The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-04-27
A MANIFESTO.
District Commissioners on the
Coxey Invasion.
THEY WARN THEN TO KEEP AWAY.
An Earnest Appeal to the Industrialists to
Reconsider Their Determination to
March to washingtou-Crim-
inals VIII BE Arrested.

WASHINGTON, April 24-The commits.
sioners of the District of Columbia took
action yesterday on the impending
| Coxey invasion. After long executive
session and consultation with the at.
torney for the district the following
| manifesto was prepared:
| To Whom 1t May Concern:
Whereas, 1t is reported several organized
| bodies OF men are approaching the District OF
Columbia with the avowed purpose of securing
such congressional action as will relieve the
condition Of unemployed laborers throughout
the country: and
Whereas, All unemployed men and others
throughout the country who may be in sym
pathy with the movement have been invited to
assemble In front of the national capitol on the
lst day OF May proximo for the purpose of COM
pelling favorable action by congress by mere
force OF numbers and physical presence and,
CWhereas, The constitutional right of petit
tion does not justify methods dangerous to
peace and good order which threaten the quiet
OF the national capitol which are contrary to
law and opposed to the ordinary means OF OBJ
tanning legislative relief under our system Of
government and,
Whereas, 1t is declared to be the intention of
this body OF unemployed and destitute people,
not only to gather together for the purpose
aforesaid. at the city of Washington, but there
to remain until their mi sion shall have been
accepted: and
Whereas. The national capitol is chiefly de-
voted to public business and Is the center OF
federal legislation, and as a result of its lack
OF ordinary means OF aifording employment is
now taxed to its utmost capacity In charitable
efforts to care for its own poor and unem-
ployed
Now..therefore the commissioners OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia, who are charged with the
I'm % nf ma in fafn nj
with enforcing the laws in said district, being
sensible Of the gravity of the situation and
fully appreciating the hardship which must
come upon many innocent but misguided peo-
pie, II this ill-considered movement should be
continued, do hereby appeal in the interest OF
humanity and in furtherance of the peace and
good order which are enjoined by the laws in
force In said district to the good sense and
patriotism OF those engaged in. or who contem-
plate taking any part in, the proposed demon
stration, and urge them to reconsider their in
tention 10 come into the District OF Columbia
or that purpose.
No possible good can come from such a gath
ering, and with no proper preparations or
means OF subsistence. suffering and ultimate
disorder will certainly ensue No wrong can
be righted. no condition Of labor ameliorated,
no remedy for any existing evil realized by the
contemplated demonstration Of phv sicsl force.
Every desirable end can be more certainly and
enectiVely accomplished by ordinary and lawful !
methods. The commissioners, while in entire !
with all people out of emploT ment, !
and having no desire or purpose to deal harshly |
with unfortunate but honest men who seek re- |
lief by reasonable and lawful means, are in |
duty bound 10 give notice 10 those who are |
tempted under any pretext to swell the num-
ber Of unemployed persons already here that
there is neither work for them nor means 'for
their maintenance in the district that the law
does not permit the soliciting OF aims in our
streets and forbids parades, assemblages or
orations in the capitol grounds, streets, high
ways or avenues and the approaches to public
DR. private buildings.
The commissioners give notice also to Grim.
mails and evildoers, who. under cover OF q
'rowd Of unemployed men in our streets may
'ome for the purpose Of crime and disorder,
hat all such will be apprehenIed and sum.
narily dealt with
And finally, they give notice to all who come
lere against their advice and protest, that the
avs in force in the District of Columbia are adj
quate for every emergency, and will be rigidly
nforced JOHN w. Ross
GEORGE TRU EsDELL.
CHARLES +. PELL,
Commissioners of the District