Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-09
COXEY AND CONGRESS
Senator Aliens Resolution Dis
cussed at Length Today.
Mr.. SHERMAN'S STRONG UFfERANCES
Coxey Came Here Intending to
Violate the Law.
Mr.. SHERMANS STRONG UrfERANCE
THE TARIFF TAKEN UP

Jacob s. Coxey. general" OF the common-
veal. and his two lieutenants. Carl Browne
and Christopher Columbus Jones, who were
convicted In the Police Court yesterday.
were In the lobby in the rear Of the Senate
when that body met today. anticipating a
further airing OF their case in connection
with the Allen resolution TO investigate the
alleged police clubbing on the Capitol steps
on May i. The proceedings were opened
with the regular routine morning business.
On motion OF Mr.. Gray fDel) q bill
authorizing Rear Admiral Walker and Sur
geon J. Rufus Tryon OF the navy to accept
decoration OF the third class from the
president Of Venezuela for their humane
service to the wounded and dying men In
the recent Venezuelan war was passed as
was also bill to authorize the captain ana
crew or the life saving station at Hog
tsna1a va, 70 accept a medal OF honor
from spain for their heroic conduct in saw
ing NE from wrecked Spanish vessel
Mr. berry lArkD allowed these bills TO 70
.nrough. but under protest. He insisted
mat nothing should be permitted TO inter-
fere with the tariff bin The whole coun-
uy, ne said, including those who opposed as
wei as those who approved IT, were anxious
ior action upon the tariff. The present In
terminable delay was making the people
lose al confidence and respect for the Sem
ate.
MIR. Aliens Corey Resolution.
AT the conclusion OF the morning business
Mr. Allen oNeb) called up his resolution for
the appointment OF a special COMMITTEES 10
investigate the police interference with the
Cohey demonstration on the Capitol steps
May /.
Mr: Allen spoke with feeling. He had
waited week after the outrage Committed
upon The Capitol grounds before introducing
ms resolution. he said, ca Apecting that one OF
tne senators from Ohio. the state from
steps toward its Investigation. Mr.. Coxey
came from the congressional district for
meriy represented by Gov. Mckinley. In
his opinion, such scenes as took place in
the presence Of 10000 people on Nav j on
the plaza In front OF the Capitol should bs
investigated without delay.
He Expected Mr.. sherman to Move.
He expected the distinguished senior SEN
ator from Ohio CMr. Sherman) 10 move. as
Mr.. Coxey was his constituent. He tAllen)
had never heard o. MIR. Coxey until he had
heard OF him as commander OF the common
veal or good roads movement: he had never
seen him until last Friday Who Coxey was
was a matter Of indifference 10 him. m
was enough that he was an American cid
zen. he came here. IL the press was TO be
relied upon. TO petition Congress for the
redress OF what he considered the sr1ey-
ances OF millions Of people That he was
! honest Mr.. Allen had no doubt With the
purpose OF the movement. however Mr. Az
Zen had not the slightest sympathy He
dealt with him and his misguided followers
simply as American citizens seeking to en-
ercise the right Of petition accorded them
by the Constitution. He proposed 10 dem
/ onstrate that this was their sole purpose
when the police interfered.
Some ouestions by Mr.. Daniel
Are you not Mr.. Coxey's counselg' asked
Mr. Daniel Va.). interrupting the Nebras ska
Senator.
NO. si-," replied MIR. Allen, emphatically.
has not Mr.. Coxey full legal remedy IL
he has been injured In his rightsr'
4 decline TO be diverted from my line OF
! thought. said Mr.. Allen rather sharply.
Dot. persisted Mr. Daniel, i simply de-
sired TO question the propriety of dragging
this matter into the Senate when Mr.
Cexey has remedy in court"
Mr. Allen made no response to Mr.
/ Daf iels suggestion. but he took occa sion
to reiterate his denial OF sympathy with the
movement All reports to the contrary
were untrue. He had been called in consul
tatioE by Representatives Hudson and
Pence upon the rights of this man. He had
subsequently, gone into Police Court 20
defend him. He had made il a rule OF his
l life TO do his duty no matter where II call
ed. That was the extent of his connection
with CoNey. He had defended him. because
when the police laid their rough hands on
Coxey they laid their hands upon the rights
OF 1o.OOVO Of people. The rights involved
were not those of Coxey. but Of the Amer1-
D
head of Coxey had been aimed at the head
/ of every man In this country who desired
4 TO exercise the constitutional right OF free
81 eech and free assembly.
The Rights OF Cftisens.
1t was those great rights. rather than the
humble Coxey. for which he stood: the
rights OF citizens TO peaceably petition for
the redress Of grievances. real or imaginary.
The suggestion OF Mr.. Daniel that Mr..
Coxey could recover damages presented q
different question, one with which he had
| nothing to do. Important as the tariff was
at this time. and he regarded II as para
mount to all other subjects OF legislation.
II was a mere atom compared with the right
Of American citizens TO assemble and petit
| tion Congress for the redress OF their
1 grievances. The ruthless trampling down
| OF this right on May i had furnished .
scene worthy OF ST. Petersburg or some
eastern monarchy. but out of place I'm o
| representative republic like ours.
he gave vivid description Of the dis
order on the Capitol steps. Mr.. Coxey. no
/ said, in the presence of 10000 people, un-
armed. with no mob at his back but as q
| simple laws abiding citizen seeking TO peace
| ably petition Congress, had been told he
| could not speak: that he could not petition
Congress, and the police had come and
driven him from the grounds His mis-
guided lieutenant. Browne, had been even
more violently treated The mounted polics
had swept down upon him with their clubs
those two men coming unguarded and alone
upon the Capitol grounds had been met and
! driven on by the metropolitan police. who
4 had less lawful right there than they. Mr..
Allen read at length the petition Mr. Coxey
sought to read on May ] and also the In
dictment upon which the commonweal lead
ers were tried in the Police Court. The
| charges were Insignificant, he said. They
were merely a subterfuge TO effect the ar
rest and conviction. There was not Sem
| ator or a citizen OF the United States from
| the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Canada TO
| the gulf. who did not know that the charge
was their attempt TO exercise their consti.
! tutional right TO indulge in free speech on
! the Capitol grounds; the real charge was
that they had had the temerity to come with
their deluded followers to petition Congress
/ for the redress Of what they considered
their grievances.
No man. he declared. would be deceived.
He proceeded TO argue the uncoastitution-
ality Of the act under which the men had
I been convicted. and subsequently drtfted
of into a long review OF the history Uf the
right of petition. which, he said. had not
been denied I'm England since the year $40.
Z IL was not until l1Sl that petitions were eN-
cluded from the chamber OF the Senate and
that of the House. But the right Of petition
was 10 be denied on the Capitol grounds. II
citizens were not to be allowed TO assemble
| peaceably there. they could be prev ented
l from assembling anywhere I'm the District
of Columbia where Congress had original
| jurisdiction. More than that. Congress
| had territorial jurisdiction all over the coun-