The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-27
TROUBLE
But No One Suggests What Ought
to Be Done.
TOPEKA MEN ON THE COxEYITES

Topeka people talk about the Coxey
movement wherever and whenever they
meet.
The views Of the residents of the cap
ital of Kansas are widely different, as il
shown by what was said by the following
people in different walks of life who
were seen by STATE JOURNAL reporter:
General Manager j. J. Frey of Z the
Santa Fee said: This is one of those
things we can't tell anything about as far
as the outcome is concerned. II may re-
suit in nothing serious and yet we can't
tell what may happen. My idea is that the
newspapers have given this whole move
ment too much prominence from the
start. If the papers had let il alone Ii
wouldn't have amounted to anything. l
don't want TO criticise the newspapers
though h, for 1 understand their business is
10 print the news and let the people know
what is happening"
DR.. s. E. Sheldon said: "This is a Sc
rious question, and I think it means rev.
olution. 1t means blood The. govern
ment with the little standing army will
not be able to cope with this vast army.
The question to my mind is where IS the
south to be considered in this movement.
| have not heard that there is any of this
uprising in the south. When the clash
of arms comes, where will the south be
found? Will the south take the side of
the government, OF will it be with the
Coxey men?"
Judge J. B. johnson, of the circuit
court, and master in chancery of the
United States court for the Santa Fe,
said: alt is a bad thing. They talk
about this being a living petition
with boots on; something that can
not be put in the waste basket,
but as a matter Of fact it is nothing less
than a revolutionary uprising. Every
man in the entire movement talks about
turning down our present social condi-
tions. This is nothing less than revolu-
tion. The American people Will only
stand about SO much of this thing and
then there will be trouble. 1t makes no
difference whether these men are right
in their ideas or not, the question IS,
shall our government be Overrun by
lot of tramps and cut Threats. There
probably are some good men in the move
ment, but all the thieves and highway
men in the country will also be found
with them. They will be attracted to it
naturally as ducks will to a pond of
water"
Lawyer E. A. Austin said: "This looks
more and more like resolution. This
proves to me what have been thinking
for some time; that every year we are
being drawn nearer and nearer to
socialistic form of government. No mat
ter how much we may be opposed to it.
If the people coming to the front as
leaders are cranks, and they are cranks
sure enough, we are growing nearer to
this socialistic condition of government"
A prominent Santa Ee emplOye, high
up on the salary list who works at the
shops did not want to be quoted but he
said: 81 believe this thing is the result
of bad legislation There may be some
worthless scoundrels in the movement,
but there is no doubt in my mind but that
| the majority of the men are honest citi-
zens thrown out of work by the condi-
tions surrounding them. l am not able
to guess what the result will be but it
will show congress that the laboring
men in this country are not all happy in
the present condition of government
The first thing congress should do is to
restrict foreign immigration"
Monte Wells, a Santa Fee switchman,
said: "The thing seems all in the dark to
me. l don't see just what they expect to
do. They can't help the poor man much
the way they have started out They
make expenses instead of saving them.
| The good roads idea won't help the
poor man much. The rich farmer will
| get the benefit of it and the poor farmer
will have to pay for it 1 can't see much
sense in it myself No, l don't think the
railroad men are much struck on the
| idea. At least not those who are work
ing"
| VIM. Green of Green s. Kale said:
Il don't understand how this movement
can do any good yet. / don't see that it
| will bring about any great disaster 1t
will no doubt open the eyes of the men,
berS of congress to their own activity.
The men have right to march to Wash
ington if they want to and should not be
interrupted as long as they behave them
seIves.''
General Attorney NJ. A. Low of the
Rock Island said: This thing will die
out Entirely too much importance has
| been attached to it They have a right
to go to Washington if they want to and
| if they can find a way to get there"
Captain J. g. Waters said: Canada Bill
was accustomed to assert that fresh
sucker was born every minute. Were he
now alive he would say four. If John
frey were to take a position on the car
tracks at the junction of Fourth street
and the avenue, late as 4 o'clock in
the afternoon, and look as wise as he
could with some sort of a serious, scared
expression on his face, and solemnly an
nounce that he was the Savior, it would
not be early supper time before he would
| have IL apostles, would have taken up
collection, and would have some fe-
male at his heels, presumptious enough
to play the part of a second Mary Mag
dalene. The Coxey movement may be
preceded by a banner, but it it not
| patriotic. 1t is not patriotism to demand
/ bread and free rides by force of numbers;
congress and compel, by intimidation, the
enactment of laws by the presence and
| power of an invading army. The Ameri-
/ can people are often interested aud
amused by the outre, the spectacular and
/ the novel, but the American people are
mosquito that compels a sleeping giant
to rub his nose or turn in bed. It is
palpable menace to good order for or
| ganized bodies of men to move through
| the country, exacting subsistence that is
/ given to get rid OF their presence. / am