The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-25
SOVEREIGN Is wrrH THEM.
The knights of Labor Chief Backing she
Common veal.

CHICAGO, April 20. 49, Grand Master
Workman, j. r. Sovereign of the Knights
of Labor who has entered heart and soul
into the commonweal movement here
said today: "This is now matter which
| cannot be treated in a light way, and it
has become so serious an affair that the
eyes of the nation are now fully opened
to Its importance. Why should any one
| laugh at these armies now? They are
stirred by good motives and show that
they are in earnest, because they will
endure hardship and suffering to accom-
plish their objects. The scenes enacted
at Boston indicate that we are standing
on the crust of a volcano of public opinion
which may burst into demand for action
at Washington and Legislation to relieve
the unemployed and the starving.
"The CoXeyites are right and patriotic
in one of the planks of their platform.
They asked that no interest bearing bonds
be issued. That is one Of the cardinal
principles of the Knights of Labor.
sWashington is liable to double-even
quadruple its population in the next two
weeks, for all roads now seem to lead
there, and soon thousands Of men viii be
marching thither. OF course the Kuio hts
of Labor are in sympathy with this move
ment was told that 900 knights from
this city are ready to join the local army.
[ am glad of it and | believe they will i'm
the end accomplish great good. You
have but to study history to see that inn
mense waves of sentiment like the pres
ent result in something. You will see
that the Coxey movement will bring
about a sudden and decided change i'm
the course of legislation"
TO PROTECT THE COMMONwEAI..
Senator Allen Offers a Resolution Deolar-
ing Their Right to Come to Washington.
WASHINGTON, April 25-In the senate
today Mr.. Allen, (Nebraska,) offered the
following resolution for which he asked
immediate consideration:
Whereas, 1t is currently reported that
unarmed, law abiding and peacefully dis
posed, but unemployed citizens of the
United States are about to peaceablY as
semble in Washington to petition the
government for redress of their griev-
ance, and
Whereas, Threats of arresting such
persons have been made on their enter
ing the District of Columbia and the city
of Washington: therefore be it
Resolved, First-That under the con-
stitution of the United States, citizens of
the United States, regardless of their rank
and station in life, have an undoubted
and unquestionable right to peaceably
assemble and petition the government
for redress of their grievances at any
place within the United States where
they do not create a breach Of the peace,
menace or endanger persons or properly,
or disturb the transaction of the public
business, or the free use of the streets
and highways by the public.
Second-That such persons have as uu-
doubted right to visit the assem- bly, ian
the city of Washington for any aud All
peaceable purposes as in other portions
of the territory belonging to the juris-
diction of the United States at all umes
being amenable to the law for any viola
ton thereof
Third hat such persons have a right
to enter upon the capitol grounds of the
United States, and in the capitol itself,
as fully and to as great an extent as any
other citizens or persons, as long as they
do not disturb hinder the transaction
of public business, menace the public
peace or rights of persons and
property, and any threat of violence
to such persons under such circumstances
would be clear violation of their con-
stitutionaI right.
Fourth-That we commend the prompt
enforcement of all just constitutional
laws, looking to the preservation Of the
public business and the prevention
of crime; but under pretense Of
preserving the public peace and
the prevention and punishment of crime,
peaceabIe and law abiding citizens must
not be disturbed in the full and free eE-
ercise of their constitutional rights.
Objection was made to the cOnsidera-
ton of the resolution and it went over
under the rules.