The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-09

WASHINGTON, d. c., May The
march of Coxey's Commonweal army,
which started from Massillon, o.. on
Easter Sunday. ended today in interrup-
ton by the police. Fortunately there
was no casualties and tonight Gen.
Coxey is addressing his burlesque army
in camp while Marshal Carl Browne
sleeps in police station cell and Chris
TOPPER Columbus Jones. the leader Of the
Philadelphia commune and the comedian
of the movement, endeavors to appro-
pirate a share of the martyrdom in an
adjoining cell
The performance acted within the
shadow Of the capitol is without a coun-
fterpart in the mind of Neutrality-suspicious..
Over the broad, smooth plaza of acres
facing the east front Of the capitol was
pacing a crowd of men and women num-
bering 10000. The capitol steps and the
porticos under the Grecian pillars were
packed with people Of both sexes we'll
dressed and most Of the members of con-
gress in the :hrong.
An early adjournment had been taken
by the senate on account of the death
of Senator Stockbridge, but the house,
not wishing to seem to be terrorized by
the demonstration, went through the
semolance of a session with handful
OF members. More than 200 city police
reinforced the capitol officers. Detec-
uves from several cities were sprinkled
through the crowd for the concentration
of lawless local characters gave Just
grounds for apprehension of trouble
apart from the presence Of the Coxevites
shortly 1
army halted in the public street south
or the capitol ground. Its five-mile
march down from BrightwoOd through
the principal streets Of the city had been
witnessed by thousands. There We're soc
men in line. Mrs. Annie l.. Digs. the
populistic agitator Of Kansas. in a
barouch, Coxey'S seventeen-year-old
daughter on a crean1-colOred steed repre-
senting the goddess Of peace, Carl
Browne on a great grey stallion Cen
Coxey, has wife, the infant Legal Ten
der Coxey together in another carriage.
Virginia LaValatte, said to be an actress.
on horseback draped in an American
nag as the Philadelphia commune's
goddess or peace, the unemployed carry
Ing white flags Of peace on slaves and
the nondescript banners setting forth
the doctrines Of reincarnation, good roads
and enmity to plutocrats, sprinkled
through the caravan.
Marshal Browne halted the procession
there in the street and walked back 10
Coxey's carriage where the general kissed
his wife Then the two moving spirits
of the affair forced their way over the
plaza to the capitol steps, their men, act
ing under orders, standing in their tracks.
AFTER CoXey and Browne pressed a yell
ing crowd Of several hundred men. most
OF them following Browne, conspicuous
for his unique costume. Trampling and
tearing its way through the costly
Shrubbery the mob went while the SQUAD
a. nh 10
parade. dazed for moment by the un-
NPected move, charged recklessly into
their midst.
Coxey was confronted by the police
as he took off his hat TO speak on the
steps. and his demand for his constitu-
tional rights as he called it, being re-
fused, thrust upon them printed pro
test, which proved TO be a weIl-vorded
epitome Of populistic doctrines. Mean
while Carl Browne was being literally
dragged by the collar Of his coat through
the crowd toward the nearest station af-
ter he had made a fight to retain his
banner. Two police captains, a lieuten-
ant and sergeant thrust the mild-man-
nered CoXey without violence back across
several hundred feet Of humanity 10 his
carriage. Mounted police We're forcing
their horses among the people, several Of
them cracking their clubs over the heads
of the nearest persons. Women were
shrielsing in terror men were velIfne,
trampled upon. For five minutes there
was riot in that section of the mob In.
front Of the east steps, which occupied
about an acre Of the asphalt. Then the
two agitating spirits having been re-
moved ana half dozen particularly
belhgerent men having been taken In
by the police the disturbance was ouelled
without serious injuries 10 a single per
son. Somehow the army was started of
toward its new camp between double
Of oil Irv r
thousands, cheering like demons for
CoXey and Browne. Within an hour the
capitol grounds had almost regained
their normal quiet with only a few hun
dred people strolling around.
Gen. Coxey accepted the situation
phllosophically. His army was put TO
work clearing up the new campinf,
ground for occupancy, while Coxey drove
over TO the office OF the district commits
sioners with an eye TO business He
made application Of them for the neces-
sary license &c charge admission to his
camp.
The commissioners desired time TO con.
slider the proposition. so acting upon their
suggestion Mr.. Coxey went TO the clerk
and by paying s. secured a license for
Tomorrow Carl Browne and Christopher
Columbus Jones will be tried in the police
court. Browne viii be arraigned on the
general charge OF violating a United
States statute, the enc regulating the
use OF the capitol grounds. Probably
Jones Will be charged with disorderIy
conduct Washington citizens wish most
fervently that this trial might mark the
passing Of Coxeyism.
Late I'm the afternoon Brownies bail
was fixed at $500. Mrs. Emily Briggs.
wealthy resident OF this city and Mrp.
Anna Hahn. a prominent labor SYM
pathizer, undertook the bond and the
chief marshal was set free. Mrs. Briggs
conveyed him In her carriage 70 hef
home. where he took dinner. and then
ne returned 20 the army In its camp
near the river.
Christopher Columbus Jones was left
10 languish In the station house. None
Of the Coxey people seem 10 be par
tlcularly Interested in his condition or
fate and II r. doubtful N any effort will
be made 20 get him out OF jail.
Jesse COxey led the army 10 camp. his
whitehead sister, the goddess or peace.
retaining her courage admirably. a
squad 81 twenty eight police under Lieut..
Amiss meantime had marched over 10
the army and lined up 20 preserve order
as II departed. gray-haired man with
a @. A. r. button on his coat climbed
up the steps Of an adjacent house and
began a harangue upon the rights of
American citizens, which drew frac-