St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-05-13
WILSON THE COMMANDER.
THE c0XsYfTE HOLDS AN INTERVIEW
KJ7H THE MAY0R.
'rwAs NOT SATISFACTORY,

ANU rs NeSuiC, inc 1reat
"Army" of Commonwealers
Marched Out of the City-No
Speeches Allowed on the Pubs
lie Square-The Recruiting
station.
The Coxeyites have left the city; they
marched away yesterday afternoon at 4
o'clock and took the way which led
them past the picturesque and historic
falls of Minnehaha. The mayor ordered
them to leave. He refused to "arbi-
trate," and as consequence, John
Wilson, "commander." was obliged to
fur his flags and HE himself and his
little army away from the busy whirr Of
the wheels" OF the cranks and ma
chinery of the manu- factories. The
recruiting station was over Ill NicOllet
avenue. Gen. Wilson was in command,
and with HIM as aides de camp, were
Charles Ralph and Montana. Scotty."
1t was announced that mass meeting
would be held on Bridge square at
O'Clock, at which time Gen. Wilson
would address the cOmmonwealers and
their sympathizers. But the meeting
did not occur; the mayor wonld not al
low 1t.
During the day the recruiting station
was filled to overhowing and several
hundred men affixed their names to the
enlistment slips. During the early
afternoon it was impossible to get to the
recruiting desk without disarranglng
ones apparel and having ones feet tred
to jelly, SO great was the crowd in the
room. Gen. Wilson, montana ScOtty"
and Lieut.. Ralph were mDnarchs Of all
they surveyed. Hundreds of hungry
and frowzy looking commonwealers
gaped and stared and took III every
word the commanders said, as though it
were gospel.
Mayor Eustis, who had been away
from the city for several days, returned
during the day, and at 3 O'Clock pre-
scented himself at his office i'll the city
hall. A few moments later Gen. Wilson
appeared He went into the chiefs
office and was referred to the mayor.
Gen. Wilson was not alone. Three
battered-iooking individuals were with
him as guards" They. too. entered
the mayors office and stationed them
selves in line near the door. With
their hats off and sort of all air of
burlesque about them, they resembled
characters in comic opera. Without
moving muscle they listened to the
interview that followed between the
mayor and their general. Chief OF
Police Smith, Judge Mahoney, of the
police court. and several other city
officials were present at the interview.
II have come, your honor" began
Gen. Wilson, and then stopped as
though determining in his mind what
he had come for.
"Well?" said the mayor, elevating his
eyebrows.
The commander" hemmed little
and then coughed audibIy 81 have
come, "he added, ITO request permission
to address meeting on the public
square"
ut cannot be done, sir" esponded
Mayor Eustis. Then followed a sort OF
crOss-eXaminatIon, Gen. Wilson being
tive engineer, and as born in WOrceS-
ter. Mass. He had ,me West during
the great Erie slile. The present
movement was started in Butte, and he
was determined to march his army on to
Washington.
''All the members of my army" he
continued, "are men who have no work,
and can get none"
ado you expect to get work by going
around the country in bands?" asked
Mr.. EustiS.
sit is impossible for US to get W ork
by lying around in one place." was the
response.
Yes, but you can't get work by going
about i'll drOves disturbing industrial
life of the country" t=
''Well. we are willing to take work
whenever we get the chance. In Barnes
vile we put fourteen men to work. We
are doing some good to all classes of
iaboring men. For instance. in the
matter of this recent strike we took
away all the scabs. and saved the regular
men their work. When we get to WASH
ington we expect to get work on gov
eminent roads,"
The mayor asked: "What size hat do
you wear, general?"
Nothing abashed, John Wilson, "com-
mander." replied: "Oh, pretty good
sized one."
"Well. 1 want to say" added the
mayor. THAT you look like an intelli-
gent man, and really cannot see how
you can do what you are doing. The
scheme Is as crazy as a bedbug. You
are not earning cent while you are
going trampinY about the country this
way. and yet, according to your own
statements, you are eating all the time.
You are taking away from the producer
but not adding cent toward their
benefit. II these disturbances were
quelled the men now out of work would
be taken care of. You would destroy
confidence, and that is what is most
needed to bring about bettermeut of
these hard times. You are an enemy of
the people, general, and not their friend,
as you suppose"
"Well. mayor" was the generals
reply. II can't see it that way. II did
l would quit right away. It's easy
enough to talk, but we can't live by
hanging around where there is no
work, that's plain. In Washington, at
least, the men are eating. They are not
all doing SO here"
This last speech pleased the guards"
They shifted on their feet and made
several comic opera movements with
their hands. Gen. Wilson then went
on to state that his army walked all the
way from Glasgow, Mont, TO Grand
Forks. and from Grand Forks to Ada
Mimi. At the latter point it was found
that the railroad strike was over, and
the railroad men kindly helped them
down TO Minneapolis.
''Tm locomotive engineer" said the
general with proud look, ''and don't
think there ara many engineers in the
country that would refuse me ride.''
Eyes. but you're general" remarked
Mayor Eustis.
''Yes. Pm general" repeated the
military 'gent" with conscious flush.
He then went on to say that there
were laws in his army that would pre-
vent any member of 1t from returning
to Minneapolis after they had started on
the march and signed the necessary
papers. There were no thieves with
the army; he would not allow them to
enlist. and no lawiess acts were ever
permitted.
The mayor was trifle sarcastic as he
said: "Ah, but you are indeed great
general when you can control your men
in this manner"
''Well, can do it." added Wilson.
"And another thing, l can assure you
that not drop of liquor is drunk in the