Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-23
THE COxEY PUZZLE
Various Suggestions a. to How to Treat
the Commonwealth.
Dinerent Phases of the Subj ect-The
Rights OF the Visitors.

The many questions arising in connection
with the coming Of Coxey's army" to
Washington are being discussed with in
teSest, and many suggestions regarding
different phases Of the matter are sent to
The Star. One correspondent Of The Star
writes:
I'm one of the letters concerning the
above movement, in recent issue Of your
paper. a couple Of statements particularly
impressed me, namely:
$50 far as the present movement Is an
attempt to bring to the notice of Congress
the distress which the wealth and station OF
the individual members keep them from
realizing, 1t will be difficult for the average
American citizen to understand in what
they are offending and, again,
| "' To treat as tramps and criminals those
who exercise their rights to peacefully set
| forth their necessities, In the only way
possible to them would not only be unjust,
but in the highest degree unwise.'
| In passing, allow me to say, first, that
II the average American citizen 10 to be
credited with SO little judgment as is thus
conceded to them we are sorely In need of
a campaign of education. To my mind. the
Coxey movement, involving as 1t does. by
| direct premeditatfon, the assembly here,
! unlimited, of a mass of people whose char
acter. individually or collectively. it Is i'm
possible to guarantee, who are confessedly
without means OF sustaining themselves,
and with the uncertainties OF fnsurrection
which in Its very nature surround 1t. is a
most unwarrantabie assumption of the
| privileges accorded American citizenship;
and this movement, therefore, stands in
| precisely the same relation to the District
of Columbia, as an unwelcome guest to the
| individual home-an intruder upon private
| hospitality. Herein lies the offense, and
| for this reason, If for no other, 1t Is bereft
] of any direct claim for consideration at
| our hands, either as individuals or as a
city.
Nor can ! see that personal petition Is
the only way possible to set forth their ne
cessities, either In the case OF CoXeys con-
| sttuents or others who have proposed to
adopt his method. Their proper redress Is
| pre-eminently at the polls. Certain Ii is
| that they are not exercising their right in
thus seeking to intrude themselves. in per-
| haps countless numbers, upon the sanctity
and tolerance of a city, Jeopardizing its
peace and quiet. simply because it is the
seat of the national government. And they
have even less justification for asking Con-
gress TO provide for them while here.
while / have the most profound SYM
pathy for the laboring classes in their pres
ent deplorable condition, l take the ground
that we certainly should not by any undue
courtesies or extensions of hospitalities,
recognize Coxey or any OF his presump-
tuous followers as representative either Of
the sentiment or will of the laboring
classes, and thereby encourage similar
demonstrations. Whether Congress will
condescend to dignity his improvident
schemes by pretense at their considera-
ton is a matter of conjecture, and what
course Coxey purposes to take after their
rejection Is equally in doubt. But of one
thing there can be no reasonable question:
That the District of Columbia is in no wise
! responsible for their coming, and 1t will
therefore be incumbent upon Congress to
provide for their M Ltenance while here.
And, the peace and quiet of the District
having been threatened at the instigation
M an nnr cittzana
protection from future similar demonstra-
lions by urging upon the Commissioners
the securing of the speedy passage of law
prohibiting any movement looking to the
massing Of people without means of sub
sistence in or around this city"
A Suggestion for the President.
Another writer says: 1T must be quite
| apparent to all that the Coxey movement.
and also the other disturbances which have
! occurred lately throughout the United
States. are all due to but one cause-idle-
| ness-and the old saying that Idleness Is
the mother of crime is fully corroborated
secondary cause has also been the ignor-
ance of many in regard to monetary
science, the popular theory being that all
that Is necessary to right industrial affairs
Is the issue of three or four carloads OF
greenbacks by the general government.
Now, in my opinion, the proper thing to be
done, without delay, is for the chief execu-
tive of. this nation to issue an address to the
deluded and misled (by such men as Coxey)
working people which address should appeal
| to their intelligence and reason and not to
| their passions and partisanship 1t should
explain to them, in a plain but logical man
ner, the fallacies of their beliefs and i'm
press upon their minds the value of patience
and elaboration during such national
| calamities as the present one. But while
1 favor the use of moral influences in prefer
ence to military power, 1 would not over
| look the maxim of the Father of his Coun-
| which N fr1a IF
pare for war; and the authorities should
not be caught rapping in case of any dem
onstration hostile to law and order"
| Sees No Cause for Fear.
Another letter to The Star says: 1T is
amusing to see the timidity that has come
over our District officials as to how they are
to meet the so-caIIed enemy and rout him.
To think that forlorn array Of working
men. part and parcel of the bone and sinew
| OF the country, taking In a pleasant trip
TO the nations capital to petition their rep
| resentatives In Congress to enact some
laws to relieve the burden of distress and
restitution stalking over the country, should
| inspire such fear. Their coming here IL
uncalled for, as they will reap nothing, but
| their right to come cannot be denied as
| they are American citizens. Some of them
Were here, 1 know, In 81, when Lincoln
made his call for troops to defend the
nations capital. Don't be alarmed Mr.
| Police. There is no harm attached to this
] iioNcihelt Will not follow
| their entry here. 1 think the scare will
blow over all right, provided the weather
bureau gives US the right temperature.
Then we will try and right the matter
| by another upheaval next fan, electing to
! Congress men that will give satisfaction
to the working class. Give the boys good
reception when they arrive, and all will be
We'll God will smile, as He always has, on
the nations capital"
The Right to Come.
Another says: "In all the suggestions pub
lished in The Star, most of which have
| read with considerable interest, have fall
ed to notice one very important thought in
! connection with the approaching visit of the
| Coxeyites, viz: Under our constitutional
fern of government every American citizen
| is guaranteed the right to enter and locate
in any part of the United States, and any
] attempt to prevent such entrance and loca-
| ton Is an abridgement Of such right and
| therefore not only void, but would subject
! :he author to whatever damages might re-
| suit, whether an individual. combination
| OF individuals, a municipality or the general
! government, for the Supreme Court of the
| United States IL test case were made
would undoubtedly affirm such liberty as
| every American citizens right The sus-
| pecting man of being a tramp, or other
wise Objectionable is not proof of guilt
Would it not be well for Congress to pass a
resolution or law defining and limiting the
power of our Commissioners and police de-
| partment, as well as the executive depart
ments of the general government, in this
and all similar emergencies? And IL an old
! statute or ancient city ordinance seems to