Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-05-04
A WARNING TO C0XEY.
Proclamation of the District OF Coz
Iumbia Commissioners.

Although GeneJal COAey army WAC "''
expected to reach the borders of the District
of Columbia for at least week, the local al-
thorities at Washington decided to take
time by the forelock and 'warn of as
yagranis and trespassers the co.,
umns converging upon the National
Canital It was decided that Coxeys /
battalion OF Commonweaers should not Do
allowed to invade Washington as an organ.
ized bo1y, and that if any such attempt |
we're made the District authorities wouln
not hesitate to call out the military, II
necessary. Tho advance guard OF tue army
and its sympathizers who had pee9 ti.H.uS
ahout turning the Capitol grounds INTO
camn and demanding that Congress PROVIDE
e,,hsistence for the men determined to re-
arrange their plans.
The District Commissioners held lohg
executiye session and consulted IN detall
with s. T. Thomas. the attorney Tor the DIS
riot Then the following manifesto was pre-
pared and given out
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF lHE
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA,
WAsYINGToN. April ~, 1871
TO Whom it May Concern
Whereas. 1t is reported that several Or
oanized DO lies of men are approschinS tuo
District of Columbia with the aVoWeu pu.-
, nose of securing such Congresslohfl aclioI
as will relieve the condition OF uhemp'oSeH
lahorers throughout the country an
Whereas. All unemployed men and others
| thronohout the country who may be Id syn,
nathv with the movement have been nlyneu
| n assemble in front the National CAptol op
the frst DAY of May proximo. fortne purPose
~ comnelIino favorable action by Congress
| hv mara force OF number and p5yslcaI pres
ence and ,-s, otnoti-
Whereas. The constitutional rlgnt OF psi.
tion dcas not Justify metho ls dangerous ~
peace an good order. whicn tnTea.en con an
nuiet of the National Capital. when are con.
trqry TO law and opposed to the oruln5ry
means of obtaining legislative RELIEF unle
our system of government and. ..
| Whereas. II is declared to be the INTENTION
NJ This body OF unemployed and destitute
| neonle not only to gather together TOT tne
ppurposes aforesaid al the city OF WasnlnS
| ion hut there to remain until their n'sel0n
shall have been accomplished ana,
Whereas The National Capital is cnienS US
voted to public business and IS tne GILL; u.
Federal legislation. AMI. rs aresut ~ ~"
~ ordinary means OF affording employment
ia now taxed TO its utmost capacity 10 cnai az
table efforts TO care for It's own poor ana un-
EMPLOYED now. therefore, ,.-.-:.. .
Tho commissioners OF the Dlstrict 81
Columbia. who are charged with the duty OF
maintaining peace and good orner anu WIZ
enforcing the laws in said Dlstrlct: peinS
sensible of the gravity OF the suna.'on az
fully approaching the hardship WIZ n LIZ
oon,a rpon many innocent but misguided peo-
nIe If this iIl-considered movement snoulu Dc
continued. do hereby appeal, in the lnteres.
of humanity and In (urtherance OF the peace
and good order which are enJolneI py tue
Iaws in force in said District. to the goo
senaa and natriotism of all those engdgea H.
or who contemplate taking part IN, the pro-
nosed demonstration, and urge them 10 re-
consider their intention to come iu'o '"0
District OF Columbia for that purpos7 -
No possible cool can cono ~ rot;nna
gathering. and. with no proper preparations
ar means of subsistence, suffering ana ut'-
nate disorder will certainly ensue: NO Wrons
nan he riehted. no condition OF labor ameito
ratad. no remedy for any existing evil rea
Tod Inv the contemplated demonstration "
unvsical force Every desiraoie enu ca
he more certainly and effectlVe,y acoU 11l
nlished by ordinary and Lawful metno ~. 4 t Nv
| commissioners while in entire sympa'ul
, With all neople our OF employment, ana nay
{ ingn mo desire or purpose to deal harsIi.
with unfortunate but honest men, WV
= saak relief by reasonable and Lawful means
8 are in duty bound TO give notice 10 tnoSY WIZ
D | are tempted under any pretext 10 s"1li .u'
number of unemployed persons alreau.
here that there is neither WORK ~, LIZ 10
nor means for their maintenance ID the D -
,rict that the law does not permit the so'iG
, ;tin, of aims in our streets, ana loroiu
, norades aseambIages or orations lntne zap
, ioI grounds and the obstruction OF any Pup
lie grounds, streets, highways or aVeuue
and the approaches to publc or pll'a'
l buildings liz olso to tb
. The Commissioners give notice also " ~
/ erin,inals and evil-doers who, under cover
2 $ crowd of unemployed men IN our streer
| NAV come here for the purposes Oh CRU
}; and disorder that all such will DO appr'
u hended and summarily dealt with
/ And finally they give notice 10 an wn
1 some here against their advice ana pIot 10
/ that the laws in force in the Dlstrlct Vi "
| lumbia are adequate for every emerSeno
| and will be rigidy enforced.
= JOHN w. Ross
II GEORGE TRUEsDELL,
CHARLES f. POWELL,
II Commissioners of the District OF Oolumol
# In the limited States Senate Mi. feuer
r, resolution to appoint n COMMITTEES TO receI
"a 81 hear the complaints Of COxeys Gro"
4 was defeated by the following vote
81 "1Y2 essNAIdrich. Allen. Allison, Cullo1
navis Gallinger, Hansbrough. Hawey, hyl
Martin PETER, Perkins. Power ohou
stewart. Teller and WashOurn-u. -,
Navs-Bate. Berry. Blanchard, Chanait
CockrelI. Coke. Frye, George, German ,U "a
harris. Jones (Ark.), Mcmillan, M'lls, Nj
hall Syis. }. Morrill,, Palmer. Pasco, P1Y
Roach. sherman, Turpie, Vest, Voorne'
Walsh and White--2S'