Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-04-09

WASHINGTON, D. c., April s.-The
unceremonious manner in which the
freight carload OF forty unemployed
from Cincinnati was taken in charge
by the police last night, is a foretaste
of the reception which awaits Co1ey's
army. Tomorrow morning the men
will be brought into police court, and a
charge of vagrancy entered against
them.
They have received two fairly good
meals to-day and have been passaoIy
comfortable, except for the ignomlny
OF confinement in cells usually occupied
by criminals. Captain Primrose, the
leader Of the band, may find himself in
more serious trouble than his followers
There is an old law on the statute
books, which was passed In 1880, and
has never been repealed, which makes
it an offense to bring into the District
Of Columbia any destitute people who
are likely
TO BECOME PUBLIC CHARGES,
with a penalty from S25 TO $50 fine for
each offense. The police authorities
are considering the advisabllity Of bring
ing a charge OF violating this law against
the leader.
The same charge may be brought
against General Coxey, if disaster does
not overtake the army Of the Common
veal before it completed its itinerary.
OF course the vagrancy act may be
brought into application against his fol-
lowers, and besides there are two other
laws which IL is the avowed and adver-
tised purpose of the CoXeyites to break.
One is the act of Congress regulating
the use of the Capitol grounds, which
forbids any gathering, demonstration
or parade, the making Of any oration or
use of threatening language, the display
Of any banner or device to attract atten-
ton. The other is local law which
FoRBIDs MEN TO CoNGREGATE
on the steps of any public or private
building. 1t rests within the discretion
OF the Vice President and Speaker of
OF the House to suspend the capitol
regulations for any proper purpose, and
perhaps Coxey's agents will apply to
them for permission to carry out their
programme.
Major Moore, Chief OF Police, said to-
day in speaking Of the march of Coxey:
s'These laws are on the statute books
and we have no discretion but to en-
force them if Coxey's army does arrive,
unless Congress should give them per-
mission to cOngregate on the capitol
steps.
The details OF the police movement
against Coxey are kept a secret. What
to do with the army when it arrives and
is taken into custody, il it should be, is
difficult question because the jails
and station houses Of Washington will
not accommodate such a crowd.
Major Moore has received letter
from the Chief OF Police Of Allegheny
City, Pa, describing the Coxey men in
most uncomplimentary terms. He de-
cIares that there are
SEVERAL PROFESSIONAL CRIMINALS
in their ranks, that four or five burglar
les were committed by them while they
were in his town, and that there would
have been more depredations but for the
close police Surveillance over the army
during its stay.
Many of the labor leaders in this city
are incehsed at the arrest Of the forty
one unemployed, and declare that the
proceeding was without lawful author
ity. They say also that Major Moore
had no right to deal with these men in
manner intended as horrible example
for Coxey's army.
1t is claimed that when the case comes
into court tomorrow morning there
will be plenty of friends OF the arrested
men, including a constitutional lawyer
and member of Congress and If author
ity has been overstepped in this arrest,
the proper people will be made to suffer