Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-04-26
A MANIFESTO.
District Commissioners on the
Coxey Invasion.
THEY WARN THEN TO KEEP AWAY.


wAsuINeToN, April "a The commits
sioners Of the District Of Columbia took
action yesterday on the impending
Coxey invasion. After long executive
session and consultation with the at
torney for the district, the following
manifesto was prepared:
10 Whom It May Concern;
Whereas, II is reported several organized
bodies OF men are approaching the District Of
Columbia with tho avowod purpose OF securing
such congressional action as Will relieve the
condition Of unemployed laborors throughout
the country and
whereas, All unemployed men and others
throughout the country who may Dc IN sym
pathy with the movement have been Invited To
assemble IN front Of the natl nal capitol on the
LIST day OF May proximO for the purpose OF G. m
pclling favorable action by congress BY mero
force Of numbers and physical presence ana,
L Whereas, The constitutional right OF pci'
tlon does not Justify methods dangerous To
peace and good order. which threaten the quiet
OF the national capitol which are contrary To
law and opposed to the oriinar, means OF oh,
taining legislative relief under our system 0i
government and,
Whereas II IL declared 10 be the intention OF
this body Of unemployed and destitute people,
not only to gather together for tho purpose
aforesaid at the city OF Washington, but there
to remain until their mi sion shall have been
accepted. and
whereas Tho national capitol Is chiefly do.
voted to public business and Is tho center OF
federal legislation ana as result Of It's lack
OF ordinary means OF anording employment "a
now taxed to It's utmost capacity in charitable
efforts to care for Its own poor and unom
ployod
Now, therefore, the commissioners OF the Dis.
trict OF Columbia, who arc charged with the
duty OF main ntainlng peace and good order, and
with enforcing the laws In said dis rict, being
sensible Of the gravity OF the situation. nnd
fully apprecatIng tho hardship which must
come upon many innocent but misguided pco'
pie II this lll.considsred movement should be
continued do hereby appeal In tho Interest OF
humanity and In furtherancs Of the poaoo and
good order which aro enjOlned by the laws In
force In said district 10 tho good sense ana
patriotism Of those engaged In, or who contem'
plate king any part In. the proposed demon
stratlOn, and urge thom TO reconsider their in-
tention to come into tho District OF Columbia
for that purpose.
No possible good can come from such gath
oring. and with no proper preparations or
means OF subsistence suffering aud ultimate
disorder will certainly onsuo. No wrong ean
be rightcd, no condition Of labor amclioratod,
no remedy for any existing evil realized by the
contemplated demonstration OF physical force
Every desirable end eau be moro certainly ana
effectively accomplished by ordinary and lawful
methods The commissioners, while In entite
sympathy Win hll people OUT OF cHlplof W'ut
and having no desire or purpose to urnl hhrshly
with unfortunate but honest men who seek re-.
lief by reasonable aud lawful meaus are In
duty bound to give notice to those who are
tempted under any protcxt to swell the mum
bor OF unemployed persons already here that
there Is neither work Tor them nor meinHfOr
their maintenance In the district that the law
does not permit the soliciting OF aims In our
streets and fOrbids parades, assemblages or
orations IN the capitol grounds, streets, high
ways or avenues aud the approaches 10 public
or private buildings
Tho commissioners give notice also 10 Grim
finals and evlldoers, who, under cover Of u
crowd OF unemployed men In our streets may
come for the purpose OF crime and disorder,
that all iuoh will bo apprehon led and sum
marily dealt with
And, finally, they give notice 10 all who come
here against their advice and protest that the
laws In force In the District Of Columbia are I'D
cquate for every emergency and will bo rigdly
enforced JonN w. Ross,
GEoHGE TnUEsDELIs
CHARLES Il. PELL,
Commissioners OF the District