The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-22
JAKE COXEY, General
He Is at the Head Of the MaSslllOn, o., Army
Of CTaHkS.
WILL march ON WASHINGTON
Coxey Is Well Known in This City and
Its Vicinity-He Was Born at Dan
vile and Has Relatives Who Reside
at Pittston--Many Believe That He
Is Developing Into Dangerous
Crank.

The most prominent crank in the
country just now Is Jake CoXey, OF
MAssillon. o., commonly referred 10 In
print as General" Coxey. and who
has organized movement to intimi
date and overawe congress by dom
onstration of physical force.
He has established headquarters Mt
Massillon, and his scheme ID to gather
about him vast army of followers
and then march to Washington to
peacefully impress upon congress the
immediate Necessity OF issuing an un-
limited volume Of irredeSmablA paper
currency 30 that no man may sutt sr for
want Of food, and OF stopping the pay
ment Of interest on government bonds
In order that the country may recover
from the bankruptcy toward which it
Ia hsstening. 1t is the full development
of the "Ohio idea" that money value
can be given to piece of paper bear
ing the government mark without any
necessity OF providing for its redemp
tion in specie.
WHO JAKE IS.
Particular interest in this section
centSrs in tue movements of Cen
eral" CoXeY for ths reason that he Is
not altogether unknown in these parts
He is u sou OF Thomas COXey, OF Dan
vile, aud was bora in that place.
Coxey has for brother-in.law John
II. Ricketts,, we'll known Pittston
business man. A the az, OF 20 years
he married daughter of DR.. Ammer-
man, of Danville, by whom he hac
four children. subsequently an es-
arrangement sprung up between the
couple and the wife secured divorce.
His second wife was n Miss Stecker.
Some eighteen years ago Jake moved
to Massillou, o anl became II farmer,
in which occupation it is said he has
been successful.
General Coxey is a Thso- -philan.
thropist and claims to be IN direct
communication with heaven. H, has
gathered shout him quite an army of
tramps and is in constant receipt OF
dispatches from various parts of the
country stating that detacbmsntS are
preparing to JOIN his army which is to
take up its march for Washington
next Sunday. it being General
CoX9y's intention to reach the capital
about May /. Every recruit is to provide
himself with horse and blanket.
The General" encourages his men
by recalling the suffering OF Washing
tons army at Valley Forge. They are
also told that to compensate them for
their prospective hariships they will
find the land through which they
march filled with the necesaries OF
life, to which they are expected to
help themselves
RECRUITING THE ARMY.
The scheme. crazy as it seems, has
Meetings are constantly being held at
MasSillon and new recruits ara con-
stantly arriving. Transcription upon
the banner Of tho fanatical host is
peace on earth. and to men good will
but death to interest on bonds.
1t Is said that insanity runs in the
family and 1t is generally believed
hsrsabouts that Jaks has gone daft.
He has been ranting greenbscker il
Ilues past anu is known III noEse rae
ing circles, having been at one tim'
the owner of stesd having a national
reputation.
He is we'll known by many Scran.
tonians and many stories of his peculiar
tiles are going the rounds Of the city
Some aver that the General" has de
veloped into q dangerous crank anl
that he should be restrained before he
is guilty of some overt act.