The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-05-17
COXEY GIVEN A HEARING,
HE DEFENDS HIS BILLS BEFORE A
HOUSE COMMITTEE.

pressed-Vigorous Cross Questioning
The Lsbor Deprossions to bs Investi-
gated.
WASHINGTON, May 9.-Coxey ap.
peared on the floor of the House today
before the hour Of business under es-
cort Of Representative Pence of Cclo-
radO. SOmo Of the representatives
who were earlier in their seats crowd
ed about him, but when their curiosity
was satisfied they dropped away one by
one, and left him alone with Pence. At
II o'clock Coxey appeared before the
House Committee on Labor.
CoXey laid before the committee q
petition bearing the signatures Of his
followers, the character of their occu-
pations aud their place Of residence. II
was written on paper bearing the let
ter head Of the army of the common
veal. At the top Of the page we're
printed in bold, black letters, the mot
toes, "Good Roads," "Good Money"
Good Work" Beneath this appeared
single line-"Commonweal of Christ"
The petition Is dated at "Camp Ty-
ranny, in the field, Washington, d. G.,
May 8, 1894" and reads as follows: ave,
the undersigned, citizens Of the United
States OF America, now sojourning in
the District of Columbia, which is not
only the asylum of oppressed by all ma
tions. but our natural home, do hereby
respectfully petition your honorable
body to allow Brother j. S. CoXey, Of
MassiloD, Ohio, and Carl Browne of
Calistoga, Cal, to appear before you as
our spokesmen, to voice our wishes in
regard to tho proposed legislation for
which we made the march to Washing.
ton, namely, the J !, S. CoXey good roads
and non.interest bearing bond bills,
and which we believe, ii passed by
Congress-, would not only solve the
present prevalent business depression,
give employment to us, representing as
we do all branches of industry OF many
millions more like ds all over the un-
ION, but would etfectually, we believe,
provide against any possible recur-
renee OF the extraordinary condition
now existing in the Industrial and
business arteries Of the nation which
1t seems plain to us, If not remedied,
will bring death to republican institu-
tlons or revolution to maintain them
by force or arms, which all must de.
plore"
Coxey's petition was read bv the
clerk, the members of the committee
I'flo wing the reading carefully. Carl
browne came IN rs the clerk finished
and seated himself beside Coxey.
Mr. MGGann, the chairman Of the
committee, said the petition would
have to 60 to the special Com mittee
which they hoped to have formed to
Investigate the entire subject of the in
dustrlal depression. Coxey then took
the floor and started to address the
Com mittee. He had only proceeded
j moment when the members began
questioning him. His replies to these
queries were rambling and unsstisfac.
tory. The impression made by him upon
thecommittee was obviously not fat
tering one. lie was treated cOurteously
and held the floor for ten minutes, but
he said nothing that was either origi-
nal OR profound, or that added In any
manner to the knowledge desired by
the committee. lie began by saying
that billions of improvements ought to
be made throughout the country and
that millions OF people are ready to
make them. The only thing needed
was money.
eve claim" he said, "the same privi-
leges that one per cent. Of the people,
the national bankers, have had to issue
money based on the wealth of the State,
country and municipality"
Dun Oem.) Of New jersey asked if
our institutions were to be turned into
banking powers.
Coxey replied that the National
Banks had that privilege for twenty
years.
Ryan (Dem.) of New York: "You
claim to represent ninety-nine per cent
OF the people Of this country p"
Coxey: eyes sir"
:. Ryan: "On what do you base that
claim ?"
Coxey: 81 claim that ninety nine per
cent. Of the whole people ask tho same
privileges that one per cent, the ma
uional bankers have had for twenty
eight years. That one per cent. have
had money at a cost of one per cent"
Icyan: "The information / desire Is
by what warrant Of authority you
claim to represent ninety-nine per
cent. OF the people of the country?
Coxey:: I'll will answer you in this
way. You can take the Farmers ALL
ance, the Knights of Labor and other
organizations and you will find in
their preamble that they want money
Issued directly without interest. All
the orders are demanding that. 1t Is
true they have not been voting the
way they have been thinking. | will
acknowledge that"
Ryan: Don't you believe that more
than one per cent. Of the people are
represented in Congress
COxey: Eyes, | believe they have
been misrepresented. There is but ono
per cent. Of the people represented"
Ryan: Il would like to know by
what authority you say you represent
ninety-nine per cent. OF the people,"
Coxey. 81 came here to request that
this ninety-nine per cent of the people
be given tho same privilege under the
Constitution-which guarantees equal
and exact justice to all the people nat
the one per cent have had for twenty
eight years"
Ryan: 81 understand YOU to say you
came here representing 80 per cent: Of
the people. OF course If that be the
case we would like to have the proof of
| 1t. SO that Congress can act. as | pre-.
sumo Congress would act with the re.
quest OF 80 per cent. of tho people.
| How can you show that you represent
50 per cent. of the people?"
| COXey: 81 do not claim that, sir"
This closed the hearing of COxey.
| He was followed by |. e. Dean OF
Pennsy lvania, n member of the eXecu.
tive committe Of the Farmers Alliance.
L .Kx.1 -N..s & ...l