Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-05-02
COXEY IN WASHINGTON.

date, Mr.. Coxey was prevented by the
police from making q speech at the
Capitol in Washington yesterday and
his lieutenants, Browne and Jones, were
arrested for disorderly conduct. AS
Coxey was being led to his camp, the
army. which had been waiting on B
street, not knowing what to do, seemed
leaderless and in confusion, although
the men had not broken ranks in all
the tumult. The honor fell to the
humble bass drummer Of rescuing it
from confusion, for he started ryhth-
mic and regular ''boom' upon his in
strument, and the 'wealers fell into
step, and with Coxey bowling to the
right and left amid wild cheers, the
cohorts turned down Second street TO
the south and started the march to the
new camp, in the malarious region by
the James creek canal in the extreme
southern part of Washington, near the
Potomac river and the Eastern Branch.
As Coxey moved away he tossed the
typewriter protest to group OF news
paper men and said:
'That is for the press.
There was no formal arrest of Coxey.
The officers merely moved him away
from the centre of conflict.
General Coxey accepted the situation
quietly. His army was put TO work
clearing up the new camping ground
for occupancy, while CoXey drove over
TO the Office of the District Commission
ers with an eye to business. He made
application Of them for the necessary Ii
eense to charge admission to his camp,
doubtless anticipating great rush
there during the next few days. The
commissioners, on their part, desired
time to conside the proposition, so, act
ing upon their suggestion, Mr.. CoXey
went to the clerk, and by paying 81
secured license for one day only.
From people who are in the confidence
of CoXey it. is learned that ne had no
idea when he started on his march
from Massillon that there would be OBJ
lection to his making speech on the
steps of the Capitol Il have no COM
plant to make as far as the police are
concerned" Coxey said. "rhey treat
ed me with great consideration, but
they had 10 carry out the law, even II
it was an unjust one. My speech-mak-
ing, however, at the Capitol is over,
and | shall not again attempt ii. 1t
was no use.
Most Of the Commonwealers accept
ed the outcome Of their demonstrations
in the same spirit displayed by their
chief. But few OF them took any part
in the disturbances at the Capitol, out
sders. of the lawless local element, be-
lug responsible for the brief uproar.
Gen. Coxev said when he reached
the new camp: II was careful to walk
on the sidewalk, and trespass upon no
local regulation when l went up to the
Capitol steps, This IS the beginning
of the movement, that is all. The
people are with us-the common people.
Look at the thousands who cheered our
cause to-day. We will remain right
here. Other bands of unemployed will
Join us. Congress will see the will OF
the people and pass our bills"
Carl Browne was shining mark for
the policemen, on account of his
conspicuous costume, and from the
same reason the most aggressive and
tumultuous portion of the crowd fol
lowed him. as he broke through the
foliage of the lawn, half a dozen mount
ed police charged after him across the
grounds, escaping by miracle from
running down any of the people who
scattered right and left before them.
When Browne reached the foot OF the
Capitol steps two policemen threw
themselves upon him, grabbed his FLAG
and smashed the staff, seized Browne
and thrust him through the crowd
several hundred feet to the sidewalk.
Clubs were seen descending upon men s
shoulders in the group, but whether
Browne was nit could not be seen. As
the two officers rushed him through the
crowd he shouted - am an American
citizen; I stand on my constitutional
rights"
Despite his constitutional rights, the
dramatic marshal was dragged to the
police station.
Marshal Browne and citizen Jones,
who was arrested with him, were
marched of to the police station and
locked up in adjacent cells. The en-
tries in their respective cases were:
Carl Browne age A occupation,
artist and journalist single; charged
with disorderly conduct complainant.
Officer Edward J. Scramlin arrested
by Officer Robertson.
Christopher Columbus Jones 80
years old pumpmaker married
charged with disorderly conduct COM
plainant, Officer Collin Fathers ar
rested by Officer Auldridge.
Browne had been relieved, when he
got to the police station, of revolver,
which he attempted to draw on the po-
liceman who arrested him. Browne
appeared cast down and crushed. and
neither he nor Jones seemed inclined
to talk.
Browne seemed somewhat nettled
that Christopher Columbus Jones should
have intruded himself into the proceed
ings and snatch a share Of the glory
of martyrdom. He said to reporter ::
Jones is only notoriety-seeker.
Later Browne was released on bail
but Jones was left to langrish in the
station house.
Mr.. Coxey and Marshal Browne
made speeches in camp at night Mr..
CoXey said the movement was as much
for the coloted people as the whites.
Marshal Browne spoke in eulogy of the
ladies who went on his bail bond.
4 much worse location for camp
than that chosen by Mr. Coxey for his
followers would be hard to find. 1t is
in a malarious region by theJames creek
canal, in the extreme southern part Of