The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-03-31
ON TO WASHINGTON.

The Army Of TIE CoDUoaweaf Iekee "
It's March-The MoveHens Coiossss
Yizrie-A Rldieuioasiy snsif Bsne Q.
Tramcs with rhousnssa OF Ameseo
spectators-ccxey Q Rufnea Ass ons<s
He Deserts HIS ArAy.
SssrcN, O., March h36.-Coxey's army
of the tcsHmonweal moved out OF Mas
sillon yesterday on schedule time
There were perhaps seTeHty>five stF.g-
elers in line at the start and twenty
Eve less when Canton eight Diies
away, was reached Carl JSrowne-
chief marshal, headed the procession.
He was mounted on white horse ano
was followed by half D dozen sides,
all mounted on horses belonging to
Coxey, who rode in . -esrrisge drawn
by a pair Of spirited steeda ' SIS
The procession consisted OF the mar
sfials, Coxey, his wife and. Sister. .
burler, four covered wagons, contsin-
ing camping o1tfts. baled straw and
several quarters Of bssf; brass band
that played all kinds of music at once,
and the soldiers of the commonweal on
foot They marched single ,hle and
two abreast as pleased their fancy
With very few exceptions they werela
hafd-ioolinr lot of citizens This.
they claimed, was Bos their fault, but
the fault Of our system of govern
ment.
The weather was pleasant when the
start was made, but the procession
was soon overtaksn by severe snow
storm. This had depressing tend
eucy i'd a number of desertions were
reported before Red Urban, the trss
stop, was reached After brief stay
at Red Urban the army resumed It's
onward march and reached Canton
shortly after o'clock where Camp
Lexington was pitched
On the march from Massillon TO Cam
ton the Commonweal army was fol-
lowed by q mob of nearly 1000 people
In carriages, on horseback and afoot-
They made the welkin ring with their
cheers snd kept Coxey constantly bow
ing and liftib9 his hat On reaching
Canton the army was greeted by fully
10, 900 people who were crowded ON
sidewalks and in windows and bal
comics along Tuscarawas street
Everyone regarded the affair as q huge
joke and good humor prevailed on all
sides
Camp Lexington was pitched on
vacant lot near the workhouse, shortly
after o'clock, and the tramps consti-
tutinp the army of the Commonweal
at once began building bonfires, scat
tering straw upon the ground and
making other preparations to keep
comfortable during the night
The army had to start OIL It's march
without the Goddess of Peace, as no
maiden could be found to assume that
role. Instead of the goddess, burly
negro has been enlisted to. carry the,
banner, thus giving the African race
representation in the movernent
One group of five soldiers deserted Aa
body before Canton was reached.
Their marshal thought the celestial
powers were not exercising proper dis
cretion in sending a snowstorm upon
the advancing hosts" and advised his
men to break for passing freight
train. They broke, and have not been
heard from since. 1t was feared by
some of Coxey,s lieutenapts that there
would be more desertions before morn
| ing unless the weather moderated,
Coxey's life insurance policy has
been revoked, the officials of the com
pany fearing he may meet with vio-
lent end before finishing the present
enterprise.
Coxey is enthusiastic and claims the
movement thus far exceeds his most
sanguine expectations; but this is
hardly in keeping with his former dec
larations Canton and Massillon were
both crowded yesterday with people
who had come in from surrounding
towns and cities to witness the sight