Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-28
LAWlESS ELEMENTS
The Government Authorities Regard
the Situation as Serious.
TROOPS ORDERED out IN TWO STATES
The Law is to Be Enforced at
All Hazards.
UNCLE SANS STRONG ARM


The labor situation has assumed a most
serious aspect and the President and his
cabinet have concluded that radical and
prompt action is necessary to prevent a
spread of the lawlessness which has mani
tested itself in an alarming manner, es-
pecially in the distant northwest. The At
torney General and the Secretary Of War
spent most of the day at the White House
considering the best means Of subduing the
tendency to violence that is displayed by
the more reckless disciples of Coxey in the
far west. The Attorney General submitted
several kilograms from officers of his de-
partment in North Nakota and Oregon.
showing a serious state Of affairs. Lawless
bands Of Coxeyites are concentrating at
different points along the Union Pacific and
Great Northern railroads and seem to be
beyond the control Of the state authorities.
A desperate mob captured train OF
cars Of the Union Pacific road at Trout
dale, Ore, not far from Portland and Gov.
Pennoyer stubbornly refused 70 call out
the militia to rescue 1t. These facts have
been presented to the Department of JUS
tice. and the aid of the government has
been invoked. The road is in The hands
of receivers Of the government and conse-
quently is under its control. The case Is
the same az that of the train seized at
Butte, and the authorities have decided to
follow the plan pursued in that instance.
Troops in Oregon and Dakota.
Gen. Otis, commanding the department
Of Columbia has been ordered to place suf-
fcient force Of troops at the disposal of the
United States marshal having jurisdiction
to insure the recovery Of the governments
property and the trial of the offenders.
II
kota also reported that the mails on the
Great Northern road are being seriously in
terrupted and has asked for the assistance
of the United States military in keeping
the line open. The rioters In this case are
said to be conferred near Devils Lake and
troops have been ordered there to see that
the United States malls are not molested in
any way. These facts are obtained with
the greatest difficulty. as the Secretary OF
War does not deem II prudent to give out
any information whatever on the subject.
Similar reticence is observed at the White
House and Department of Justice.
1t is known that the authorities are very
much gratifed at the action Of Gov McKin-
ley Of Ohio in ordering out the militia, as
indicating q practical disposition in MAIN
tanning peace and good order In that state
without the aid of the federal troops.
The Government in Earnest.
Altogether the situation in the northwest
is becoming serious and to meet 1t the gov
ernment will use every means within its
power.
1t is stated that no mob Of any kind will
be permitted to interfere with the move
ment Of mail trains, II the military forces
Of the government are able to prevent il.
and further that the United States troops
will assist in serving all processes issuing
from the United States courts in the dis
turbed districts against the unlawful acts
OF the so-called "Coxey contingents." The
government 10 in earnest in this matter,
and, IL these awless acts continue, those
engaged In them will be made to feel the
power of the government In a way they
may not expect to relish.
1t seems to be the general opinion here
that the lawless tramp element throughout
the west is taking advantage Of Coxey's
"commonweal OF Christ" demonstrations on
public and private property, and that In
consequence they are fast losing, or have
lost. all the sympathy Of the respectable
element of society everywhere. These acts
it is believed. will rapidly disrupt the whole
movement. and bring disgrace and shame
upon the honest people who, through mis-
taken zeal In the cause of labor, may have
Joined the so-called crusade.
CoIey Movement Interstate.
The Coxey movement has become a sub
ject of interstate commerce Jurisdiction, &C.
cording to the judgment of some of the
leading lawyers in Congress. This legal
proposition may be of far-reaching conse-
quence in checking the further advance of
Coxey branches in the west. But the
broader legal proposition is now advanced
that the presence of the Coxey bands within
states boundaries is a mere incident to
their main purpose Of crossing state lines
and centering at the seat OF federal govern
ment.
Representative Storer Of Ohio, a member
OF the interstate commerce committee, takes
this view of the movement. He SAYS IL has
ceased to be an affair concerning individual
states and has taken an interstate
aspect.
He points out the fact that the United
States Supreme Court has held that a pas
senger on railroad train crossing state
line Is subject to Interstate Jurisdiction
Should Attorney General Olney adopt this
construction Of the law there would be no
further need Of waiting for the call of state
governors.
The federal authorities. viewing the Cox
ey movement as an interstate invasion,
could use federal troops to stop the menace
to the federal government Whether the
Attorney General will take this view of
the law Is, Of course, not known, but there
are many Congressman who regard it as
the most effective means of dealing with
the movement.