Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-29
IT HAS STARTED.
Tho Army Of tho Commonweal on
It's Way.
COLD WEATHER HARD on THEN.


/ WAsBINoroN, March 2z-The ad.
vance Of Coxey's army Of peace is re-
garded as II huge joke. Those who
took counsel OF their own timidity and
feared the band OF pilgrims would
swell into a gigantic mob OF vaga bonds
and anarchists, and who conjured up a
/ general rising, which might eventually
lead TO riot and bloodshed, perhaps
even revolution, had all their fears dis
PEELED when they saw by the morning
papers that Coxcy's boasted army had
dwindled into less than u hundred
men, chiefly tramps who were willing
TO exchange the hard board and cold
/ potato to which they had become in.
ured for membership in the army"
Col A. f. Redstone, Coxey's repre-
sentative IN Washington. said yester-
/ day that he was not disappointed at
the poor showing made by the army OF
the commonwealth in its first days
march toward the national capital. II
did not expect" he said, ito see very
large crowd go from Mnssillon, but at
Eeederburn, where the army Is TO
! formally organize the numbers will be
swellcd. ] suppose the cold, disagree
able weather was Il disadvantage to
the army at its start, but had a dis.
| patch from Gen CoXey telling me he had
started, and that everything was en-
couraging."
Col. Rcdstone's manner IL less cnthu-
siastic than IL has been, and he owl
IDENTITY does not feel as hopeful as his
statements Indicate lie has reduced
his estimate OF those TO appear here
from 10000 to 100000 Letters are
coming TO the war department daily,
begging, suggesting and demanding
the secretary of war To provide an
abundant supply OF rations for the
various sections OF the Coxey common
veal army that have designs on Wash.
ington and the peace of mind Of con.
@rcss These letters come from all
quarters, lut their destination is the
samc-thc departmental waste basket
RECEulrs on TnE WAY.
IoRr SCorT, Kan, March 2T-A
freight train arrived in this city yes.
trrday from Fort Worth. Tex, having
ON board thirty or more way-w orn
travellers, who were on the way to join
CoXry's brigade. They are under the
strict command OF Capt l.. Owens, aud
that officer with two privatcs, waited
upon the city authorities in very re-
spcctful way and asked for food which
was given them in abundance. They
cannot he called tramps. but appear to
be honest IN their intentions They
expect To join Coxey before he reaches
Washington.
4 MARCH THROUGH SNOW
LOUISVILLE, o., March a7.-llut
sevcnty-two OF Coxey's coInmonwealers
hal the courage to march AWAY from
Canton yesterday afternoon in the
face Of the wiutry blast that was blow
ing at the time set for the start The
band deserted at that point also and
took much of the spirit of the soldiers.
The march from Canton to this place
through two inches OF snow and In a
temperature 20 degrees above zero was
anything but a pleasant experience for
the thinly clad wanderers who had
imagined that the entire trip TO Wash
ington would be sort OF spring time
frolic. Fifty traInps were picked up
between Canton and this place. and
when the army went into camp last
night they numbered l22 men aside
from the officers Much excitement
was created by the an louncement that
three of the tramps had robbed man
named John Rucgge of n watch and $40
In money. This was the first ATTEMPT
at lawlessness, but no arrests were
made.
DESvER's CONTINGENT.
DENVER Col, March 81, Gen. Ham
ilton's Denver contingent OF Coxeys
army will have to walk out of town
unless they pay their fares II was
announced at Sunday nights meeting
that the Santa Fc would be called upon
to furnish train for the pilgrims At
the Santa Fe Office IL was said that the
company had refused to furnish n
train to the California division OF the
army, and would undoubtedly repeat
its refusal should the Denver con-
tingent make its promised demand.
The other roads will also decline to
give free transportation.
PoPULIsT PROCLAMATION.
CANTON, o., March 2I-Local popu-
lists have held meeting and issued a
proclamation to the people OF the com.
monwealth, II Is addressed to the
common people OF the United States.
1t says the shylocks are doing all they
can to crush and ruin Coxey financially
and closing in on him for some OF his
obligations, and are seeking to divert
attention from his real purpose OF re.
lieving the distress and suffering OF
the common people. 1t says when Gov.
| Mckinley was in distress the plutocrJts
contributed to his relief, The common
people should now come to the relief OF
their benefactor aud contribute in such
sums as they can, no matter how small
The Breckinridgs Case.
! WAsHINaTuN, March aT.-In the