Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1894-04-20
When At Washington

tltt % Columbia i guarded against
in,lrs.ons Of such armie, a. he com
maids. h wouii probably have hest
tat,d before posing ~ the leader Of a
r4''', whI,h place themselves outside
The pale OF the law the moment they
set foot within It's hounds. The VA
grAucv law apples To al without vis-
hir means of support, who are de>t;-
tute and likely to become charges
upon the city OF Washington. The
penalty is 30 days in the workhouse
at hard labor, but il rests with the
Judge to accept their promises TO leave
the city at once OF accept 500 bonds
as surety that they will not become
public charges or beg.
There j. likewise an old law on the
etatute-books, passed in 1880, which
makes 1t an offense to bring into the
district any destitute people who are
likely to become public charges, with
penalty Of from 50 to $50 fine for
each ofiense. Ii this law is enforced
it will bear very heavily on the leaders
OF the several bands.
There is another law regulating the
Use OF the capitol grounds. 1t forbids
any gathering for demonstration or
parade. the delivery of any Grafton or
the use of threatening language. or
the display OF any banner or device to
attract attention, and still another
statute which forbids men to congre.
gate on the steps of any public or pri-
vate building.
These laws, the chief OF police de-
clares will have to be respected. There
is no discretion left with him, unless
Congress shall give permission to con-
gregate on the capitol steps, which is
unlikely when the purpose is more Of
intimidation than of petition. The
army's habits are essentially those OF
the law-defying tramp. They take by
force that which is not given or yielded
up on demand, and their motive is
that of the highwayman who believes
that the world owes him . living, and
their methods those of the professional
tramp who subordinates all statutory
enactment to the law of necessity.
Notwithstanding there is plenty OF
law on the statute books, which seems
to have been framed for just such q
contingency, the responsibility for
their enforcement will be grave one,
considering the magnitude of the
movement and the sincerity of many
of its deluded followers. 1t will prob
ably be impossible to mass more than
5000 or 1000 men at once, from the
difficulty and consequent delay met
with in obtaining transportation, but
that number win afford much trouble
if they attempt to violate oil law made
for preservation of the peace and dig.
nifty of the capital city. The military
force in and about Washington is suf-
ficient to deal with . far larger num-
Der OF raw recruits, unarmed. but what
to do with them is Q question not 30
easily determined.
It is said to be the intention of the
Industrial Army leaders to rendezvous
just outside Of the District Of Colum-
bia line. All divisions and stragglers
will mobolize there and enter the city
in grand rsgamufin parade, march.
ing down Pennsylvania avenue past
the White House to the capitol. to the
music Of fife and drum and carrying
banners inscribed Peace on earth
and good will toward men, but death
to monopolists and trusts" How this
army is to be fed is perplexing Wash
ington people. Station-houses, jai!a
and public warehouses; will not be ad-
equate by any means, 80 the idea Of
incarcerating them will have to be
abandoned. There may be an attempt
20 draw . Gordon Of police and mi!itis
around the army and literally corral it
Tits the general opinion that Congress-
may make an appropriation sufficient
to maintain them here for severa
days, with the distinct understanding
that when they have stated their griev
ances and presented their petition'
they will depart quietly from the city
A dispatch of Monday states tina
while the police authorities of Wash
ington are not telling their plans il
advance, they are making active prep
arations to receive General Coxey ant
his commonweal army. Two mem
bers OF the detective branch of tn
force, Officers Quinlan and Boyd, wer
sent to join the army At Cumberland
Saturday. Their business will be t.
make the acquaintance Of every crimi
nal who may be enlisted in the rank
and to learn the true inwardness Q
the movement, if it conceals any SIMS
ter designs.