Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-04-19


body and soul in sympathy with the
movement and actually believes that the
desired results will be obtained when
Coxey's men reach Washington. He
expects TO sec the time when Congress
will accede to the demands of the
Coxoyites and issue $500, 900, ,000in non
interest bearing bonds for the purpose
of improving public roads and bridges
in order TO give work to the unemployed
at q remuneration of $3.50 per day.
Commander Jones would like to see
erected magnificent boulevard stretch
ing from the Atlantic to the Pacific
ocean, where all idle workmen could
find something to do for the balance of
their natural lives. Where the money
for the execution OF such stupendous
public improvement is To come from,
even such q, conspicuous character as
Jones is unable to say. 1t goes without
saying that no one takes Commander
Jones seriously, although he believes
like all other cranks of this character
who have figured in history, to have
been commissioned by divine interven-
ton and endowed with the proper
physical ability to carry the plans into
execution.
Outside of Commander Jones very
few OF the men can be included In the
category of fanatics. The majority of
them are born tramps, who have evil
| IDENTIFY trod the soil of idleness from the
very beginning of their earthly career
until the present time, and who will
probably still keep on traversing the
public road until they are brought up
with round turn by the entanglements
| of the law or from sheer exposure. To
say that the Philadelphia brigade of
| Coxey's army is composed of idle work
men, or that they have ever been ac-
cused of earning their food by thes
| of their brow, would be libeling the
army of American workingmen. The
American woraingman is far toe honest
to rely upon the public to maintain him
as an object of charity in this manner,
and consequently his pride would never
| allow him to go about the country beg
ging and sailing under beggar's colors.
| This Is just what the army of Common
wealers are doing, and considerable
money Is thus being realized.
One way of raising revenue adopted
| by the tourist army is the, sale of
thousands Of copies of a pamphlet con-
taining the speech delivered by "W.
/ Phlllips,h at the Church of the Human
ity, in Philadelphia, on April 1st. On
the first page of the pamphlet, which is
sold at 8 cents copy, is the following
legend "Christ and Coxey," and inside
the cover there follows description of
the Jack Cades of History, beginning
with the story of the social discomfort
in England, four hundred and fifty
years ago; the musterlng-in of Cades'
rabble mob of 10000 people, which
captured London, but was routed, and
in which Cades was slain in a single
combat by u Kentish farmer, and his
head exhibited from spike off London
bridge as warning to the advocates of
paternahsm In government The PAM
phlet concludes with an account of
-Co6eylsz undertaking, in which his
scheme is likened TO the coming of
Christ and heralded as the salvation of
American citizens.
What becomes of the money collected
by the leaders of the alleged industrial
movement while on the marchy The
rank and file of Commonwealers declare
they do not get it, and while the hat
goes frequently around, only few re-
ceive the advantage of the raked in
shekels. Some of the young men COM
planned of the treachery OF the profess
sional tramp, and stated that they had
i been robbed of articles of value, but
wha: they were heaven only knows.
The typical knight of the road only
smiled when complaints Of this charac-
ter were heard, and contented them
selves with side thrust at the person
volunteering information of this charac-
| tpr Huh had
relieved of articles which he valued
considerably, stated that he was tired of
this treachery and would continue no
further than Wilmington.
From the color-bearer it was learned
that he and q youthful companion he
addressed as "Jack" were realizing a
small sum by the sale of cheap litera-
ture which did not bear the coat of
arms of the Coxey army by any means,
but IL found ready sale. The colors
comprised an American flag which
looked as If 1t might have figured in the
Custer massacre and which was "shy"
the. usual group of stars found on the
regular American flag, 1t had evidently
been used by some of tho tramps as a
dry shower bath and in this manner the
stars may have been obliterated.
There were no caravans or provision
wagons in this army, large wooden
box stretching from two pieces of tim
ber resting on the shoulders of four OF
the stoutest "soldiers" furnished the
only means of transporting the bulk Of
the army store although q limited sup.
ply of beans and prepared food was car.
ried in hand kettles. Other members OF
the army were weighted down with
blankets, clothing and the paraphernalia
used in putting up the tent while some
moved aimlessly along with no otheI
burden than the mere shambling Of
their bodies.
Several times ''scrap" occurred in
the marching column caused by disc,
bedience of the commanders orders Oh
the fusal Of q COMMONWEALTH to carry
his share of the supplies, but was
promptly quelled before any serious
disturbance arose. The moment the
army halted several of the more indo,
lent knights Immediately sought rest.
ing place on nearby fence rail ol
squalted on the nearest stone pile
which seemed as comfortable TO them
as though they had been cushioned
chairs. One thing Commander Jones
is determined upon and that is abso
iutely no profanity while on the march
He happened to overhear couple ot
the contingent making the air whistle
, with oaths Friday and at once ad-
monished the offenders that if the thing
was repeated they would be court-mar
=, tailed and dismissed from the army il
disgrace. This served to silence the
guilty parties, and Immediately three
, soldiers in the rear column began sing
;no, Tnnas (iopno Rack ~ n was npt a =