The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-30

COXEY IN CAMP.
TheCommOnWeal in BrightwOOd
Park, Washington.
Scenes Among the Ragged and
Hungry Commonwealers.
PLANS FOR MAY DAY.
Additional Guards Placed in
the Capitol
No Alarm is Felt in Washington
However.
PLANS FOR MAY DAY
No Alarm is Felt in Washington
~HOWever.

WASHINGTCS, @-ADrll 0U.-A1tHOugA
thev had pitched their tents in the prom
ised land, the commonwealers of Christ
have not found it a land flowing with
honey. The morning sunlight thawed
out a stiff and cold and hungry lot Of
tourists after the first night passed in the
District of Columbia
Many Of the rank and file had stretch
ed their limbs unprotected on the bare
ground within the enclosure of canvas
which encircled their quarters Their
leaders, Gen. Coxey and Marshal Carl
Browne were down in the city three
miles below in the luxurious surround
ings of hotel
The shabby tent only provided accom-
modations for the commune leaders and
privileged characters. and as for the
privates, they swarmed like rats in the
commissary wagons, while others simply
dropped to sleep without blankets or
covering. There was scramble for the
shelter of the horse sheds IN which
Coxey's high priced stations were
staoled.
Stations fetch market price and it is
necessary that they should be rubbed
down, bedded, watered and fed. Men
have not been exchangeable for legal
tender in these parts since before ''de
wah'' and it goes to no ones loss but
their own if they drop off.
One contingent of wealers was pro-
vided for in the long shed attached to
the club house of the racing track near
by. The landlord of the house had
dumped load of bristllng, thOrny rye
straw into the shed, and upon this half
hundred privates made their bivouac.
They snuggled into the straw like sar-
dimes in box and declared that such
luxuries have not been thrust upon them
cincts of Massillon. For the others,
Camp George Washington might have
been titled Valley Forge.
Late Gssting Out of Bed.
At 10 o'clock before the camp fires
were lighted neither Coxey nor Browne
had arrived. The tOwnspeople were
pouring in on foot, on bicycles, in car
riages and on horseback and laid down
their voluntary toll to Bugler Thatcher,
who presided at the park gate.
Three policemen from the city had
been detailed to keep order, but their
services were not needed and they mixed
with the army ON the best of terms. Dur
ing the morning Health Officer Hammet,
with several assistants, came out to inspect
the camp. Two sick men were found in
a tent, one of them, VIM. Fitzgerald,
the standard-bearer, threatened with
pneumonia: the other, John Smith,
leader of the band, who had taken bath
in wayside brook Sunday and was suf-
fering from a chill. Both of them were
wrapped in blankets on the ground
The health officer promised to send
doctor and medicine to them.
Noon Arrives and No breakfast.
Noon arrived and with it no breakfast
- for the hungry men, Mutterings of dis
content were heard and seemed to be
particularly bitter against Carl Browne,
q who was living high in the city.
There was even talk of lynch
appearance. One of the commissary
wagons had been driven to the city head
quarters and had not returned, hence the
delay in breakfasting. Meanwhile the
men lay about the camp shaving, play
ing cards, reading all the newspapers
they could secure and talking mutiny.
One of. the twenty-five, commune
leader, read long description of the
army from morning paper. When he
came to the statement that Browne was
man versed in history, scripture and
mathematics. he commented s.mathe-
maticsl what the - is them
From the comments passed on the dis
patches from the western armies, it was
apparent that the men closely followed
the movements of their allies.
Visible Evidence of Preparation
Visible evidences of preparation for the
Coxeyites were to be seen about the halls
and corridors of congress today but every
thing had been done so quietly that the
same serenity prevailed as that of any
ordinary day.
a double force OF officers was on duty
Captain Garden and Lieut.. Watkins have
Charge of the senate and Lieut. Burns is in
charge at the house end. The double
force Of privates gave men for all the
entrances to the capitol and for the main
\ assembling points Two men were in
the main rotunda-
, Each Of the main doors and the base
ment entrances had an officer. The lob
bies Immediately surrounding this en-
trance and house were patrolled by Off
GERS The halls giving ingress to the
congressional galleries were also IA
trolled- Each man had his post and was
expected to remain there unless called
to assemble by whistle.
The officers were courteous to the
sight-seers who thronged the hall
There were no rough characters in the
crowd The people went and came with
the same freedom as usual, and the extra
officers demeaned themselves SO quietly
as to pass almost unnoticed.
Heavy Partitions Put Up.
The main outward sign Of preparation
was in the erection of two large parti-
tions, with gates on each side of the main
rotunda- they were heavy pine bars
extending twelve feet from the floor. and
fitted TO the stone arches securely The
gates were not provided with locks.
4Sergeant-at-arms Snow explained that
the gates were the same as those used at