The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-18

How He Intends to Get to Washington
and what He Will DO After Ee Gets
There.
General Sanders of the Cripple Creek
division of commonweaIers, is looking
for Kansas recruits. He fully expects to
take two companies of fifty men each
out of Topeka, an equal number out of
| Leavenworth and about half as many
from AtchisOn; together with what stray
glers may drift into camp from other
points and enlist without urging. He
promises transportation and plenty to eat,
but wants all his followers to go from
principle and sense of duty.
For this purpose and also to keep the
public mind agitated and in sympathy
with Coxeyism, an immense mass meet
ing was held last night at the city park.
This location was very convenient for
the tramps who were stretched out on
| the grass, for they attended the meet
ing without the exertion of changing
their positions There were probably
between 1900 and 1000 people around
the grand stand. 1t was lighted by
Pickering, unreliable gasoline lamp
which the strong river breeze blew into
commissions. This same breez which
seemed to be fresh from Lake Superior
| had anything but an enthusiastic effect
on the shIvering audience.
Rev. MIR. Harrington was selected as
an extempOraneOus master of ceremonies
with the QOnOr OF introducing O0noral
Sanders. MIR. Harrington described the
general as man ~for whom l have
more respect than Lewelling, or Ady,
Morrill, or Hoch. He is just
common man, simply Colorado
miner; doesn't it seem strange to you
that just common man can stir up such
a sentiment and bring out such an audi
ence? 1t is because the people are drift
ing. They are expecting they do not
know what. We do not know where we
are att
1t was General Sanders first appear
ance before a Topeka audience except
for a few words he spoke from the top of
the cars few days ago before he started
for LeavenwOrth. Sanders began by say
ing, modestly, that he was not an orator,
but a plain working man like most of
those before him. He resumed: 1--WE
are going to Washington peaceably to de-
mand legislation that is needed by the
labOrers of the United States. We will
first ask for the free coinage of silver at
the ratio of 16 to l. Next we will ask
for 100000, 600 in greenbacks. The gov
eminent is about to give $100,0O0,000 for
the construction of the Nicaragua
canal. This would not benefit American
la Dor in the least The same money to-
wards digging irrigation bitches in the
west here would give employment to
thousands of men out of work at home,
and open up the finest land the sun ever
shone upon. We believe these would re-
store prosperity.
1.-THE question is asked, sWhy go? why
not send a petition? | will tell you
why. If we have the same influence on
congress we have on the railroad. we
will get all we want and more, and the
senators will all go to Europe for their
health. Laughter and applause.
There are 2SO,OO0 men in this country
now out on strikes. They have been
submitting to reduction after reduction
for thirty years. and the laborers are get
ting tired of it. The question is. shall
we submit to oppression for the rest of
our lives, or go on to Washington and
strike for our rights.
when we were confronted in western
Kansas with wrecked engine on the
track, and wrecked cars both sides,
we didn't say, sWe can't get around this,
Let's sit here and starve.' We built
around it, and went on our journey.
There are thousands of people saying,
we can't do anything, let's starve.' That
isn't right. They should get up and ex-
ercise their great American right to pro-
test.
Il want to say right here that 1 don't
believe in going out and capturing trains
4 don't call it stealing for it's too big
to steal. l made the Missouri Pacific
people plain offer of 81 900 to take US
to the Missouri river, but they would not
even condescend to reply to my tele-
gram. Then l did the next best thing.
know my men are. What is more, we
expect to make the same good impress
sion there we have made in Topeka. L
have nearly arranged to go from Kansas
City to St. Louis on a steamer, then to
Cairo and up the Ohio to Pittsburg,
which l understand is within 40 miles
of Washington. l also understand there
are good many railroads running out of
Pittsburg. When we get to Washington
we propose to act like American citizens.
We will march up Pennsylvania
avenue, keep off the grass and
get permission to sit in one
Of the public galleries in the capitol.
Then we will state our case just as
though we were before some township
trustees and wanted road through our
farm.
81 want to get two companies here in
Topeka. There are many hardships in
connection with the trip, but 1 can as
sure you plenty to eat when we get
there. We have a car load of provisions
waiting for us. Many men who stay at
home have hearts beating in sympathy
with ours"
In conclusion Sanders made a signif-
cant remark: 'If congress does not grant
our requests we will not rebel; congress
will have rebelled against the American
people"
General Fl. III. Artz was the next
speaker He said: "When poor miner
wants to go from Colorado to Kansas he
can't go at less than full fare. If 40 of
them offer $1,000 for their transportation
they are ignored. How different are
they from the hotel men who own prop
erty and wear broadcIoth. The railroads
IL