Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-19
COxey's Army.


To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Object: To hold May 1 an immense as
sembly of the unemployed" on the east
front of the Capitol Their, after harangues
by the leaders, to present, in some way not
specified, demand on Congress to pass
certain bills. To remain in Washington
until this demand is complied with.
Means: To assemble in this city, on the
day named. as great a number of the I'M
employed as possible, the nucleus being a
small force led by Coxey and Brown, the
greater number to consist of Independent
bands and small groups moving on this
city from all parts of the United States.
by rail, steamers, in vehicles and on foot.
The leaders estimate the number to meet
here at from two hundred thousand to a
quarter of a million.
What has been done: In pursuance of
the program. several distinct gatherings
are on their way by rail to Washington
These aggregate several thousand men, if
we may accept the newspaper reports.
Smaller crowds are coming on foot. With
rare exceptions, the cities, towns and
neighborhoods into which these men come
furnish them with food and lodging and
urge them to hurry forward. Terror rules,
and, In selfishness each locality gets rid
of the infiiction, without taking any steps
to arrest the movement on the capital.
fed by farmers wives, who fear that burn
ing of barns and outhouses will follow re-
fusal. And thus, aggregations, crowds,
companies and groups of the unemployed
all converge on Washington. The COVER
nors Of states have done nothing to protect
their own people or to protect the capital
of the nation.
What will Congress do? Nothing, on COM
pClsion. Coxey has no right to dictate legis-
latlon.
What does the army" intend to do? The
leaders have declared their expectation that
revolution" will follow the refusal of
course. they put the blame on Congress, but
the revolution" is, they say, to come.
This stamps the whole movement as insur-
rectionary. Mr.. Coxey is the criminal
leader of a mob, organized to defy the law
against public meetings on the Capitol
grounds, and TO bring about the overthrow
of the government.
What can the army" do? That depends
If the government is caught mapping. great
mischief may result. Rendezvous is given
here. for May 1. to all the curious, the
cranks, the idle, the tramps and the honest
unemployed. If not halted, a good many
will come. The crooks will be here in num-
bers. The idle resident here will swell the
crowd. There may be In the streets, count
ing all kinds, from $4,000 to 100000 men.
Cranks with bombs in their pockets will be
on hand. One Of them may get a chance
at the President or one of the houses Who
can tell? A mob orator may point the way
TO the treasury crypts! Looting has at
fractions for such a crowd Washinton has
never had experience in this line. 1t re-
minds one Of the first French revolution
Its methods are borrowed from that era
which began in bread professions, and
ended In professions to the guillotine
What Is the future for Washington? The
army is to be disbanded here Several
thousand idle men are to be added to our
unemployed. There is no work here for
them. Who is to feed them? The means Of
the maudlin class-the men and women who
take flowers to thieves and make a hero of
every murderer-will soon be exhausted
and then the means of the honest and in
dustrious will be drawn upon
What ought to be done now? In my view.
the prudent course Is for the authorities to
give notice now that the program of Mr..
Coxey VIII not he carried out, and to take
all necessary measures of precaution Law
ana order can be maintained without any
arrangement on the constitutional rights Of
any one. -...-----
WILLIAM BIRNEY.