The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-24
APPEAL TO THE COXEYITES.
The Commissioners Of The District urge
Them Not TO Enter Washington.
PROGRESS CT TAB IEYADISG ARMIES.
Coxey Arrives at Boonsboro and u Jo'hen
by yRedsfone-situation of the hehy
and Frye Armies.

attorney for the District, and Coiohel
Moore. the chief Of police OF Washington
the District Commissioners issued the tol-
lowing proclamation this afternoon;
TO Whom 1t May Concern:
Whereas IT is reported that several or
ganized bodies Of men are approaching
the District Of Columbia, with the ayowed
purpose of securing such congressional
action as Will relieve the condition Of un-
employed laborers throughout the country.
And whereas all unemployed men and
others throughout the country who may
! be In sympathy with the movement, have
been invited 20 assemble in front OF the
/ National Capitol on the ist Of May, prox-
ino, for the purpose Of compelling favora-
bic action by Congress, by mere force Of
numbers and physical presence.
! And whereas the constitutional right
of petition does not justify methods dan
Ger0us 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 obtaining legisla-
tive relief under our system of govern
ment.
And whereas IT is declared to be the
intention Of this body of unemployed and
destitute people. not only to gather on
the ground for the purposes aforesaid, at
the city OF Washington. but there to re-
main until their mission shall have been
accomplished
And whereas the national capital has
been chiefly devoted to public business
and is the centre of Federal legislation,
and as a result Of its lack Of ordinary
| means OF affOrding employment, is now
taxed 10 its utmost capacity I'm charita-
bic efforts to care for its own poor and
unemployed
Now, therefore the Commissioners Of
| the District Of Columbia, who are charged
with the duty Of maintaining peace and
good order and with enforcing the law
in said District, appreciating the gravity
| of the situation and fully approaching
the hardship which must come upon
many innocent but misguided people If
| this ill-considered movement should be
continued, do hereby appeal, in the in
terest Of humanity and in furtherance
of the peace and good order which are
| enjoyed by the laws In force in said
! District, to the good sense and patriot
ism of all those engaged in or who con-
/ template taking any part in the proposed
| demonstration, and urge them TO recon-
slider their intention to come into the
! District of Columbia for that purpose.
No possible good can come from such
a gathering, and with no proper prepara-
! tion or means of subsistence, suffering
and ultimate disorder will certainly en-
sue. No wrong can be rghted, 10 condi-
ton Of labor ameliorated no remedy for
any existing evil realized by the contem-
plated demonstration Of physical force.
Every desirable end can be more GER
tainly and effectively accomplished by
ordinary and lawful methods.
The commissioners, while in entire SYM
pathy with all people out of employment
and having no desire or purpose to deal
harshly with unfortunate but Eonest men
who seek relief by reasonable and lawful
means, are in duty bound to give notice
to those who are tempted under any pre-
text to swell the number 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 para1es
assemblages or oratiOns In the Capitol
grounds and the obstruction OF any pub
lie grounds. streets, highways or ave-
nues and the approach 10 public or pri-
vate buildings.
The commissioners give notice, also, TO
criminals and eyildOers who, under cover
of crowd of unemployed men IN our
streets, may come here for the purpose
Of crime and disorder that all such will
be apprehended and summafily dealt
with.
And. finally. they give notice to all who
come here against their advice and pro-
test that the laws In force I'm the District
of Columbia are adequate for every
emergency. and win be rieldly enforced.
(SigneD JOHN w. ROSS,
GEORGE TRUESDALL,
CHARLES +. POWELL,
Commissioners District Of Columbia.
The commissioners have acquainted
themselves fully with all the local laws
which have reference TO a movement
similar to that Of Coxey's and il Is un-
| derstood that they have decided that the
army can be treated as vagrants.
Tho Departure From ifngersiowp.
HAGERSTOWN, MD, April 2.-After
three days stay in HagerstOwn, the
army of the Commonweal this morning
broke camp and made for Turner'S Gap.
Just after the departure of the Common
veal army considerable speculation was
aroused by dispatch from Washington.
stating that troop Of cavalry had started
from Fort Meyer. bound for Frederick.
There is a rumor that the Commonweal-
ers have been making oveTtures 10 the
strikers in the coal regions. and there
is a possibility Of a deuge OF miners
scizing trains to rush down, striking the
line OF march somewhere in Frederick
or Montgomery county
Iist of the Western Armies.
NEW YORK. April 23-A special from
Chicago says: From all over the West
comes the news that the crusade Of indus
trials is spreading. over dozen armies
being now i'm the field. In all the larger
towns companies are rapidly being formed.
The armies, detachments and divisions
now in the field in the west are: Cen.
eral Kelly, 1900 men, Nicola. Ia; Cen
eral Frye. 1000 men. Terre Haute, Ind;
General Frye's second division 500 men.
McLeansboro. H.: General Gray. 100 men.
Plattsyille Col: General Galven, 200 men.
LoVelapd, o.: Sergeant Randall. 800 men.
Chicago; 100 men at Little Falls. Mimi;
800 men at Butte, Mont; 100 men at
Monmouth. H., 100 men al Ottumwa, Ia;
Captain Sullivan, 1000 men. at Chicago;
$50 men at Anderson. Ind. and General
Aubrey, 200 men, indianapolis, Ind. Be
sides these armies, there are a large
number of recruits pushing forward 10
various lines OF march. with the intention
of Joining the larger bodies.
Smith Reaches Washinst IN.
WASHINGTON. d. c., April 23.-
smith, the unknown" Coxeys cashiered
lieutenant. put In an appearance at the
Coxey headquarters here to-day In Rech-
able Hail, and created somewhat OF a
sensation. He wore brown velveteen
coat and vest. a pair OF white riding
trousers. and black leather leegings and
fine shoes, and profusion Of jewelry.