The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-28
SHORT OF FOOD.
Coxey's COmmonweaI Is Much in Need
of Something to Eat.

COxey's COmmonweaI Is Much in Need
of Something to Eat.
GAITHERsBURG, Md, April 2S.-The
army of commOnwealers slept with little
shelter and in a bed damp with dew.
Their breakfast was of hard-tack and
coffee. The march from Frederick thus
far has been through hamlets only and
the contributions have been meager.
Thus, since Thursday tie men who fol-
low Coxey have eaten rraught save hard
crackers and. had nothing to drink but
coffee.
The army is feeling the stress of low
diet. Their spirits decline with their
physical detection, and the result is there
has been growing about food and all
sorts of rumors of strike are heard
These conditions prevail, too, at pre-
cisely the time when Mr.. Coxey might
least desire they should The long tramp
is about ended, and with its completion
the army will feel absolved in some
sense from allegiance to the movement.
Thus Coxey will have difficulty in
keeping his following together OBJ
ject lesson before congress. Mainten-
ance for these men all summer is the
grave question which now confronts
Coxey
The men are also considering the ques-
tion and soon they will demand of Coxey
some assurance of richer nourishment
than they have enjoyed recently.
The Correspondents Asks Questions.
On this point The Associated Press
correspondent today questioned the lead
er of the movement
1T just amounts to this" said Mr..
Coxey, ''we rely upon the public at large
to support this movement"
"By that you mean support for your
commonwealers?"
Certainly 1 do; if the enterprise is not
maintained by the people in whose in
terest it is, then it must fail; but we be-
lieve and rely without doubt upon the
public support"
.'Can you personally afford to maintain
these men through the summer for
any extended period" was asked.
sIndeed, cannot" replied Coxey, who
then added after moments pause, 'sthe
fact is that l have sought not to appear
as paying the expenses of this journey.
and have said little possible about
what 1 nave paid. l will state however,
that paid all the Quitting of this eX-
pedition up to the start, except $15 which
was presented. The contributions along
the line until after Pittsburg was passed
were quite ample. but since then l have
been obliged to pay the expenses most of
the time. At Frederick we got plenty to
eat and there was no expense"
Your men propose, it is said, to de-
mand some share of the gate money
charged the public for admission to the
camp-what will you say, then?"
ssSay; what will I sayS' exclaimed
Coxey. 1 will say that the money has
been and is used to maintain them.
handle it of course but it goes for the
support of the men"
May Issue ~ Proclamation.
"This matter has been carefully con-
sidered and within two or three days a
proclamation will be issued, addressed to
| the American people, presenting the sit
uation anew and calling for help from the
American people who maintain and pros
ecute this campaign We intend not to
stop insistance of action by congress in
behalf of the unemployed when once we
have reached Washington"
The leader of this enterprise expects
surely to go into Washington with his
men and to 60 to the capitol steps. He
regards any talk of Interference as alb
surd. After a shave, Chief Coxey
and Marshal Browne started in
/ Coxey'5 phaetOn behind his black team
| for Rockville. Their errand was to se-
cure, if possible, the exclusive use of the
fair grounds for the Coxey camp and
shut the Unknown Smith seceders out,
who are on the fair grounds about fifteen
| strong.
The Coxey army is to be moved on
Sunday morning to Brightwo' ID park on