Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-19
The COMINGOF COXEY
1t IS Debated in a Lively Manner in
the Senate.
pEFPER And ALLEN MAKE SPEECHES
Some Remarkable Theories in Re.
gard to the Right to Parade.
GEN. ORDWAY CRITICISED

ONO, should not complain when he reaches
Washington for lack of official advertis-
pg. For half an hour or more Senators
tener and Allen declaimed fervently
against the idea that the Coxey people
fhould be bottled up when they reach
Washington and not allowed to be heard
On the subject Of their peculiar ideas of
nscal matters The discussion was on Mr..
Peners resolution, introduced by him
some days ago. providing for a select COM
Inittee on communications to hear petitions
from citizens who may come to Washing
ton- When the tariff bill interrupted this
yesterday the resolution was before the
Senate, on a motion to refer to the COM
rnittee on rules. and when II was laid be-
fore the Senate today Mr.. PETER took the
floor to explain its object
He said that there had been for two or
fhree years past a growing disposition on
fne part of the people to present their petit
fons to Congress orally, rather than by the
old-faShiOned methods. He went on to pro-
| claim that the condition of things is threat
ening and that unless these people are
given hearings. respectful and patient. the
country will find itself confronted with
serious disaster. He said that he regretted
TO see in The Star certain language indi-
eating that the police are preparing to
rest Mr.. Coxey and his people as vagrants.
we are always prepared" he complained.
with our police and army. There Is no
necessity for force. These are peaceable
men-"
Why 1t is Called an Army.
Senator Hoar interrupted Mr.. PETER to
ask him from what circumstance comes
the popular designation of the Coxey move
ment as an army. At this point there was
an amusing colloquy between Senators
Hoar and Harris. Mr.. Harris called upon
Mr.. Hoar to talk louder and Mr.. Hoar
called Mr.. Harris to order for not rising
ana for usurping the duties of the Vice
President Mr.. Harris retorted that 1t kept
HIM so busy watching Mr.. Hoar that he
did not have time to rise. After the laugh,
caused by this episode had died out, Mr..
PETER answered Mr.. Hoar's question by
saying that the Senator from Massachu-
setts, who was older than he, had doubtless
heard of and read in the Scriptures of
mics of peace. the Christian army, the
army OF salvation, the army of Christ etc.
When those armies say they make their
night with Satan," interjected Mr.. Hoar,
they go to fight him by means Of a per-
sonal conflict"
Mr. PETER went on to point out that mill
tary men are now duty in schools and
colleges of Boston He spoke OF the Coxey
ious inscriptions on their banners and car
rying aloft portraits Of the Prince Of Peace.
the lowiy Nazerene.
Coming on a Peaceful Errand.
'"These men are coming said Mr.. PETER.
ron peaceful errand; they want employ
ment; they want to earn an honest living;
Iney want 10 say 10 our ears WnaI tney
have to say and to let US see with our own
eyes, While we have discouraged this move
ment as far as possible. and none more
vigorously than myself yet these men are
coming and We must prepare to meet them
1T was like the coming Of child 1t
must be born and everything be prepared for
It We should be ready to say to these
people. Here is a committee of our body to
suggestions Mr. President, there is some
thing about this movement that is pitiful
and that deserves our most sympathetic
attention"
Senator Allen Favors the Resolution.
Senator Allen at this point took the floor
and made a most remarkable speech in be-
half of Mr.. PETERS resolution He said he
hoped the resolution would pass. not be-
cause he approves in the slightest degree
OF Coxey's army, or of any other number
of men coming TO Washington to present
their petition in person TO Congress. but
because he believed that they have d right
TO do so IL they see Mt. and that II would
be unwise for the Senate to prevent them.
EVERY American citizen" he continued
has a right 10 come to Washington. This
right has never been denied that know of
until the last few days. They have a right
to come under the shadow of the dome of
here no one can deny his right to do SO.
They have a right to come and occupy
these galleries, which / may say are many
times occupied by chronic spectators to the
exclusion of legitimate visitors. They have
a right to be heard in behalf of their propo-
sition. They have a right to be treated
President OF the United States, and any
other treatment of Coxey or his followers
will be un-American, and will not be toll
Grated by the people.
As to Gen. Ordway.
IT have been reading during the past few
days about some general called Ordway-
whether of the regular army the militia
do not know-who is mobilizing the mill
tia force of the District for the purpose Of
receiving Coxey ard his men at confines
of the District with the bayonet of soldiers
and the clubs of policemen. / should like
to know what right ne has to make such .San
way of American citizens as rioters and
Migrants?
Armie. of Lobbyists
I'VE witness the singular spectacle Of this
eity being thrown into commissions at the
appearance OF this harmless army Of un-
armed men who are coming on a peaceful
GRAND, upon a mission to the legislators Of
the country. Preparations are being made
To nreyent their entrance into the city. A
brntaIized and hired soldiery is to meet
them at the District line and fall upon them
TO drive them back or to corral them as In
prison And yet every day or every hour
one can go into the great railroad stations
of this city and witness the arrival OF ar
mics of lobbists who, not waiting 10 go 10
hotel.
the galleries and the lobbies and seek Sena-
tors in committee rooms to lay their IN
Rentous schemes before them They are
met with outstretched arms; with words OF
welcome by Senators and REPRESENTATIVES
and these men do more damage 70 tns pros
perity Of the country than all the Coxeys
IN the world
"StilI, here Is threat on the part OF the
eoverument-for I do Eot think that this
Gen Ordway would make such threat
without authority-to prevent these men
from entering the city, the capital OF the
country. 1t is published in the newspapers
that honest worlxin gmen, out or employ.
rnent every one OF whom Is the equal OF
any Senator on this floor, because they
come here as a body. as the lobbyists come,
are to be met by a military force to beat
them into insensibility.
1T is said that these men have the right
Of petition and indeed petitions are pre-
scented by the hundred, but they are never
read or alluded to, and they are speeded
In dark closets and cave-ns OF the Capt.
toll When they attempt to secure better
hearing than these petitions AFFORD, they
are met violently by a hired soldiery and
servant police force"
Mr. Allen went on to ask what reason
there vas Of suspecting these men of harm
ful designs. He declared that there was
nothing 70 warrant the suspicion. Their