River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-04-26
THEY ARE WARNED.
Commonwealers Advised to Turn
Back from Washington.
District Commissioners Say Their Pill
grimage Can Result In No tiood-n
VIII Come They Will BE Forced
to Keep the Peace.
A PROCLAMATION ISSUED.

sioners of the District of Columbia took
action Monday on the impending Coxey
invasion. After a long executive ses-
sion and consultation with the
attorney Of the district a mani
festoavas prepared and given out which
calls attention to the fact that the
right of petition does not extend to the
lengths the Coxeyites appear to imag-
inc.
President Cleveland has discussed
the matter freely with the members of
the cabinet and with leading congress
men. He has expressed the regret he
fea. lest the foolish pilgrimage of
Coxey's band to Washington might
lead others to believe that this was
the way to secure legislation. The
president had looked ON the movement
as a harmless one in its beginning, but
he has felt, rs have the local au-
thorities. that IL it were a genuine
movement of men seeking work 1t was
strange that they should come to
Washington; and he has feared the dis
tress would be great IL several thou
sand men were gathered here. where
there is no possible avenue of employ
ment open. At the same time the pres
ident has been DESTROYS of avoiding
anything that would seem likely to
cause irritation or to interfere with
the rights of citizens to petition con.
gress for whatever objects they please.
So the Washington authorities have
defined their attitude towards Coxey's
band it is the attitude of the national
capital because the district commits
sioners, and not the president, consti.
tute the municipal power in the Dis
trict of Columbia. The president has
no intention, under present circum.
stances, of issuing a proclamation.
The emergency is met by the proclama-
ton issued by the district commits
sioners President Cleveland knew
of its purport, because he had
been in consultation with the commits
sioners and with the chief of police. II
meets his approval and is to that ex-
tent an indication of the views of the
president as to the manner in which
the commonweal army should be
treated. Its issue is timely because the
usual wild reports have been set afioat
that the president has already called
out the regular troops. The basis for
this rumor was that the companies of
Fort Myer had gone down to Virginia
for their regular drill
Following is the full text of the COM
missioners' proclamation:
Whereas, II Is reported that several organ
ized bodies OF men are approaching the Dis.
tTict Of Columbia with the aNowed purpose of
securing such congressional action as will re-
lieve the condition OF unemployed laborers
throug out the country; and,
Whereas. All unemployed men and others
throughout the country who may be in sympa.
thy with the movement have been invited 10
assemble In front of the national capitol on the
ist day OF May proximo for the purpose of
compelling favorable action by congress by
mere force Of numbers and physical presence;
and,
whereas, The constitutional right OF petit.
ton does not justify methods dangerous to
peace and good order, which threaten the quiet
OF the national capital, which are contrary TO
law and opposed to the ordinary means of OBJ
tairing legislative relief under our system of
government; and,
whereas. 1t is declared to be the intention
Of this body OF unemployed ard destitute peo-
Pile not only to gather together for the purpose
aforesaid at the city OF Washington, tut there
to rem ain until their mission shall have been
accomplished; and
Whereas, The national capitol is chiefly de-
voted to public business and is the center OF
ordinary means OF afording employment. Is
now taxed to its utmost capacity in charit-
able efforts to care for its own poor and I'M
employed now, therefore, the commissioners
OF the District OF Columbia, who are charged
With the duty OF maintaining peace and
good order, and with enforcing the laws
of said district, being sensible OF the
gravity OF the situation and fully appre-
ciating the hardship which must come upon
many innocent but misguided people II this Ill
nd n
hereby appeal. in the interest OF humanity and
in furtherance OF the peace and good order
which are enjoined by the laws in force in said
dis rict TO the rood sense and patriotism of all
those engaged In or who contemplate taking
any part in the proposed demonstration, and
urge them TO reconsider heir intention to come
into the District of Columbia for thai purpose.
mo possible good can come of such a gather
ing, and with no proper preparations or means
OF subsistence suffering and ultimate disorder
will certainly ensue. No wrong can be right
ed no condition of labor ameliorated, no
remedy for any existing evil realized
by the contemplated demonstration of
physical force Every desirable end can
be more certainly ana effectively &C
Complished by ordinary and lawful methods
The commissioners, while in entire sympathy
with all people out of employment, and having
no desire or purpose TO deal harshly with
fortunate but honest men who seek relief by
reasonable and lawful means. are in duty bound
TO give notice TO those who are tempted I'M
der any pretext to swell the number OF I'M
employed persons aleady here that there is
neither work for them nor means for their
maintenance In the district, that the law does
not permit the soliciting of aims in our streets
and forbids parades, assemblages or oraiions
in the capito grounds, and the obstruction OF
any public grounds streets. highways or av-
enues and the approaches to public or private
buildings
1.-THE commissioners give notice also TO the
criminals and evildoers who, under cover of a
crowd of unemployed men In our streets may
come for the purposes OF crime and disorder,
that all such will be apprehended and summa-
rily dealt with
"And finally they give notice TO all who come
here against their advice and protest that the
laws in force in the District of Columbia
adequate for every emergency and viii be
rigidly enforced,
John w. Ross
GEORGE TRUEsDELI.
"CHARLES F. POWELL