The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-16
Coxey's Commonweal.

A correspondent In Massiiion asks us to
apply serious criticism" to the two prop
ositions which the Hon. SILICA =. CoxEY
will force upon the attention Of Congress by
marching with an army OF the unemployed
upon Washington on March %. We are
inclined to think that 1t would be mistake
seriously to criticise Mr.. CoxRY. We doubt
IL there Is or will be any considerable
number OF persons gathering at Massillon
or anywhere else to Join Mr.. CoxEY and
move on to the Capitol. There are some
uncharitable persons. indeed. who believe
that the advertising. II not the genesis Of
the movement. Is to be found In a desire
to boom the town OF Massillon. Just as
Tacoma was heralded through the world by
the journey Of our distinguished psychic
fellow citizen. Mr.. G. F. TRAIN. At any
rate. some young newspaper men In Massil-
lon are sending out long and spirited
accounts OF the CoxEY crusade. and the
crankism OF the thing is getting worked for
all 1t Is worth. Dir. CoxEY Is a sharp bust
ness man. and his judgment on a horse is
not affected in the least by his enthusiasm
for the commonweal. 1t may be urged
that no man would care to advertise him
self as crank. but an accomplished crank
Is rarely content with isolation. and his
soft sense may not Interfere with his hard
sense. Besides. Mr.. CoxRY may be only
practical joker and eccentric humorist, or
he may have a deeper meaning. and DO
anxious to demonstrate that no bill and no
agitation or movement can be crazier than
some that are now prominent in and out OF
Congress. As to going to Washington. we
suppose that he has the same right to speak
In Washington in person and by delegation.
for his bills. that the friends OF protection or
free trade or a tariff for revenue only have
CoxEY's bill number one proposes that
the Government shall Issue five hundred
millions OF dollars in Treasury notes. to be
legal tender for all debts. and TO constitute
fund to be called the General County Road
Fund System OF the United States. and
used for no other purpose. This fund Is to
be spent under the direction Of the Secre-
tary OF the Treasury. at the rate of twenty
millions year. pro rata with the number
OF miles OF roads in each State or Terri
tory. All labor done upon the roads shall
be paid by the day at a rate OF not less than
$3.50 day for common labor. and $3.50 a
day for team and labor; and eight hours
shall be days work.
COxEY bill number two. called the CoxHY
misunderstanding bond bill. provides
that whenever any state. Territory, county,
township. or incorporated municipality de-
cides to make public improvements. it shall
deposit with the Secretary OF the Treasury
a Notwithstanding 25-year bond, not 10
exceed one-half the assessed valuation of
the property OF the said State, and so forth,
the bond to be retired at the rate OF four
per cent. year. Upon such deposit, the
Secretary OF the Treasury must order his
engravers and printers to prepare Treasury
notes to the face value Of the bond de-
posted. These notes are to be legal tender,
and ninety-nine per cent. Of the value Of
the bond is TO be delivered to the deposltor
at once. One per cent. the Treasury retains
for the expense OF engraving and printing
Why are We called upon TO criticise these
bills seriously? Any man who isn't Pop
ulist, or otherwise in an insane reservation,
is able TO criticlse them without suggestion |
from newspaper ofice. The bills OF our |
old friend. the Wage Workers Political Al |
lance OF the District Of Columbia. we're |
more ornate in providing. with an aesthetic |
for money TO be printed ION |
handmade paper" but otherwise they |
were no more and no less intelli gent. practi- /
cal. and sane than the CoxEY bills. In /
bedlam and oeala such stun u rsVsFsnesd.