People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1894-05-04
:C0XEY IN WASHINGTON.
HIS ARMY EfICAMPED ON THE
EDGE THE CAPITAL.
Senators and Representatives and Thou
sands Of People Visit Them-Win Stay
in Washington All Summer Until Con-
gress Takes some Aetion-Coxey News.

WASHINGTON, April 80. - Citizen
James S. Coxey, commander-in-c chief
of the good roads army of the COM
mOnweal, standing on a rickety wagon
in the center of Brightwood driving
paTk. waving aloft his alpine hat to
one Of the most cosmopolitan and ex-
tensive audiences ever gathered in
Washington, announced yesterday af-
ternoOn the greatest march of
the nineteenth century had
been accomplished. Three hundred
and half of miserably dressed, Woe
BECOME, grumbling. out at the elbows,
and run down at the heel specimens
of humanity marched into the park
led by wheeling apology for band,
pitched tents and stretched them
selves in the sun. Thousands from
the city turned out to make a holiday
of 1t and inspect the curious aggrega-
ton.
Over the most pretentious tent.
which bore the sign of headquarters"
painted across it. were found the
leaders of the army. General Coxey
and Marshal Browne The marshal
busted himself in changing his buck
skin suit for a more conventional
black cutaway in preparation for the
incarnation services which were
about to begin.
Clad in fashionable spring attire of
light drab hue, and as perfectly creas-
ed trousers as could be seen on Fifth
avenue, with a cup of coffee in one
hand and boiled egg in the other,
from which he alternately took re-
freshments and sustenance. sat Gen
eral Coxey. The question which has
most agitated Washington of late was
propounded to him by the press re-
porter.
What do You intend to do when
the police prevent you from holding
your meeting in the capitol grounds?'
he was asked.
NO one will prevent us replied
the seer from Massillon. Does not
the constitution guarantee the right
to peaceably assemble and petition
congress-
But there is a police regulation
passed by congress which forbids pro-
cessionS and assemblages on the cap
itol grounds, aud the police will stop
your army if it attempts to trespass. :"
The constitution was written be-
fore any police regulations, replied
the general. IF they come in con-
fict with the constitution, they are
void. We stand squarely upon the
constitution. that is our platform"
How do you intend to enforce your
rights"
viii Appeal to the Courts.
There is but one way, by an APP
peal to the courts. We will go before
the highest courts in the land if neces-
sary. Meanwhile we will wait here
in Washington if it takes all summer.
If the courts refuse us our rights
there will be a revolution. do not
advocate revolution, nor do ! desire
it, but it will be irresistible, and il
will be the greatest revolution of his
tory, if the. American people are once
thoroughly aroused"
The Army at Dinner.
Meantime the army inside the can
vas had been disposing of miserable
meal The men lined up before a
commissary wagon from which
squares of the bread which they call
punk" was dealt out to them. This
they took over to the camp fire, on
which several buckets of uninviting-
looking meat stew had been con-
cocted. Each wealer received a big
spoonful of the stew on his bread. and
they sat about on the ground gnawing
this in famished way. A much more
elaborate meal was prepared for the
leaders in the headquarters tent.
The gate receipts for the day are
said to have been but $40. General
Coxey declares his army will march
to the capitol Tuesday noon, holding
its great mass meeting on the steps
to demand the passage of his bill, and
then return TO camp to wait until they