The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-05-03
COXEY'S FOUR HUNDRED
THAT WAS THE NUMBER THAT
FOLLOWED HIM YESTERDAY.
They Marched to the Capitol, But Were
Refused Admittance Amid an Ex-
citing Scene-Browne Arrested
For Disorderly Conduct.


started from Massilon, o., on Easter
Sunday ended today, interrupted by
the police. Fortunately there were no
casualties and tonight General Coxey
is addressing his burlesque army in
camp, while Marshal Browne sleeps
in police station cell and christopher
Columbus Jones, leader of the Phila'
delphia commune, and comedian OF
the movement, endeavors to apprlate
a share OF the martyrdom in an ad-
joining cell. The performance enacted
within the shadow of the capitol to-
day is without counterpart in the
memory of Washingtonians. Over the
smooth, broad plaza of several acres
facing the east end OF the Capitol
passed a crowd of men and women
numbering 10000. The Capitol steps
and the portlcos under the pillars
were packed with people OF both
sexes, we'll dressed, and most of the
members OF congress in the throng.
An early adjournment had been taken
by the senate on account of the death
of Stock bridge, but the house, not
wishing to seem to be criticized by
the demonstration, went through the
semblance of a session with handful
of members. More than 100 city police
reinforced the Capitol police. Detec-
tives from outside cities, sprinkled
through the crowd, gave just grounds
TOR apprehension OF trouble, apart
from the presence of the Coxeyites.
1t was shortly after o'clock when
the army halted in the public streets
south OF the capitol grounds after its
five mile march down from Bright
wood through the streets where they
had been Witnessed by thousands.
There were $40 men in line. Miss
Alma T.. Diggs, the Populist ag!tator
of Kansas, IN a barouche, CoXey's L.
year OLD daughter in front, represent
ing the Goddess of Peace;Carl Browne
on gray Percheron stallion; Gen.
Jacob Sechle, Coxey, his wife, the in
fant, Legal Tender" Coxey, together
lete, said TO be an actress, on horse
back, draped in an American flag as
the Philadelphia commPne's Goddess
OF Peace, the unemployed carrying
white flags OF peace on slaves, and the
noDdescnpt banners setting forth the
doctrines OF re.incaroation. good roads
and entity to plutocrats, sprinkled
through the caravan.
Marshal Browne halted the process.
sion there in the street, walked back
to C0Xey's carriage, the general kissed
his wife, and then the two moving
spirits forced their way over the plaza
to the capitol steps, their men acting
under orders standing in their tracks.
After CJxey and Drowned passed a
yelling crowd OF several hundred
men, most OF them following Browne,
conspicuous because OF his unique cos
tune Tramping and tearing it's way
through tie costly shrubbeIy the mob
went, while the squad of mounted go.
lice which had headed the parade,
dazed for moment by the unexpected
move, dashed recklesely into their
midst. CoXey was confronted by the
police as he took off his hat to speak
on the steps, and his demand tor con-
stitutional rights, as he called il, being
refused, thrust upon them printed
protest, which proved to be we'll
worded epitome of Populist doctrine.
Meanwhile Carl Browne was being
literally dragged by the collar of his
coat through the crowd towards the
nearest police station, after he had
made q fight to retain his banner.
Two police crptains, lieutenant and
sergeant thrust the mild.mannered
Coxey, without violence, back through
several hundred feet of humanity to
his carriage. Mounted police were
forcing their horses among the people,
several of them cracking their clubs
over the heads of the nearest persons;
women were shrieking in terror, men
were yelling tiercely. Some were be.
ing Knocked down and trampled
upon. For five minutes there was a
roit in that section of the mob in
front of the east steps which Occu pied
about an acre OF the asphalt. Then,
the two agItating spirits having been
removed, dozen particularly belig-
erent men having been taken in by
the police, the disturbance was quelled
without serious injuries to a single
person. Within an hour the capitol
grounds had almost regained their
normal quiet, with only few hum
dred people strolling around.
General Coxey accepted the situation
philosophically. His army Was put
to work clearing up the new camping
ground, while Coxey drove over to the
office of the department commits
sioners, with an eye to business. He
made application for the necessary
license TO charge admission to his
camp, and aching upon theiI sugges-
on, Mr.. Coxey went to the clerk and
by paying S. secured license for one
day only.
II have no complaint" Coxey said,
"to make ss far as the police are con-
celned. They treated me with great
consideration but they had to carry |
out the law, even il it was an unjust
one. My speech making, however, at
the capitol is over and L shall not
again attempt it. Would be no use.
The American Eagle did great deal
of squealing today but that was to be
expected. The authorities have
pinched him rather hard. He'll