The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-23
COXEY'S ARMY A MYTH
Only Twenty Marchers Have Ar
rived at the Rendezvous.
The Arch Crank Still Confident He Will
Have Host at His Back When He
Reaches Washington.

MASSILLON. O.. March 22-The Coxey
army of peace" does not materialize
Not to exceed twenty men have put In an
appearance here. The leaders of the move
uent still profess TO believe that at least one
thousand men. and maybe more. will be
ready TO march when the army moves next
Sunday. Every day Coxey's mail is loaded
down with letters from persons in various
parts Of the country. promising recruits to
the ranks or subsistence of the army while
ii is on the road. The failure of the re-
cruits TO report at headquarters has given
rise TO suspicion in some quarters that the
writer's are trlfling with Coxey. on the
other hand. reports from towns WITHIN forty
or fifty miles of A1assillon tell of bodies of
tramps, who say that they are on their way
to report to Commander COxey.
Mr. Coxey went to Pittsburg yesterday,
but returned in the evening. While in the
former city he was interviewed by a re-
porter. He announced as something new
that he had selected woman as a sort of
Goddess of Liberty to ride horseback in
front Of the army. Who she is. whether
she is married single, good looking or
not, he refused to say, but he added that a
member of the fair sex had been chosen
for advance guard as an emblem of purity
elect is resident of Beaver. II expect
now," Mr.. Coxey continued, that we will
leave Massillon next Sunday with four
thousand people. Two thousand will come
from Chicago by train, 2l9 people from
Jackson City, Mich, inform me that they
have secured rate OF ! cent per mile and
Will be there, and one thousand men have
promised to reach MassillOn from Indiana.
These, together with the local people, will
swell the number TO four thouand. | verify
IaIfa xt~f1I 1Qfa "
Washington. L had figured on 100000 L ex-
pect also that Congress will pass an emer-
gency bill to pay the carfare or the march.
ers home. / am confident that we VIII not
have less than 25000 visitors at Massillon to
attend the meeting, and see us make the
start at noon"
gathers, what will you do?"
Mr. Brown and l are pledged to make
the march alone if nobody joins us. Moth
ing but sickness or death will prevent US.
At Alliance to-day the train stopped Tor
half hour. Quite crowd gathered
around and asked me questions. Among
them was a minister. When l was leav-
ing one OF the men offered TO house at
Alliance On the train l met F. II. Rose,
OF the Cleveland Chocolate and Cocoa Com
pany who promised TO ship fifty pounds Of
cocoa TO Massiiion for the army. Before
l left home 1 found in nay mail an order
for one hundred loaves Of bread TO be de-
livered by Pittsburg baker when, We
reached there. The order was signed by
two sympathizers. When in Pittsburg a
short time ago l met Michael Murphy. the
Philadelphia oil man, who told me that he
approved OF the good road movement. All
these assurances lead me to believe the
demonstration will he successful"
do you know that some of your offers
of help are bogus?" was asked.
"Yes, / am aware of that. Some of them
show the lie on their face and are sifted
out. The truth is, don't want many peo-
pie on the march. My bulletins explain that
the marchers must look out for themselves
in the main. 1 don't want anybody TO be
sparsely settled between Brownsville and
Cumberland but l am not worrying about
that. Why, / am assured or four hundred
people from Somerset county who will go
with us"
Concerning the legality of his army Mr..
Coxey said he expected Governors McKin-
ley and Pattison and the sheriffs OF the
counties TO protect them. we are not
fighters" he said, "and if molested will ap-
peals to the militia for protection. l do
not know OF a loafer or tramp who has
come to Massillon to join US We do not
want such people To-day two colored mu-
sicians arrived TO go with US. The alb
sence OF trampS should convince the public
us. expect the police forces of the vari-
pie"
Kyle Expects TO See the ..ArIny."
WASHINGTON, March CT can hardly
see," said Senator Kyle, chairman OF the
| Senate committee on education and labor,
''why Senator PETER should have had Gen.
! Coxey's bills referred to my committee. but
l shall examine and see what can be done
| about them. | think the army will come to
| Washington he continued. Most assuredly
1 do and l expect 10 look out of my com
mittee room window on May day and see
| the assembled multitude there in large mum
| bers. according TO the announced pro-
gramme. l should not wonder if there
should be fifty thousand OF them, instead
| of 10000. and /, for one, believe that II
| tran ar bpp N bea Epp of