solid
front Of policemen was encountered.
They stretched from curb to curb, M. k
ing progress toward the capitol i'm
possible. The crowd was araat nua