The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-24
ELKTON, MARCH "a, 1894.
COL. COXEY's CRAZY CRUSADE.

OOh' WALL NJ olkAd1 OhoSobhs
As nothing nowadays is too prepos.
ferrous for crooked cranks to conceive
and possibly to execute, people in their
senses must not be surprised, if the
army of adventures now mastering in
Ohio, and led by that cranky crusader
Col. Coxey, may actually reach Wash
lngton.
Col Coxey IS reported as beng in
eadJsst, and what is more important has
ample means to carry out his scheme,
which is to make rallying point at
Massillon, Ohio, whence he will start
on Easter Sunday-:omorrow-witha an
army of unemployed men five hundred
strong, which is to gather recruits as it
advances, until, when it reaches the
National Capital. three weeks later, he
expects to have following of 10000
unemployed men.
Such an army, composed, as it will
be of tramps, cranks and irresponsible
men of all descriptions will have very
little regard for the rights of property.
1t will be unorganized, undisciplined
and therefore uncontrolled. 1t will be
simply mob, with all of mob's cap
ability for mischief and lack of respon-
sibility for its actions. 1t will be literally
devouring host, and may be expec,
ted to leave the country through which
it passes bare of provisions of all kinds
Hen roosts, pig styes and farm yards
will be left desolate and country stores
will be thoroughly looted if the army
swclls to half the anticipated proper
tons, while worst of all perhaps, will
be the dropping out, here and there, OF
squads of vagabonds, who will establish
themselves in places hitherto free from
such pests and become a permanent
source of terror to peaceful commun-
tiles.
When the army reaches Washington
it is to make an attack in force on Con
gress demanding that quarters and
support shall be provided for Its men,
bers and that legislation shall be enacted
providing money enough to make
public Improvements at the rate of
S2o,ooo,ooo rnonth by the Govern
ment, besides Treasury assistance for
any State or city that desires to under
take similar work on Its own account.
The scheme seems too absurd for
serious discussion but it is reported
that Coxey is in earnest, that he has
issued a bulletin outlining his plan and
calling on his army to assemble and
that he fully intends to make start on
his crazy crusade. The authorities
of the towns along his proposed route
are alarmed, and are talking measures
to stop him but it is difficult to see
what they can do in the matter. Coxeys
reputed wealth, giving prospect of food
and entertainment for time, at least,
Is enough to draw great mob of vaga-
bonds together and the police of any
but the largest cities will be quite unable
to cope with 1t. Besides, there is no
law to prevent any number of citizens
from passing along the highway, pro-
vided they commit no breach of the
peace.
1t is quite probable, therefore, that
unless the author of the scheme changes
bis mind the army will be gathered and
a start made. Whether 1t will ever
reach Washington ismore problematlcal.
Should it do so IN anything like the
anticipated numbers, the addition to
the poverty and wretchedness already
existing in that city will be appalling,
for, of course, Congress will do moth
ing toward providing relief for such an
army of applicants.
Nevertheless, such a demonstration
might not be without good results. 1t
would call attention in an emphatic
way to the social and economic dis
orders now prevalent IN the country,
and possibly, lead to some intelligent
and comprehensive plans for their
amelioration.